Chapter 2
There’s one big benefit to not being the oldest child—and the smarter younger siblings figure it out pretty early. They watch their older brother or sister and learn from their mistakes, especially when it comes to the all-important question: “What makes Mom or Dad angry?”
I learned this many times by watching my older brother. Most of the time, I wanted to be like him. But there were also more than a few times when I saw exactly what not to do—and I took note.
I think this kind of learning is pretty common—not just in families, but in Scripture too. In fact, we can see this same principle right in the book of Isaiah.
Many Christians struggle with the Old Testament, especially with books like Isaiah. It can feel like it’s speaking only to Israel—both the northern and southern kingdoms. So the question becomes: If it wasn’t written directly to us, does it really apply to us at all?
This is where the “older brother” idea comes in.
Israel is like our older sibling. And we, as followers of Jesus, can learn from them—both from what they got right, and what they got wrong. Think of it like a firecracker. There’s a fuse that leads to the body, right? That’s kind of how God designed Israel. They were the fuse—the part that comes first—but they lead to something greater. Israel always goes first. In glory, yes, but also in correction. Like an older brother who gets praised when he succeeds, but also disciplined when he messes up, Israel sets the pattern.
And just like with a firecracker, when the fuse is lit, it eventually reaches the rest of the firework.
So we should pay close attention to what’s written in books like Isaiah. Even if it sounds like condemnation, there’s always a deeper message: a call to repentance, a call for hearts to return to God. That message doesn’t just apply to ancient Israel—it’s for us too.
As I read Isaiah, I noticed something surprising: many of the themes in this chapter show up again in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The same call for repentance, spoken by Isaiah around 730 years earlier, is echoed by Jesus. I’ll add a few parallels in parentheses to show how much Isaiah’s words mirror Jesus’ own message to all of us.
So yes, some parts of the Old Testament speak directly to Israel. But if we’re paying attention, we’ll see that we have a lot to learn from our “older brother.”
The Mountain of the Lord
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw [this word came in a type of vision] concerning Judah and Jerusalem: [specifically for the two nations of Judah (south) and Jerusalem/Israel (north)]
2 In the last days [A glimpse into the Millennium during Jesus reign on earth.] the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; (Matthew 6:10 Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done) it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world…a city on a hill…)
3 Many peoples [common group, similar people, tribe] will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, (Matthew 7:24 Whoever hears these words of mine and does them…) so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations [Hebrew: goy: gentiles, non-jews,] and will settle disputes for many peoples. [common group, similar people, tribe] They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. (Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers) Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. [No time in history has this been possible. No reign of man could this come. Only when Jesus himself rules will this be possible.]
5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
The Day of the Lord
6 You, LORD, have abandoned [let loose, let alone, released, gave way] your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs. [Perhaps in the name of “diversity,” the leaders and people of Judah were allowing the worship of false gods].7 Their land is full of silver and gold; (Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up your treasures on earth…) there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. [This is a rebuke to those who love riches and trust in wealth] 8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. [This is a rebuke against those who worship what they have made and what they have done] 9 So people will be brought low and everyone humbled–do not forgive [lift up, exalt, respect] them.
10 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty! 11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; (Matthew 5:5, 6:1-6 Blessed are the meek and humble.) the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), (Matthew 7:13-27 Enter through the narrow gate…wide road of destruction.) 13 for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan, 14 for all the towering mountains and all the high hills, 15 for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, 16 for every trading ship and every stately vessel. 17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, 18 and the idols will totally disappear.
19 People [the “wicked”, the unredeemed] will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. 20 In that [singular, personal] day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. 21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
22 Stop trusting in mere humans, (Matthew 6:24 You cannot serve both God and money.) who have but a breath in their nostrils. [who are temporary beings] Why hold them in esteem?
