Isaiah's New Kingdom

ISAIAH CHAPTER 2 1-5.

This morning were going to open up the first page on our advent calendar.

In doing so were going to look at one of the prophesies that Isaiah made,

The passage that was read this morning though is not you’re usual pre Christmas warm up passage to the big event or the birth of the Christ,

but it does tell us a little about the purpose God had in sending his son to us as a child on that first Christmas morning.

So this morning you might say we are going to look at the birth of God’s kingdom.

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Try to imagine your self as Isaiah wandering the streets of Jerusalem you’re home,

a city that you’re proud of ,

a city that’s the home of the royal palace and the temple, a city with a short but proud history.

Unfortunately today you don’t feel so proud,

you look around you and see this city for the place that it really is

a place that treads on people toes.

In the words of Isaiah form chapter 1,

the once faithful city has become a harlot.

As a city she was once full of justice,

righteousness used to dwell in her but now only

murder!

Her silver has become dross,

her choice wine is diluted with water,

and her rulers are rebels the companion of thieves,

they love nothing more than bribes and to chase after

gifts.

This city of Isaiah does not defend the cause of the

fatherless

and the widows cases do not come before them.

PAUSE----------

That’s the picture that Isaiah paints in the first chapter of

this book.

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Now I want you to think about the place that our reading was about this morning.

This is a picture of a mountain that has been raised up above all other mountains,

but its more than just an ordinary mountain with snow and sheep on it,

No this mountain is home to the presence of

God. What’s more it a real happening type of place,

because nations upon nation is drawing to it.

And once you’ve been there you will never be the same

again, you see this place has the most amazing effect upon all who travel to it because God’s presence changes

people. The man of war suddenly becomes a man of peace.

PAUSE-----------------

For Isaiah this vision was a vision of hope,

a real rose in the midst of the thorn bush.

Something that he would cling to when the nights got cold and dark,

as Judah and Jerusalem came under attack from the Assyrian army.

A vision of peace,

a vision of the kingdom of God.

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It is a wonderful vision,

a vision that not only spoke to Isaiah deepest longings but a vision that speaks to our deepest longings too,

who would not wish for a vision like this too come true.

If you were to walk down you’re average highstreet in suburban New Zealand and ask people what there Christmas wish would be I think the majority would wish for peace and an end to suffering.

Many people would wish for what is at the heart of this vision of Isaiahs.

Is it any wonder though

when we look around the world,

war seems to be everywhere,

and peace only seems to come in short bursts over the

treaty table,

no matter how hard we try this vision seems to allude us.

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Some years ago a movement grew in the western world its purpose was to make this vision a reality,

to bring peace and an end to all suffering.

The movement has been called the enlightenment as it was almost like some one had turned the light on in a dark room,

no longer did people have to grope around in the dark instead they could rely on

technology, science and discovery, it was only a matter of time till the reality of Isaiahs vision

would be fulfilled,

the only difference was that humanity no longer felt the need for God and so the cry went out

"God is dead, humankind will save the world."

Of course they said this before the two great wars, before the aids epidemic,

before air plane hijacks became an everyday occurrence.

PAUSE---------------

Its no wonder then why human kind is not so confident today about bringing the end to suffering and ushering in an age of peace.

But still the world dreams about peace,

about an end to wars

about a bright new day,

about a time when the sword will become a plow shear.

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This vision of Isaiahs is a wonderful vision,

perhaps though it’s too wonderful,

maybe the hope that Isaiah held to during that time of turmoil was just pie in the sky.

Perhaps its just too good to be true,