Some Thoughts On Isaiah Two
INTRODUCTION: Isaiah 2:1-5 is frequently used in our study of the origin of the church. These verses tell WHEN, WHAT, and WHERE regarding the house of God. But there are other matters also, that I would like to call to your attention regarding these verses.
I. They tell of the evangelistic nature of the church. "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go. . . ." And again; "Come ye, and let us walk." The expression, "And all nations shall flow unto it," foretells the success of these evangelistic endeavors.
II. These verses tell how it was to become a "teaching" church. "Let us go up. . . to the house of God.. . and he will teach us of his ways." Teaching, in this connection, is twofold, as is the case in Matt. 28:19-20. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." There is teaching BEFORE ENTERING the house of God, and teaching WITHIN the house of God. No man can come to Christ without being taught; and no man can stay with Christ without further teaching. We know that the church is to edify itself in love (Eph. 4:16); and we know that this can't be accomplished without competent teachers, qualified elders, dedicated preachers, and cooperative members. But there is to be "teaching" within the house of God.
III. These verses show that it is to be a peaceable kingdom. "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks." This reminds us of Paul's statement in 2 Cor. 10:4, when he said: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal." We are peacemakers, we are to preach the gospel of peace, we are friends of the Prince of Peace, and we share in a kingdom of peace.
IV. The verses in Isaiah 2 also indicate that the church is living, active, and aggressive. "We will WALK in his paths." And again: "Let us WALK in the light of the Lord." This time we are reminded of 1 John 1:7, which reads: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
CONCLUSION: The sequence of thoughts in Isaiah 2:1-5 is certainly no accident. (1) The house of God is established. (2) People go unto it. (3) They are taught His ways. (4) Then they walk in His paths. Brethren, I am persuaded that more are not walking in His paths today because they refuse to "go to the house of God" to be "taught his ways." I realize that one can learn the truth by studying his Bible at home, but the thrust of context shows that the normal sequence is in the other direction. And besides, one who knows much about the ways of the Lord, won't stay at home anyway.
— 1900 Jenny Lind, Fort Smith, Ark. 72901