“Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, . . . that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’
He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; 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 any more.”
– Isaiah 2:3a, 4
Once again, as we journey through Advent, these words of hope and assurance from the book of Isaiah are read at worship, recalling the ancient promise that God will bring peace and harmony to a world in conflict. And once again, time, space, culture, and language fade away, and these ancient phrases resonate with God’s people as they watch and wait for the fulfillment of his promise.
Feeling a connection with people who lived thousands of years ago can seem virtually impossible. After all, we connect with people with whom we have things in common. Language, culture, life experiences, interests and abilities, all form the foundation for having a sense of belonging and connectedness with others. So why is it that when we read and hear these texts, we find that they touch our hearts, inspire us, and offer us both comfort and hope?
As I looked through Isaiah and read some of the margin notes in the Lutheran Study Bible, I began to have a sense of the breadth and depth of this major book of the Old Testament. The prophet warns the people that God will judge them, and calls out sinners, wrongdoers, and those who turn away from God’s will for his people. But then we hear that God’s judgment will bring peace, and we learn that the law, along with his mercy, brings God’s people into a right relationship with God. Throughout the book, there are warnings, cautions, and then comfort. Jesus himself told his disciples why he was sent to live among people as a human – that he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.
The verses from Isaiah 2 and the references to swords and spears, plowshares and pruning hooks can sound quaint and old-fashioned, but the message remains clear. Our world is yearning for an end to conflict, war, death and destruction. Trying to envision instruments of war, whether swords and spears or bombs and rockets, being turned to purposes that could benefit humanity rather than destroy it, could easily be considered a waste of time, and an impossible hope. But take a look at the first part of the verse, where it tells us God will judge between the nations, and then they will cease making war. There’s the challenge – being God’s people in turbulent times, showing the world that we don’t give up hope, and calling others to learn his ways and walk in his paths. The promises are there, and they are real, and we have a part to play in bringing them to our weary world.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers