Isaiah 2
2
The Mountain of Yahweh’s Temple
1This is the word revealed to Isaiah, son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2In the last days, # 2:2 This phrase, often used by the prophets of the Old Testament, speaks of our current time in human history between Pentecost and the coming again of Christ. See Heb. 1:2; 1 John 2:18. the mountain of Yahweh’s temple
will be raised up # 2:2 Or “prepared.” See Eph. 1:21–22. as the head of the mountains,
towering over all the hills. # 2:2 This is a contrast between ch. 1 and ch. 2 of Isaiah. No matter how despicable our past, God’s grace will fully establish his people as the mountain rising above every other mountain. Mountains in the Bible are often used metaphorically for kingdoms. Kingdoms and governments are like mountains and hills on the landscape of history. The mountain-kingdom of God is in view here. It will be the chief of all mountains, the highest of all hills. The secular world sees Christ’s kingdom as irrelevant and powerless. But one day the kingdoms of the earth will be leveled and the King’s mountain will be high and exalted. With no rival, Jesus will sit enthroned. This prophetic outlook is the backdrop for all that Isaiah preaches. See Isa. 25:6–8; Mic. 4:1–5.
A sparkling stream of every nation will flow into it. # 2:2 Or “All the nations will flow as a river to it.” The Hebrew word nahar can be translated “stream [river],” “to sparkle,” or “to be cheerful.” In Isa. 60:5 it is translated “radiant.” A cheerful, sparkling stream of people will come into divine radiance as they come up the mountain of the Lord. This speaks of the uphill flow of the river of God—a supernatural magnetism bringing the nations into the kingdom of Christ. This is the reversal of the dispersion of the people at Babel (see Gen. 11).
3Many peoples will come and say,
“Everyone, come! Let’s go up higher to Yahweh’s mountain,
to the house of Jacob’s God; then he can teach us his ways
and we can walk in his paths!”
Zion # 2:3 Zion is more than a location; it is the realm where God is enthroned (Pss. 2:4–6; 87:5). Zion is a synonym for the people of God, the dwelling place of his Spirit (Pss. 9:11; 74:2; 76:2; Heb. 12:22–24). The perfection of beauty is in Mount Zion, where the light of God shines (Ps. 50:2). Perfected praise rises to the Lord in this place of perfect rest (Ps. 65:1–2). The Mountain of Zion is where the Lord is known in his greatness (Ps. 99:2; Isa. 12:4–6). It is the hope of all the afflicted (Ps. 102:16–22; Isa. 14:32; 51:11). will be the center of instruction, # 2:3 Although the Hebrew word torah is used here, it means more than “the law.” It also can be translated “instruction” or “teaching.” This is not the law of Moses, for that came from Sinai. This is the revelation of the gospel and the instruction of God out of the Zion-realm that overcomes every work of darkness within us and around us. From Jerusalem the gospel light and the twelve mighty apostles went forth to change the world.
and the word of Yahweh will go out from Jerusalem.
4He will judge fairly between the nations
and settle disputes among many peoples. # 2:4 The wisdom of the Lord will resolve ethnic conflicts and international disputes.
They will beat the swords they used against each other
into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. # 2:4 Or “sickles” (LXX). Weapons that were turned on one another will now be used for the harvest.
No nation will take up weapons against another,
nor will they prepare for war anymore.
5O house of Jacob, come let us walk
in the wonderful light of Yahweh! # 2:5 The Hebrew concept of the light of the Lord includes his ways, favor, presence, blessings, and revelation.
The Judge of the Nations
6Lord, you have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob,
for they are full of occultic secrets from the east,
like the land of the Philistines, with sorcerers everywhere;
they are pleased with what is false and foreign. # 2:6 That is, since they don’t seek the true light of the Lord and his true prophetic word, they end up with Eastern mysticism, the “false” and the “foreign.” Arguably, this is one of the more difficult verses to translate in Isaiah, since there are multiple possibilities. The last clause can be rendered “they clasp hands with foreigners [unholy alliances]” or “they are with the children of foreigners.”
7Their land overflows with gold and silver;
they are wealthy beyond measure.
Their land is filled with horses and innumerable chariots!
8Worthless idols are everywhere, and they worship
the work of their own hands, what their fingers have made. # 2:8 Isaiah condemned what the people were trusting in: their broadminded tolerance, financial security, military might (horses and chariots), and the idols they themselves had crafted. See Deut. 17:14–17.
9The people bow down low before the “no-gods,”
and the leaders lie down flat before them in worship,
so do not spare them! # 2:9 Or “do not raise them up again.”
10Enter into the rock and hide in the dust
from the dreadful presence of Yahweh
and from his majestic glory. # 2:10 Everyone on earth will seek to hide in a rock. Those who love the Lord will find shelter in the Rock of Salvation. Those who deny the Lord will make the rocks and caves their hiding places from the face of God (lit. “hide in the dust from the face of the terror of the Lord”).
11The arrogant # 2:11 Or “The eyes of the haughty.” will be humbled
and the pride of man brought low.
Only one will be exalted in that day: Yahweh!
12The Lord of Angel Armies # 2:12 Or “Jehovah-Sabaoth,” the Lord of Angel Armies.
has a day of humiliation in store for all the high and mighty,
for all who are proud and self-exalting.
They will be brought low. # 2:12 See Zeph. 2:3; Mal. 4:1.
13His judgment is coming
against all the lofty cedars of Lebanon # 2:13 Isaiah used the metaphor of trees to symbolize humanity. Lebanon is used metaphorically as a symbol of beauty in the Scriptures. The tall and lofty cedars of Lebanon are a picture of the cultural elite, those of high standing in society. Men are like trees who stand tall and upright, only to be cut down in death. Jesus stands as the fairest of all the trees, like an apple tree in the forest of humanity (see Song. 2:3). and all the oaks of Bashan, # 2:13 These oaks were known for making oars (see Ezek. 27:6). They speak of the military captains and soldiers surrounding Jesus on the cross, who were like the savage bulls of Bashan (see footnote on Ps. 22:12). The word Bashan, although it refers to the area known as a fertile land northeast of Lake Galilee, is also the word for “serpent.” “Oaks of Bashan” may also represent great global leaders empowered by demonic spirits.
14against all the high mountains and all the lofty hills, # 2:14 Governments and kingdoms of this earth are like hills and mountains. Even the highest of men’s governmental authorities will bow to the one called the Lord Almighty.
15against every high tower # 2:15 “High towers” could also represent godless academia that towers intellectually above others. and every fortress wall, # 2:15 This could refer to the strongholds in the mind of man, thoughts of self-importance that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God (see 2 Cor. 10:3–6). Towers and walls served as a refuge during an attack. Rebels against God built a tower in Babylon (see Gen. 11:1–9), seeking to be independent of God.
16against all the trading ships of Tarshish # 2:16 The ships of Tarshish were the largest of ships, able to take the longest voyages and the greatest cargoes. They typify the great commercial empires built by man (see Ezek. 27:12). The economic system, the commerce of earth, will be brought to the feet of Jesus as he establishes an eternal kingdom where righteousness and justice rule.
and all the impressive sailing vessels. # 2:16 The last clause is difficult to translate with accuracy. Some scholars believe the Hebrew word śāḵâ may be an Egyptian loan word for something like “yacht” or some impressive sailing vessel or “ship of pleasure.” Others translate it as “splendid palaces,” “works of art,” “pleasant pictures,” or “images of desire.”
17People’s arrogance will be conquered and brought low, # 2:17 Isaiah taught that those who bowed low before idols (v. 9) would one day bow low before the true God.
and those proud of heart will be humiliated.
Only one will be exalted in that day: Yahweh!
18Every worthless idol will utterly pass away. # 2:18 The Hebrew has only three words: “Nothings to nothingness!” See 1 Cor. 8:4.
The Coming Dread of God
19People will hide in caves and holes in the ground
from the dreadful presence of Yahweh
and from his majestic glory when he rises
to mightily shake the earth.
20In that day, # 2:20 The phrase “in that day” is used fifty times by Isaiah. people will throw away the worthless idols
their hands have made from gold and silver.
They will fling their treasures to the rodents and bats
21as they crawl into the clefts of the rock to hide from the
dreadful presence of Yahweh
and from the majesty of his glory
when he rises to shake the earth mightily! # 2:21 See Heb. 12:25–29; Rev. 6:15–17.
22So once and for all, stop trusting in man,
who is but one breath from death—frail and puny man! # 2:22 Or “who has but breath in his nostrils—of what account is he?” Man’s life is fragile and temporary. His breath is in his nostrils, ready to stop at any moment. With all our boastings and with all our ingenuity and marvelous inventions, man is but a poor, vain creature. In all our littleness and helplessness we must turn away from the answers of men and ask for the breath of God.
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Isaiah 2: TPT
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