Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:1-10, “The Kingdom of God Cultivates Peace on Earth”

Peace on earth between nations. These days it seems impossible. Around the world right now, there are somewhere between 70-110 armed conflicts or wars, depending on how you count them. Almost 90 million people displaced around the world by these conflicts. So much injustice. What will bring peace on earth? Is it possible to live at peace in a way that spreads to others?

The Bible tells us that when we live in the kingdom of God, there is peace. The kingdom of God is His rule and reign. When we surrender to God and live according to His word and ways, we have peace. The peace the Bible talks about it not just the absence of conflict or a good feeling inside. It is based on the Hebrew word shalom, which means completeness or wholeness. As we’ll see today, when we live in the kingdom of God, we cultivate peace on earth.

We Cultivate Peace When We Walk with God

Isaiah 2 gives us a vision of peace on earth at the end of time. Every world religion or philosophy has some kind of promise like this. Utopia, Elysium, Valhalla, whatever, they all reflect elements of the biblical promises of an eternal future with God in which there is peace, fruitfulness, and everlasting life.

Let’s start with a question. When we turn to Isaiah 2:1-5, how is peace on earth established at the end of time?

The LORD God reigns over all

Isaiah 2:2 (ESV)

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,

The kingdom of God is the definition of human wholeness and completeness. God does not rule using fear and control. He rules with justice and righteousness, faithfulness and steadfast love. He created you in His image, and it brings Him pleasure when you live a fruitful life of peace. He won’t withhold any necessary good thing from you. He does all things with love.

2. All the nations and peoples will learn God’s ways from His word.

Isaiah 2:3 (ESV)

and many peoples shall come, and 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.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3. The LORD’s judgements will end all disputes.

Isaiah 2:4 (ESV)

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.

There are no appeal courts and no need for a backup plan like the military option. God’s judgements will be so true and right that it will end all argument. The nations will melt down all their weapons and make them into tools to grow gardens. The kingdom of God cultivates peace on earth. The kind of peace that can be cultivated by those living in it.

What does cultivating peace look like?

Isaiah’s imagery sparks our imagination. People no longer at war, but working together to make the earth more fruitful and bring flourishing to people’s lives. Forgiving rather than seeking vengeance. Telling the truth without fear. Not wasting resources on defending ourselves from others or taking from others. Everyone generous and open. No one wasting their lives on empty pursuits. Everyone worshipping the One True and Living God in spirit and in truth and walking with Him.

What is Isaiah’s message? It’s nice to think about a future like this. But in the present, the nations are not at peace with God, and people are not at peace with one another. How would this ever be realized? Why is Isaiah prophesying this vision?

It is for the people of God to understand their purpose. God’s plan is that His redeemed people would show the nations of the world what this future reality looks like in the present. Isaiah’s punchline to this vision comes in verse 5.

Isaiah 2:5 (ESV)

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

What does it mean to walk in the light of the LORD?

If we answer from the context, it would be obeying the word of the LORD and trusting His judgments, finding peace in His kingdom rule and reign.

Why does Isaiah need to tell Israel to do this? Because evidently they weren’t.They had forgotten their purpose. The context tells us they had two problems. Chapter 1 tells us they were being ruled by injustice.

Isaiah 1:23 (ESV)

Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.

They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

But the rulers weren’t the only problem. Chapter 2 tells us that everyone was practicing idolatry.

Isaiah 2:8 (ESV)

Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.

An idol is any created thing that we turn to for meaning and purpose, hope or happiness. Isaiah points out in the following verses that when we, who are created in the image of God, worship idols that humans have created, we humiliate ourselves and live fruitless lives. Don’t waste your life serving money or popularity or sex.

So, both injustice and idolatry will keep you from the wholeness God wants for you. The kind of wholeness you can only find in His kingdom.

So, the next question is, if the people of God were to repent of injustice and idolatry and walk in the light of the LORD, what would be the results for the world?

When God’s people walk with God according to His word, we show the world the reality of His kingdom. For example, when we walk with God in the light of His justice, we are quick to forgive and we don’t seek vengeance. When we walk in the light of His power to defend us, we are less defensive and fearful. When we trust in His provision, we worry less and we don’t others to meet our own needs. Are we walking in the light of the LORD, or in the darkness of fear and worry and faithlessness?

Dis all of this happen with Israel? Did they bring the gospel of peace to the nations by walking in the light of the LORD? (No)

So, the LORD came down. In our next passage we see that,

When We Walk With Jesus, We Know Peace

In Isaiah 9, we receive another promise for Israel’s future. But it is one that has already come to us. Even though the people of Israel would not spread the light of the LORD to the nations, the LORD sent the light to us.

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

God has given the government of His kingdom over to Jesus the Messiah. He rules with justice and righteousness. When we surrender to Jesus as our Lord, the peace only increases.

Can you testify to this? In what ways does Jesus bring you peace?

How does this work? Jesus has brought shalom by reconciling us to God. He restores us to the kingdom of God in which we are made whole.

His crucifixion and resurrection were a reconciling of sinners to the kingdom of God. God rules His kingdom with justice and righteousness, faithfulness and steadfast love. The cross of Jesus was the meeting place of these qualities. The only truly righteous person received the just penalty for sin. And in His faithfulness and steadfast love, He received the punishment on our behalf. We receive mercy. When we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus, we are justified.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The kind of peace that is completeness or wholeness, only comes when we have peace with God. Jesus sewed seeds of peace by reconciling sinners to God. We believers cultivate those seeds when we share this gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Jesus restores us to God’s purpose for His redeemed people. We can bring the light of the gospel of peace with God to the nations.

We Will Reap a Harvest of Peace by Following Jesus

What the kingdom of Israel, even with their best king David son of Jesse, did not do, Jesus has done.

Isaiah 11 is all about the Messiah, who is a descendent of David the son of Jesse who will be greater than David. Israel had become fruitless in her idolatry. Messiah will bear fruit

Isaiah 11:1 (ESV)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Every seed God plants bears fruit. He has ways of cultivating life even when it seems death is winning.

In verse 2, Isaiah uses seven attributes of the Holy Spirit that the Messiah possesses.

Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

In other words, He will have the fullness of the Spirit of God. He would be fully obedient to God. He would live fully into the kingdom of God. So, only He can be the perfect judge of all humans. He doesn’t judge the way people judge. He can’t be swayed by appearances or nice words. Isaiah says,

Isaiah 11:3–4 (ESV)

And his delight/smell shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

No more injustice. No more idolatry. In fact, when you compare what Messiah is doing in Isaiah 11, it reminds us of what the LORD God is doing Isaiah 2. God’s word will the final word among the nations in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus the Messiah brought the light of the LORD God to us. And His righteous judgment will cultivate worldwide peace for all those He judges righteous.

The imagery of verses 6-9 are a return of the earth to the conditions of the garden of Eden. A fruitful harvest of shalom peace for the whole world is coming when Christ returns to establish the kingdom of God on earth.

Isaiah 11:9 (ESV)

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Peace, wholeness and fruitfulness comes through Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him gives us peace with God, restores us to the kingdom of God, and gives us purpose - to bring the light of the gospel of peace to the nations until Jesus comes to judge all the peoples of the earth.

In what ways are you cultivating the seeds of peace Jesus has planted in our world? Are you living in the peace of God, trusting Him to defend your case so that you can live at peace with others? Are you walking with Jesus in the light of the gospel of peace? Are you walking in your purpose, helping others know God?

If the answer is no to any of these, here is the good news. Jesus is the only truly righteous, obedient person. The rest of us are all sinners in need of reconciliation to God, which has been freely provided by Jesus Christ. To go back to one promise about him,

Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end

Today is one more opportunity to surrender more fully to the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. And your peace will increase.

Communion

Questions for Discussion

What brings you peace (an activity, a person, a place)? When do you feel most fulfilled?

What are some things that disturb our peace? Why?

God promises worldwide peace and wholeness at the end of time when Messiah reigns. Why did He include these promises in the Bible?

How does God establish worldwide peace, according to Isaiah 2:1-5? How do the people of God participate in that here and now?

The Messiah is called the Prince of Peace, among other things, in Isaiah 9:6. In what ways does Jesus fulfill that?

When you read Isaiah 11:1-10, are there ways Jesus has already fulfilled these promises? What is He teaching you right now about the fullness of the Spirit, the fear of the Lord, the sufficiency of His word, or righteousness and faithfulness?

What is one way you can apply these passages to your life this week?

Who is someone you can share these passages and their promises with this week?