Isaiah 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
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.
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
**Read Isaiah 2:1-5 two or three times, paying special attention to the words or images that stand out to you.
**Take a moment to ponder the words or images you noted in reading the scripture. Do you hear an invitation in the words? Pray with what you are hearing.
**In this context, "mountain" symbolizes a place of encounter with God (Israelite history was full of encounters with God on mountains). What "mountains" (places of encounter) are part of your experience with God? How might those mountains (or the memory of those mountains) be a part of your Advent experience?
** Our swords have not yet been beaten into plowshares, that is, our instruments of war are not yet instruments of harvest and feeding the hungry. Nations are fighting nations, and all are still training for war. Obviously, Isaiah's promised kingdom is still coming. We are still waiting. How do you feel about this? How does this impact you as you sit with God in prayer?
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