Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Advent Is...Hope (part 2)

Isaiah 2:1-5

I'm not usually one to pay attention to the sub-headings which separate the stories within the bible, but today's one gave me a deeper perspective. "The Future House of God", as it's called, is perhaps the editor's way of highlighting what the hope of all people are.

The words of Isaiah in this passage paint a great picture. God's home will be placed on the highest of mountains, far above all others. Then, once God's home is settled the people will "stream" into it. I can't really explain why I especially like the use of the word stream, as opposed to flock or move into. The image of people streaming tells me that the people are continuously coming into the house of God; steadily and unending.

What is the kind of home the people are streaming into?

One where the the swords turn into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks. A place where instead of destruction, prosperity through unity is the rule. As Isaiah puts it, "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Such hopeful words to a great nation then, and to a world now..

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