God had a dream. The first thing we may need to acknowledge is that dreams are not promises. It may be a hard concept, but the Bible tells us that God doesn’t always get what he wants. God wanted mankind to choose him; to live in harmony with him and all of creation in the Garden. But they selfishly chose themselves instead; trying to become a god in place of the One True God. God is not willing that any should perish. And yet, because many choose the wide path that leads to destruction they do perish. God’s dream was and is that his people would be a source of blessing to others; a source of Godly understanding. He dreamed that the Holy City would be a pilgrimage site drawing seekers from among all nations. And maybe it is not that the dream hasn’t become reality. Maybe it is that the reality isn’t as sweeping as one would hope. And maybe that is about longing expectation. Kind of like John the Baptist wondering if Jesus were indeed the Promised One, most likely because he expected the healings to be more grand; more sweeping; more global. You know, instead of confined to the location of wherever Jesus was in the moment.
Isaiah 2:1 is a title. Some suggest that it introduces a new section. But it seems more likely that this is a reminder. This vision is a message; a word. It is not Isaiah’s word. It is a word that he saw or visioned. As has been mentioned, the word “saw” can refer to seeing visions in an ecstatic state. Not that it is central to the understanding of Isaiah, but it seems likely that 1:1 introduces the whole of Isaiah. The “word” and “burden” (13:1) are other words referring to the same concept and they work as reminders.
Verses 2-4 are almost word for word identical with Micah 4:1-3. This has stirred up a lot of conversation and debate. Who was the original source? Does this oracle serve the same purpose and therefore the same historical situation as that of Micah? The three most common theories are that, 1) Isaiah penned the words and Micah borrowed them; 2) Micah wrote it first and Isaiah used them; 3) Both prophets borrowed from an earlier unknown source. If we believe that this is God’s message through his prophet, does it matter who wrote what first? The historical situation may or may not be different, but the use of the oracle, I think, is the same.
It will come about in later days. The word translated “last” is more vague than that. It can mean “end,” or “last,” but it can also mean “after part,” or “later.” So, in these after days, it will fall out that the mountain of the house of Yahweh will be fixed or set as the head of all the mountains. And here we have a major theme in the Vision of Isaiah: the mountain of God. Clearly, in this context, we are talking about Zion; and specifically the temple mound. This mountain will be established and lifted up. The word “lifted up” can imply favoring. Many of the Jewish people took this passage to be quite literal and even spoke of how high above the other mountains Zion would be lifted. I think it more likely that God is telling them that Zion will be favored above the other mountains. So much so that all the nations will flow to it. The word “flow” is used mostly for water flowing down a mountain. God is disrupting the natural flow of things. Nations will flow up.
And as they are walking, they will encourage others to go up with them. They will understand that it is from the house of God that God will teach them his paths. They will understand that if they don’t learn from God they will not be able to traverse his pathways. Maybe we need to understand this as well. Torah – God’s instructions for life – will go out from Zion. The word or message of Yahweh will come from Jerusalem. And isn’t it interesting that Jesus instructs this flow from Jerusalem to the world to his disciples? God is sovereign and he will judge the nations. And those who listen will turn their implements of war into instruments of working the ground. War will not even be on their radar any more.
So, what is Isaiah referring to? Is this about the end of time when all things will be made new as Jesus returns? Is this about what will happen in the days of Cyrus (some see chapters 34-66 suggesting this)? But maybe this is God’s dream for his people. He told Abraham that blessings would flow from his descendants to all nations. God has always desired that his people would be a source of understanding and instruction to all peoples. That pilgrims would travel and find God’s way. I believe that is what the church is mean to be today. We are the temple of God. We are intended to be lights in the world; lights that draws attention to the true light of God’s word. God has this dream for you. Let those blessings flow then.