The Nations Come

Today, we are going to take a look at Isaiah’s next sermon. Let me start with a couple of helpful pointers. Though this is the second sermon in Isaiah’s book of sermons, that doesn’t mean that he preached it after he preached what we have in chapter 1. These sermons of Isaiah are not gathered in chronological order. What happened in chapter 6 certainly occurred before what happened in the first five chapters. So, it is best to look at each of Isaiah’s sermons as a distinct entity. Let me also say that this second sermon in Isaiah’s collection actually covers the next three chapters. Once again, we need to be careful when it comes to understanding the chapter divisions. Because of its length, we’re not going to do the whole sermon today. We also are going to break it down into smaller parts. So, today, we’ll just look at the first part of his sermon – chapter 2 – and return next week, D.V., to look at the second part, chapters 3 and 4. Before I read chapter 2 I should tell you that it is divided into two parts. The first part will sound up and bright and hopeful. But the second part will be dark and angry. There is, of course, a reason for that, and you’ll see it when we take a closer look at what’s going on in the chapter.

So, now listen to what Jesus said to His ancient Church through His prophet. [Isaiah 2]

The first part of the chapter is about the nations. ‘It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it…’ That it says ‘nations’, plural, is significant. When the Bible says ‘the nation’, singular, it almost always means ‘Israel’. But when it says ‘the nations’, plural, it’s referring to the rest of the world. It’s referring to the Gentile nations. So, this first part of the chapter is about the Gentile nations coming to the house of God. This is where we’ll spend most of our time today. But before we do, let me give you an overview of the rest of the chapter.

The second part of the chapter begins with a plea to Israel. ‘O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.’ But what immediately follows is Israel's plight. ‘…You have rejected Your people, the house of Jacob…’ Israel has been rejected by Jesus because of their rebellion. And so, we encounter the same theme that we saw in chapter 1. Jesus gives reasons for His rejection of Israel. One clue for discerning some of those reasons is the repeated phrase, ‘their land is filled’. We find it three times in this part of the chapter. So, first there is this. ‘Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures…’ Isaiah points to Israel’s money. Then there is this. ‘… their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.’ Horses and chariots were then what heavy tanks are today. Isaiah is pointing to Israel’s military might. And then, finally, Isaiah points to this. ‘Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.’ This is about Israel’s exploitation of religion. The people of God had been warned about the dangers of all three and not just by Isaiah. The warnings can be found in the covenant made in Moses’ day. The key issue here is control. Money gives a sense of control. Military power gives a sense of control. False worship gives a sense of control. These three were all about control. Israel thought they were in control. But, of course, they weren’t. Jesus was in control. He was the LORD of Hosts, that is, the LORD of Armies. He was the Mighty One of Israel. He was the one who was in control. So, in desiring to have control, Israel was trying to be their own god. In effect, they wanted to place themselves on Jesus’ throne. Israel had been warned about this, first by Moses and then by the line of prophets that led up to Isaiah. But they ignored the warning. They rebelled. And so, Isaiah informs them that punishment is coming. ‘Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty. The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.’ The rest of the chapter fills in the details of what the LORD, the Mighty One of Israel, is going to do in response to their rebellion.

The news for Israel is not good. Destruction awaits the people of God. Does this mean that Jesus’ plan to redeem the world through His people has been thwarted? Has Israel's rebellion ruined everything? No! Others will take Israel's place. The nations will come! The nations will be the means by which Jesus will complete His plan. So, you see, this chapter is about you. Isaiah is writing about you. You are the Gentile nations who, in response to Jesus’ call, have come. This is where we’ll spend the rest of our time this morning.

The first thing to note is what the nations do not say. They do not say, ‘Let us go to the house of God to be saved.’ This doesn’t mean that they aren’t being saved. What they do say actually explains a bit of what it means to be saved. And what do they say? ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’

Consider the details. First, there is this, ‘that He may teach us His ways’. One reason a person comes to Jesus is because there are things that he does not know, things that he needs to learn, things about how to live. Now, to far too many people learning is about reading a book and listening to a lecture. The goal is to gain information and store it in your brain, ready to retrieve it at the right time. And so, in too many churches, the sermon is the lecture, the Bible is the class textbook and the goal is to know lots of theology. Is that what Isaiah is writing about? That can’t be true. What was – and still is – Jesus’ call? ‘Come, follow Me.’ What is that about? Are there things that we do not know that we need to learn? Absolutely! Will there be information passed from Jesus to His followers? To be sure. Is the Bible the key book in all of this? Dumb question, right? But the model for this is not a lecture hall. The model is walking through life with Jesus. The first disciples walked with Jesus and learned by watching Him, listening in on conversations, asking questions, getting surprising answers and being corrected. It’s not really all that different now – a bit more mystical, maybe, but the dynamics are still the same. It’s all about being with Jesus as He leads you, tells you, and shows you – all by the Spirit. And what are the results? It’s not just more information to tuck away. No, you learn Jesus’ ways. Isn’t that how Isaiah puts it? ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways….’ It always boils down to this question. ‘How would Jesus live my life? Given my situation, my health, my job, my family and all the other factors that make my day-to-day existence what it is – what would my life look like if Jesus were living it? How are His ways lived out in my life?’ And we do not try to answer that question on our own. How foolish! We bring that question, in the details of this or that specific moment, to Jesus. We look to Him to answer it. Isn’t that what Isaiah is getting at? We desire that Jesus would ‘teach us His ways’ so that ‘we may walk in His paths.’ Those who learn from Jesus have lives that look more and more like His.

The emphasis, thus far, has been on the individual. All of this also shows in the group. ‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ This is about our lives together as disciples of Jesus. And Isaiah is pretty clear. We won’t enjoy perfection here and now. In fact, he talks about disputes that we will have with each other. ‘He … shall decide disputes for many peoples.’ Don’t you love the realism of the Bible! There will be disputes among the disciples, among us. But note: Jesus judges and decides. He sorts it all out. And the result will be no more conflicts. The result will be peace. ‘… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ And remember, ‘peace’ does not mean ‘truce’. Truce means, ‘I may not be shooting at you anymore, but I still don’t like you nor do I trust you.’ Peace is different. Peace is about closeness one to the other. It’s about real friendships. It’s about a return to the Garden where there will be no weapons, only tools to develop the earth, something that we do together. This is the goal, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process, like learning His ways. Consider the parts of this process. There is acknowledging that there will be differences between us, disputes even. But the key to a good resolution is our submission to Jesus as He reveals His ways by His Spirit and His Word. It’s a step by step process to enjoy peace together as the people of God. This is Jesus’ promise to the nations. It is His promise to you.

And it is this that Israel lost. ‘For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob…’ And why did Jesus reject Israel? It was because of their rebellion against His lordship. It was because of their pursuit of control over their lives using money, power and religion. So, they were rejected, and you were put into their place. You enjoy what they don’t.

This brings us to the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the church in Rome he restates the warning that Isaiah proclaimed to Israel. In Romans 11 Paul describes the people of God as a vine with many branches. Israel is presented there as the original branches of that vine. Paul then interacts with his Gentile audience. Listen. ‘Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”’ Paul points to the fact that the nations have replaced rebellious Israel, the same thing that Isaiah wrote about in our text. But Paul says more.

‘Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.’

It is so important that you remember why it was that the nations, you, came to the house of the God of Jacob while Israel was rejected. They were cut off because of their rebellion. So, even as Isaiah warned Israel and Paul warned the church in Rome, I am warning you: if you rebel, you will likewise be cut off. ‘For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.’ I would urge you, then, to take quite seriously Paul’s exhortation. ‘So, do not become proud, but fear.’ And what are you to fear? Fear what Israel did not fear. Fear falling into the trap of trying to be in control. Modern America is no different than ancient Israel. It’s all about the pursuit of control, whether by money, power, or even religion. It’s about trying to be God so that your life will be pleasant. This is one of Satan’s schemes today, and so many have fallen for it. How foolish! First, it won’t work. Can any mere mortal really be in control of his life? Can money, power and religion do that? But more than that, if someone is going to be in control over his life he will need to remove Jesus from His throne. Rebellion. Jesus is in control – because Jesus is Lord. Israel tried to be in control. Consider what happened to them.

So, let me urge you to do two things. First, pray. The evil one is out to get you. And if you think that you can go one on one with him then you really are foolish. Pray for Jesus’ protection lest, being fooled, you become a rebel, are cut off, end up condemned like Israel. Let fear have its way in this so that you will pray. How well you understand the danger will be reflected in the nature of your prayers. Then, secondly, work hard at following Jesus well. Doing this will result in safety for you and yours. Such safety is by no means a matter of your control. It is entirely a matter of His control. So, when He says, ‘Turn right up here’, turn right, even though you have no clue where that will lead. When He tells you, ‘You’re going to have to trust Me on this’, then just trust Him. He knows what He’s doing with your life even though you don’t. And when He sends some hardship your way, thank Him for the trial. It is His way of making you into a Godly disciple, someone who knows what is good, true, and beautiful; someone who is kept safe from Satan. This is what it means to have faith in Jesus. And all who grow in this faith rejoice. They rejoice because they are learning His ways so that they can walk in His paths. And life is never the same.