The Mountain of Yahweh
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we began our journey through Isaiah
First chapter set the foundation for us
Isaiah is about salvation, it’s about Jesus
By looking at the message to Judah we were confronted with reality of our own situation, our own sinfulness
We were also lifted to see the mercy of God
He is working to bring deliverance and restoration
Restoration comes through repentance
Chapter 2 begins the next section (runs through Chapter 4 or 5)
It’s an abrupt change
How does the broken down Israel of Isaiah 1 become the exalted Israel of Isaiah 2?
Isa 2:1-5 is almost identical to Micah 4:1-4
Regardles of why their the same it is clear the message of these verses is important
Here the possiblity of restoration (Isa. 1) is contrasted with the certainty of restoration (Isa. 2:1-5)
If Isaiah is about how Yahweh saves then there must be hope
Part of the power of the Gospel is the hope/certainty of our future
READ Isaiah 2:1-5
Important we see the full context of these verses, see the flow of this message
Isa. 2:1-5 - The Mountain of Yahweh - Ideal Jerusalem (the hope)
Isa. 2:6-4:1 - The Judgment of Yahweh - Actual Jerusalem (reality of their present)
This is like reading about our own society
Isa. 4:2-6 - The Glory of Yahweh - New Jerusalem
First section looks forward to the great Kingdom of God
I believe a literal, earthly kingdom that lasts 1000 years
I believe it’s primary application is to Israel
Like so many prophecies there is partial fulfilment or aspects of it that are at work today
Let’s turn our eyes toward the Mountain of Yahweh
God is Our Focus
God is Our Focus
Isaiah 2:2 “2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Yahweh’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.”
The Mountain of God
The Mountain of God
The Covenants of the Kingdom
The Covenants of the Kingdom
Much of Isaiah’s prophecies are about the Kingdom that is to come
A time when God will rule on earth in absolute peace
When Jerusalem will be the centre of our attention
Here we get our first glimpse of this Kingdom
I believe the Bible teaches God will establish a real, earthly Kingdom
A Kingdom that will last 1000 years before He recreates all things for eternity
I believe this Kingdom is primarily for Israel
People from every nation will be present
Blessing of the Kingdom will flow to all nations
What is this purpose of this Kingdom? Why not just move into eternity
There are some Christians that believe that is what will happen
It’s purpose rises from the faithfulness of God
God chose Israel for the purpose of His glory and to accomplish salvation
God chose a pagan named Abram & made promises to Him
Abrahamic Covenant: God promises a nation, a land, a blessing, posterity
Mosaic Covenant: Build around the law is a promise to make Himself known through Israel either through their obedience or His discipline in their disobedience
Davidic Covenant: Promises a King & Kingdom
New Covenant: Promises salvation & restoration
Many details of those covenants haven’t been literally fulfilled
I believe the Bible teaches the Kingdom of God includes literal fulfilment of those promises
Some believe those promises are transferred to be spiritually fulfilled in the church
While I don’t doubt their salvation or faithfulness to God I think in this they are in error
The Expectation of the Kingdom
The Expectation of the Kingdom
It is this literal Kingdom the Jews in Jesus day were anticipating
In large part, Palm Sunday was about exalting Jesus as the Messianic King
They were, and still are, expecting God to crush their enemies and establish His Kingdom and fulfil His promises
What they didn’t understand was God’s Kingdom was bigger than they were expecting
The Kingdom of God is for the Jews but not exclusively
Israel were the people God would use for the expansion of His Kingdom
This is part of the covenants from the very beginning
The Glory of the Kingdom
The Glory of the Kingdom
This is one small piece of Kingdom information - more to come
Here we see the glory & vastness of God’s Kingdom
Isa. 1 showed the pathetic state of Jerusalem caused by their sin
Isa. 2 opens by looking forward to the glory of Jerusalem to come
Many of the prophets speak about this mountain, Jerusalem & the Temple
Isaiah speaks of it, Zechariah 14:10; Ezekiel gives the most detail
Ezekiel tells us the greatest part of this is the presence of God returns
With the way the Bible describes the monumental events of the last days I am inclined to take this literally
Bible describes much topographical change that takes place
Here Mount Moriah (Temple Mount) will be raised above all other mountains
It will have a plateau on top about 80 km sq. (Ezek. 45:1)
On this large plateau will be Jerusalem, Temple & crops & place for Priests of Zadok
While I think it will literally be raised I believe it’s for symbolic purpose
Worship of the pagan gods was done in high places
By lifting up His Temple above all hills it shows He is God above all gods
He has put all other gods to shame & He alone will be worshipped
Psalm 95:3 “For Yahweh is the great God, And the great King above all gods.”
No matter what it seems like now, God is the great King above all
It is a city and a Temple suitable for the one who is called King of kings and Lord of lords
The Hope of God
The Hope of God
The Hope of the Future
The Hope of the Future
After the difficulty of Isa.1 and before brutal reality of Isa. 3 God gives hope
He is encouraging His people, inspiring them with what will be
Potential of repentance in Isa. 1 turns to certainty in Isa. 2
This is part of the great salvation of Yahweh
It isn’t just a deliverance from trouble, affliction & judgment
His salvation brings forgiveness, joy, blessing and hope for the future
Hope = certainty in God’s promises
This is power of the Gospel still
the last days - doesn’t just refer to the end of things
Jesus & NT teach the last days began with Jesus ascension
While there is still a very real fulfilment to come we can’t deny that there is partial fulfilment today
God’s salvation always gives hope
Just as Israel can find hope in promise of God for their future so we find hope in Jesus for our future
John 14:1–3 “1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
The Power of His Promise
The Power of His Promise
Isaiah uses this as inspiration, motivation for people to serve God
Isa. 2:5 makes this especially clear
He knows threats of judgment must come & discipline
Also knows that promise has greater power to change lives
Threats of judgment can deter from doing evil
Promise can convince us to live for God
God works like that in our life too
God disciplines His children, warns us of consequences of pursuing wickedness
NT is full of the blessings that God promises to those who follow His ways
1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Hope of His promise inspires us to live for Him now
Titus 2:11–13 “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
The Effect of His Grace
The Effect of His Grace
and all nations shall flow unto it - intersting phrase
Meant to picture a river
There is a river that will flow from the mount
Rivers usually flow down mountains but this flows up to Jerusalem
Glory of God draws the nations to Him
Like a river must flow to the sea so the nations must flow to Messiah
In those days we will be drawn to Him
In part this too is fulfilled today
John 12:32 “32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.””
We sometimes call this effectual grace (irresistible grace)
Some people don’t like this because of ‘irresistible’ part
Claim God doesn’t make us come against our will
Looking at it from wrong perspective
What makes it irresistible, effectual isn’t God working against my will
What makes it irrestistible is Jesus Himself!
When Jesus is lifted up and your eyes are opened to see Him for who He truly is how do you resist that
You go to Him not against your will but to go to Him is your will
In the Kingdom, when Jesus fills the Temple, high above us we will flow to Him like a river must flow to the sea
God is Our Teacher
God is Our Teacher
Isaiah 2:3 “3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.”
Come to Him
Come to Him
The Zeal to Learn
The Zeal to Learn
Sheer beauty, glory, awe & wonder of God will draw us to Himself
Our desire isn’t to get a suntan in His radiance
We’re drawn to Him to know Him
Worship won’t be empty like described in Isa. 1
Our worship will be our desire, our joy
In a statement that is both literal & prophetic David says:
Psalm 122:1 “1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Yahweh.””
The Zeal to Tell
The Zeal to Tell
Notice their zeal to learn is evangelistic
As they go to learn they call on others to join them
Isaiah uses this to stir the Jews
The gentiles will go worship, go with them
His name will be praised among the gentiles
Malachi 1:11 “11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Yahweh of hosts.”
Zeal to share the message of God is one sign of true belief
Learn from Him
Learn from Him
He has the Truth
He has the Truth
John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Acts 4:12 “12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
We talk about the exclusivity of Jesus, no other god, no other way can save from sin
Jesus alone saves
That truth was no different in the past & will be no different in the future
Nations go to Zion (Jerusalem) because that is where the truth is
That is to say, only the God of Jacob, the one who’s Temple is in Jerusalem has the truth
Any salvation, any truth, any hope of eternal blessing comes only through this God
Then, as now, we must seek Him and nothing else
He will Teach the Truth
He will Teach the Truth
When we seek Him, He will be found
When we seek truth He will teach us
Kingdom age & eternity aren’t going to be boring
So much of our time will be spent in worship & learning of God
He will teach us who His is & explain to us His ways
When we see the spelendour of God in all of His glory, when we have seen Him bring salvation & judgment our hearts will long to know all we can
Live for Him
Live for Him
The Reason for Learning
The Reason for Learning
We come to Him, to be taught by Him
Reason we seek His teaching? so that we can live for Him
Practical Holiness
Practical Holiness
Positional righteousness is worthless without practical righteousness
In Kingdom & eternity we’re not free to live however we want because our sins have been forgiven
We’re transformed to live practically in a manner that suits who we are in Jesus
This is part of the great hope, inspiration & motivation of this passage
It is the hope of what we will be
We will walk worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1)
The broken down Jerusalem of Isa. 1 by God’s grace will become the glorious Jerusalem of Isa. 2
God is Our Peace
God is Our Peace
Isaiah 2:4 “4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; 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.”
He will Rule
He will Rule
It is His Kingdom
It is His Kingdom
This isn’t a demoncracy or a republic where we get a say in how things go
Not a monarchy where a man can be king, not a dictatorship of a selfish, power hungry person
It’s a Theocracy where a good, benevolent, just and righteous God who is perfect in every way rules with absolute authority
He will set the standard & Law & judge everyone accordingly
Submit to Him
Submit to Him
Great benefit & wonder of this Kingdom is realised in our submission to Him
He will rule and we will obey
He isn’t trying to sway votes for Himself so He won’t be pandering to our petty, selfish desires
It isn’t up to Him to carry out our will but for us to carry out His will
He will Bring Peace
He will Bring Peace
We are Changed
We are Changed
Through His work of salvation, His teaching & His rule we are changed
People no longer feel the need to defend themselves
Nations no longer desire the riches of other lands
Life is different because we are different
He Makes Peace
He Makes Peace
Jesus does what no one else can do - bring peace
Until people & nations come to God there can be no peace
If every war currently going on was to end today, tomorrow new ones would begin
That’s true of national wars & personal wars
Only God can make peace
All our wars, lack of peace, come from one place - our war with God
Until we make peace with God there is no hope of peace in any other relationship
Jesus is the way to have peace with God
Romans 5:1 “1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Peace with God is what makes peace between people possible
Ephesians 2:14 “14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,”
So His Kingdom will be a place & time of absolute peace
Conclusion
Conclusion
Isaiah 2:5 “5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of Yahweh.”
Isaiah points to the ideal, the great hope of the future for those that believe
He does this to encourage & inspire to live for God now
Peter calls us to the same thing
Peter looks a little further ahead to eternity, new heaven & earth
His purpose is the same
2 Peter 3:14 “14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things [new heaven & earth], be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”
Paul urges us to the same purpose
-Titus 2:11–12 “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,”
Knowing the promise & hope of God to come live for Him today
This great future of blessing & peace isn’t open to everyone
Bible tells us before this great Kingdom begins there is a judgement, a dividing of “the sheep and the goats”
Those who believe Jesus as Saviour (sheep) enter this glorious Kingdom
Those who reject Christ (goats) enter eternal judgment
If you have not sought forgiveness for your sin through Jesus the way you prepare for this is to believe Jesus as Saviour in this life