As we begin Advent for this year, I want to start with a history lesson that dwells behind the text that I read with you. It helps set the table for what we will experience in this season.
The history of Isaiah 1-39 is important for the world where Isaiah writes was tense. Assyria, the dominant power of the day decided that they would extend their reach, and their dominance, all the way through the Fertile Crescent, and out into Egypt. Moving through modern day Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, the Assyrians swept aside everyone who stood in their way. Now they were bearing down on Israel. Their army easily dispatched the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s capital city of Samaria in 700 BC.
But as they moved south and conquered, word came from back home—civil war had broken out in Assyria. Unrest at home. So, the Assyrian army packed up and marched itself back home to put down that rebellion before resuming the ultimate goal of conquest into Egypt.
As the Assyrians pull back from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, we can imagine the feelings of Jerusalem—the capital city. They were rejoicing. They heard what happened up north and we can be sure they were anxious about their future. But God heard their prayers! They were spared. They were saved. Peace! The covenant with Abraham protected them!
But in 722 BC, Assyria was back and Jerusalem fell just as quickly as every other city did. Under the Assyrians.
Yet for the 22 years between Israel and Judah falling, during the lull in the conquest, the people start hearing and believing that peace was the only option. God would only bring them peace. It is their right as His people. Some might even have whispered: “We deserve this.”
But like I said, this peace is temporary.
Move 1- Middle space
And so, the first lesson of Isaiah 2 is that we find the people hearing the text, and maybe ourselves as well on the first Sunday of Advent, dwelling in a liminal space; a middle space. Operating between two poles.
They don’t know it at this moment, but we the readers do. We know the whole of history around them. Like I said, we know that Assyria will be back soon. We know in 20 years life in Israel will be far worse off than before. Now an angry army will be back to finish what they started.
That’s how these things often feel in the moment: like nothing will ever change, like what we see, and what we experience, is the only plausible experience and choice available. Again, in the moment. It’s always going to be this way; our way. Our limited worldview, our limited understanding is the only answer to whatever we see in this very second of our lives and in our work for the Lord.
But if in this case that the peace that we are experiencing, is temporary then what we do in the moment, in the day, be the experience good or bad, is also very important.
How we practice our faith, live out our calling before the Lord, worship God, hold on to what we believe when times are tough, in this time is of great significance. Do we sit idly back and do nothing resting on our senses of spiritual entitlement? Do we reflect on where we have been passively dwelling and not working hard to grow our faith and deepen our discipleship?
Or using Isaiah 2, and the call to return to the Lord and go up the Mountain of the Lord, do we wonder about how do we could create tools of community building when others around us only seek to divide and not reflect on the presence of Jesus who is with us?
This becomes important because none of us know at what point things around us will change. We do not know when the middle space that we occupy right now will change and God will call us to come together as the church, as the community, and care for one another in a way or in a ministry that we did not see happening or even being conceived of a short time ago.
In this middle space, going up the Mountain of the Lord is an act of worship, an act of devotion, it is an invitation to make the time to learn the ways of God once again so that we might Lord continue to grow and be molded by God.
Move 2- God’s Word
For as we come to the Mountain of the Lord, we encounter God, in His word. We hear this in verse 3. “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”[1]
In this middle space, as well as in the space where Assyria is pressing down upon God’s people in time when Isaiah 2 was written, the Word of God, makes the difference for all. Yes, in verse 4 we hear God’s word used by the Lord as the defining tool of judgement, but God’s word also is the instructional tool that helps us grow. God’s word assists us in our practice of discernment as we work hard to change our lives and serve our community faithfully in response to the revelation of God with us.
For the Word of the Lord makes the difference in the lives of the church—certainly. But the Word of the Lord also makes a difference in all of life of Creation also. God’s word is that strong and that powerful.
We know that each of us needs the daily instruction from God that is found in His Word. We need it during the hard times, such as we have walked through together over the past month. We need the instruction of God as we now move through advent together and celebrate the welcome to incarnate Son of God who will call us to be different together.
We need God’s word to learn from God about how be disciples in our future—wherever that takes. To hear from God takes discipline.
Humanity always needs God’s Word and that is why we are called to come to the mountain of God in this text, not just today, but as often as we can, we are called to return to God and to learn from God in His word as we stand before God.
Now yes, there is judgment here in this text, we cannot deny the power and conviction of the first part of verse 4, but there is also a sense of continual learning and growth taking place here. As God is with us always—in the prosperity, in the suffering, and as the Israelites were dwelling in this text, in the middle space between the Assyrian invasions and the uncertainty that came along with that invasion.
Because each of us knows that God’s Word is the light that draws us forward and reminds us, and calls us, to welcome the newborn King.
Move 3- mystery
Nevertheless, we are going up the mountain of the Lord, we are holding fast the Word of the Lord, yet none of this means that the mystery of this very moment is downplayed. For the citizens of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, those who lived in that middle space of peace, they would experience the return of Assyria. And once again they would suffer.
Worshipping God, studying His Word, committing to practices of discipleship, they are crucially important. Here in this space, we will light our candles and sing our carols together in praise. In a few short weeks, we will sing Silent Night and a quiet joy will fill our lives.
But that does not mean that one day, each of us will leave our own middle space and face another hard day or hard season.
And that is the mystery of the Christian faith. For while living in the lull period when life seems good, it is tempting to think that we, that they, will always live in that place and space. But that is not true and it is not meant to be. Instead, we press into the mystery once again, return, even daily, to the study of God’s word, to the power of it, and the worship that comes up on the Mountain of God knowing how difficult we will find life—at times.
However, this conclusion is good. Because the righteous one is coming. The one who teaches us how to be ministers of peace of wholeness is with us. The one who invites us to take another step towards himself and in his life, is with us. We are challenged to live and work knowing this truth is right before us inviting us to be different when the world offers us a challenge: can we find hope in a hopeless place and time.
Conclusion
These people were not ready for what God might call them to next and so when life changed, they were not ready. I wonder if we are ready to return to God? Return to his word? And find the mystery and hope that God is always with us.
DM
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