Isaiah 2

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Same seer, same city as chapter 1. Wesley: the word is the matter or thing—the prophecy.

Isaiah’s vision concerns Judah and Jerusalem.

Calvin: this vision seals the restoration already promised (1:26–27). Doctrine is given weight by a picture set before the eyes, so that whatever calamities arise, the Church will never perish.

God adds vision to promise. The vision is addressed to Judah and Jerusalem.

In the latter days the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, lifted above the hills; all nations shall flow to it. Wesley: last days—the times of the Messiah; Christ’s institutions continue to the end of the world. The mountain is not the material temple on Moriah but mystically the church; nations did not flow to that house, nor was it fulfilled till the temple was destroyed.

“Latter days”—Messiah’s time, already begun, running on. Nations flow—Gentiles coming to the word. Shared with Calvin: the stream is to the teaching, not to a rebuilt hill hung in the clouds.

Calvin: the end of days is the kingdom of Christ. Fullness began at His coming and flows until He appear the second time (Heb 9:28). Zion was a little hill; wicked men scoffed. From it the gospel sounded through the world, and so the hill is higher than Olympus. Nations flow as rivers—the Church collected from every quarter, not a mass migration into Judea.

“Latter days”—same Messiah, same gospel-height. The when/how is the fork: begun at the first coming, unfinished till the second; full height not looked for as an earthly timetable. On this both agree: nations stream to the word.

Many peoples go and say, Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. Wesley: the law is the new law, the doctrine of the gospel, obliging belief and practice as the old law did.

“Come”—speech, going, walking. They ask to be taught and then walk. Agency under a God who actually teaches.

Calvin: many means various nations, formerly strangers, now one agreement about religion. God might bring each by a secret influence, yet He employs the agency of men. They do not sit and command Go up, but walk along as companions. He will teach us of His ways: God alone is the Church’s teacher; pastors may utter nothing but His word. We will walk: the instruction is not speculation; it directs the course of life. Law is all the instruction God has given; it went forth from Zion when the gospel began there.

The going is gathered by the word He sends.

He will judge between the nations, decide concerning many peoples; they beat swords into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword, nor learn war anymore. Wesley: Christ sets up His authority among all nations, convincing consciences, changing hearts, ordering lives; He rebukes by His word and Spirit, and by judgments on implacable enemies who obstruct the gospel.

Heart-change now, in Messiah’s days to the end of the world. Plowshares are the fruit of that change. The how is word and Spirit meeting nations.

Calvin: doctrine is a king’s scepter; God rules among all nations in the person of the Son. Rebuke: stubborn flesh must be subdued; Christ begins the gospel by reproving the world of sin (John 16:8). Swords into plowshares: the gospel of reconciliation brings men into peace with each other. Not to be limited to Actium, nor twisted into anarchy. Full extent is not on earth; the kingdom here is only beginning. It is enough to experience the beginning, being reconciled to God and abstaining from harm.

Peace is the fruit of His reign, incomplete till He appears. He judges, swords, plowshares, no more war as the aim of the word.

Isaiah presses the call further. House of Jacob, come, and let’s walk in the light of the LORD. Wesley: take heed that you do not reject that light which is so clear that even the blind Gentiles will discern it.

Judah is still addressed. Gentiles flowing is not an excuse for Jacob to sit. A walk in a light already shining.

Calvin: a sharp rebuke by the Gentiles’ example. Strangers run to Zion; the first-born of the house sit still. We will walk: the light is before their feet; they shut their eyes. Its brightness draws distant nations.

The same word that gathers nations still summons Jacob.