Isaiah 2-4. Hope in Judgement

Isaiah 2-4 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’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. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 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 the LORD from Jerusalem. -- Isaiah 2:23 Questions to reflect on  In times of stress, what do you put your faith in?  What prevent you from walking with the LORD right now? What are the shiny objects distracting you in your walk with God?  Are you spending inappropriate amount of time on yourself?  How will the Branch of the Lord cleanse you?  Do you have a counselor in your life? A spiritual mentor? An accountability partner? 周幽王宠信褒姒被推翻 周平王東遷 東周開端 齊恆公依靠谋士管仲整顿国政 稱霸諸侯 由于边境问题与郑国争执，周桓王率军讨伐郑国， 郑庄公不仅敢于领兵抗拒，而且打败了王师，一 箭射中了周王的肩膀，周王室進一步衰落 Chapter 2: Coming Kingdom v.2-3 In the Kingdom Age Jesus Christ will establish His throne on Mt. Zion. We will also go there to be taught by Him. (Rev.1:6, 3:21, 19:15, 5:9-10.) v.4-5 When Jesus reigns in the Kingdom Age no one will have to fear war anymore. v.6-8 An apt description of present-day humanism. Man worships the creature rather than the Creator. v.9-21 The Lord will bring down the proud and shake the earth. (Rev.6:12-17; Heb. 12:26.) v.22 Better to trust God than man. Chapter 3: Disintegration through sin v.1-4 God is speaking of a present rather than future situation. v.10 He comforts the righteous only. v.16-26 They did not take God into consideration in their lives God describes His judgment for their iniquity and materialistic lifestyle. Chapter 4: Vision of the coming Kingdom v.2-6 Speaking of Jesus' righteous reign upon the earth in the future (Zech. 3:8). In times of wars, God offers hope – near term and long term peace 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. -- Isaiah 2 In times of wars, God offers hope – near term and long term peace Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. … 20 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. 35 -- 2 King 19 In times of wars, God offers hope – near term and long term peace After painting the glory of the Messiah’s reign, Isaiah challenges Judah to live in the Messiah’s reign right now O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD. Isaiah 2:5 What is preventing you from walking in the light? And they are pleased with the children of foreigners. Their land is also full of silver and gold, And there is no end to their treasures; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots. Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made. Isaiah 2:6-9 ME SILVER & GOLD IMPORTANT STUFFS What are you putting your faith in? Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? Isaiah 2:22 In judgement, God will deprive nations of moral and competent leaders See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, 2 the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, 3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. 4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.” Isaiah 3 Judgement against women… The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. 17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.” How God feel about haughtiness How people feel about haughtiness Judgement against women… and men In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” 1 …but the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment and a spirit[b] of fire. 4 Questions to reflect on  In times of stress, what do you put your faith in?  What prevent you from walking with the LORD right now? What are the shiny objects distracting you in your walk with God?  Are you spending inappropriate amount of time on yourself?  How will the Branch of the Lord cleanse you?  Do you have a counselor in your life? A spiritual mentor? An accountability partner?