Reflection

 Today we begin worship and this advent season with:

Isaiah 2:2-5

It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the house of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

    and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war anymore.

O house of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the light of the Lord. 

The phrase "the latter days" speaks of what comes after history.  This is the Kingdom of God. 

We are used to judges, legislators, and presidents, whose power is divided and limited to prevent its corruption.  But our incorruptible God will instead serve as its king forever.  He will hold court and bring peace.

We are used to nations at war.  Each trying to either expand or defend their kingdom.  But under one King there is no need.  So the weapons of war become unnecessary and can be put to better use.

People from all nations will flow (nāhar) into it.  The word in Hebrew speaks of the shimmering light off of the stream as the water moves.  We are invited to walk in that light and to reflect it.