Psalm 122 / Isaiah 2:2-5

This Sunday, I am focusing on the reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. I will be focusing on Isaiah all the way through the season of Advent, as a way for us all to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ of God.

Read Psalm 122, this week’s Psalm, as a “song of ascents” about meeting God in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:2-5 focuses on an ultimate day when all nations of the world will gather before God. In our day when religions other than Judaism and Christianity are known and respected, how can we understand the seeming exclusivity of this reading?

Notice who is addressed in Isaiah 2:5. Does this call Jews and Christians to pay attention to our calling without concerning ourselves about others who may “have it wrong”?

Notice the practical outcome of the judgment, when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation/neither shall they learn war anymore.” Does this make judgment sound negative or positive?