Isaiah 2

What is being referenced here? In the first half of the chapter, I can see references to the coming Messiah. Many people did come to Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord's temple to hear, see, and exprience Jesus' ministry. He taught his ways, and many people followed and continue to follow in His path. He taught about peace and the ever-famous "turning of the other cheek". Isaiah references the end of wars and training of wars, which implies to me that there will be a time of existance after the time comes to pass that he's talking about. But if Isaiah is describing the messiah, and Christ claims to be the messiah, why do we still have nations fighting, people training for wars, and generally not have peace? Ok, so Isaiah starts this pasage by saying "In the last days", so maybe he's not talking about when Christ came 2000 years ago, but the second coming of Christ? But if that's the case, why would he talk about the law going out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem? My understanding of the Second Coming is that it marks the end of times - Christ will reign, Satan will be defeated and the Judgement will occur, separating faithful from faithless. Granted, in these times there will be no more war, only peace. But then why would the law have to go out any more? It would be fulfilled...right?

Verses 6-9 seem to kick off a section of pointing out some areas of sin - seemingly idolotry, to be exact. Even today these words hold true. At least Americans seem to have endless treasures; we're infused with superstitions and spirituality from the East; all of us have many horses (I mean, our cars are measured in horsepower....); people are focused on success in business and their accomplishments ("they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made"). But the warning is very clear: "Man will be brought low and mankind humbled - do not forgive them". I'm struggling with that last line - do not forgive them. Who shouldn't be forgiving who? Is this a request being given to God? As in, Isaiah's asking God not to forgive the idolotrous "house of Jacob"? Is Isaiah telling those faithful to God not to forgive those that have fallen away? In either case, it seems as though Jesus gives us opposite direction, as he asks God to forgive us, and tells us to forgive not only our friends, but our enemies as well.

One thing I notice in the last half of chapter 2 is the phrase "...from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty" since Isaiah uses this phrase 3 times, the last two of which also have another line at the end "when he rises to shake the earth." Now, I don't really know what this repetition means, but I have been told a few times to pay attention to repetition, since it usually holds significance. Any thoughts?

Otherwise, the last half of the chapter is continuing in the explanation of idols in the day of the Lord. Again, is this referencing the "end times", for which we are still waiting, or the time of Jesus, which has happened and we are now seeing a return to the idolotry and pride of men return?

I find it humbling to think that the Lord will cut everything down to size - the tall cedars of Lebanon, towering mountains, lofty towers and fortified walls. It also makes me realize that human pride is also incredibly huge - our pride is also compared to these incredible natural structures and large, heavy buildings that we have created.

How amazing will it be when everyone throws their idols - money, pride, you name it! - to the "rodents and the bats"? My concern is where we're running. Isaiah tells us that we're running to the caverns and crags from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.