The House of the God of Jacob
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Isaiah 2:2-4
2. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3. and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
These verses move me every time I read them. As a product of the Vietnam War era, I have detested war and the senseless waste of human life that is inevitable. Even in the situations where the decision to enter into a war is made with much thought and prayer, I wonder what enters the mind of someone who makes that decision. Why? What is gained? Land? Resources? Power? What?
Is our country really better off sacrificing an entire generation of young men and women? Is the world a better place because human beings kill each other? What in this world is worth a human life? I know I sound as if I’m on a soapbox this morning, but I have been one of those “anti-war nuts” my entire life. I recognize that we have been killing each other since Cain and Abel. And there will probably always be a war somewhere in the world for some reason that someone feels is valid.
Please don’t confuse by abhorrence of war with disdain at military and other individuals who are willing to risk their lives to keep us safe. I admire and honor them and am eternally grateful for their patriotism and personal sacrifice. I just detest the fact that wars are waged at all. I grieve at the need for a military to protect us. Actually protecting us doesn’t bother me – it’s NOT protecting of the other weaker, smaller countries that bothers me. If we are a powerful country, and call ourselves the most powerful country in the world, we need to be using our power to promote peace. We need to figure out a way to end starvation and murder and HIV/AIDS and all the other things that are killing millions of fellow human beings.
I pray continually that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it. As Christians, it is our responsibility to walk in the ways of God, to allow the Law to seep into our minds and hearts, and to invite Christ into our lives. God shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
I know I am being very “political” this morning. I don’t know exactly why, except that I continue to hear each day that today was the most deadly day in Iraq – every day. I have an 18 year old son and a 21 year old future son-in-law. I covet them both and their lives and what they have to offer the world. I have a nephew working with the Peace Corps in Africa and I have met personally and via the internet many people working for peace throughout the world in various capacities. So I know it is possible. I know mankind has the ability and the capability to achieve peace in my lifetime.
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
My prayer today is that you will work for peace in your own life. And that you invite everyone you know to visit the mountain of the Lord.
Mary
