All I know is, this is amazing and I when I read and meditate on what it is that I am reading and how amazing it is, it is so hard not share it. I really believe that this will bless the personal studies of everyone who enjoys it.

So without any further ado…

Enjoy this continuation of a consideration of Isaiah chapter 2:1-5 and Micah 4:1-5

Isaiah 2:4b continues…

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

So as I was looking up the references for this, and as I found myself considering not just verses, but entire chapters, what became very clear to me is that this would be something that would be experienced by those who were true citizens of the Kingdom of God – those who are subjects of (and are submitted to) King Jesus Christ.

As I stewed upon that something became apparent to me.

We, as a people, are waiting for Jesus Christ to return. HE IS coming back soon. But, in error, we think that this charge of nation not lifting up sword against nation will only take place after Jesus has physically returned to the earth and removed all of the wicked. That’s an incorrect way of thinking because

Its judgmental.

• First of all, it fails to take into account that God does not desire that anyone lose their life but that all attain to repentance.

• Second, God doesn’t view things how we do. So, who are we to judge someone else as being wicked.

Case in point: Saul of Tarsus whom later became know as Apostle Paul

Saul was known for participating in the arrests and martyrs of the early Christians. He was actually on his way to arrest more, with papers in hand, when the resurrected ascended King Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus.

Jesus chose Saul to do the work of the ministry of spreading the Gospel as an Apostle to the Gentiles. This is someone who agreed to the murder of Stephen. Yet, he was hand chosen and turned around from what he was doing to be given a new lease on life with a new assignment and a new name.

Jesus said that HE came not to judge, but that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Jesus said that He would leave the 99 to go after the one that was lost and that heaven rejoices when the sinner turns from his sinful ways. (Luke 15:4-7) 

Jesus told us to pray “As it is in heaven, so be it on earth…”. It will happen in the spirit first, and what that means for us is that individually we will stop lifting our swords against others in our mind and heart first.

If you took the Dressed for Battle online Spiritual Warfare Class (theartisanspen.org) you would know that the sword is the word of God in our mouths. So, our not lifting up swords, nations against nations, starts with what comes out of our mouths against the next person.

Jesus told us that what comes out of our mouths comes from our heart. So nations not lifting up sword against nations is a matter of a change of heart, a change of thought, and a change of words spoken in reference to the next individual.

Why are people fighting today?

Why do people not like one another?

Where does this all start?

It starts in the hearts of people. It starts with what people meditate upon in their hearts. Just like with Cain and Abel.

What are the meditations of your heart toward the next person, toward your neighbor?

This brought me to the next realization…

With all of the religions in the world, world wide, why is there no unity, except that we are not practicing our faith.

You see if one was “working” their religious faith, it wouldn’t have them looking outside first. Instead, it would have them looking inside. For example, we are told to BE blessed, BE encouraged, BE holy, BE one. We are told to BE. Well, if we are human BE-ings, then how are we BE-ing when it comes to our neighbors? How are we BE-ing towards one another?

Jesus was trying to teach this very thing to his disciples with the parable of the Good Samaritan found at Luke 10:29-37.

With all of the different religious denominations in the world, we tend to forget the following:

This says that there is ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God  and Father who is…

• of ALL
• over ALL
• through ALL
• in ALL

It said ALL, not some.

Jesus Christ said that He and His Father is one; and we, in our worship and day to day lives, are told to come into this unity of oneness.

So, if we are still picking up our swords against another, then it is evident that we are not practicing our faith. We would be guilty of talking it, but not living it and that is a problem especially if we are claiming and expecting to be going to heaven.

Jesus said that only the one who is DO-ing the will of His Father will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. (Emphasis on the fact that this is something that one would already be DO-ing before receiving the reward of GO-ing. Therefore, one must already be a human BE-ing.)

So the questions is, is the one who claims to be Christian, or worshipping and serving the only True God, really doing so if they are lifting up their sword against another – Nation against Nation?

Look at what God’s Word says about that in 1 John 4:8

Lets consider what the Bible says about Nation not lifting sword against nations. (Each Scripture shared will be hyperlinked so that you can click on it to read the entire chapter)

Psalm 46

Here is just a snippet of Psalm 46

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.

I have to give the key to unlock this verse

But check this out…

In verse 4 of Psalm 46, where it speaks of a river whose streams makes glad the city of God, to understand who or what this river is, I encourage you to pause and take a look at John 7:38.

Click here to read John 7:37-39

These rivers are those who truly believe Gods Word over and above all that is happening in this world and as a result they have been filled with the Holy Spirit.

The streams from these rivers flow from the heart of the believers. It is what they share in pouring out from their heart all that they are full of faith over. Jesus said out of their belly would flow streams of living water that would make glad (fill with joy, strengthen, quicken, cause to shout) the city of God (Jerusalem, the church, the people of God).

Regarding the desolations spoken of in Psalm 46: I looked it up

It is defined as anguished misery or loneliness.
(There is no way we should be feeling lonely if we are in the presence of the Lord. Here is why:

In His presence there is fullness of joy
In His presence pleasure forever more (Psalm 16:11)
In His presence there is peace for our soul
In His presence is found love)

The definition of desolation continues with the following misery, sadness,  unhappiness, melancholy, gloom, sorrow, depression, grief, brokenheartedness, discouragement, low-spirits, distress

And verse 8 of Psalm 46 says the Lord did that He brought that on the earth.

Why?

Because HE is making wars to cease. A part of that means that people’s bows (idols) are being broken and those with spears (pointing fingers) are being shattered. So, if you think you will escape this corrective judgment then you are sadly mistaken because the shields will be burned with fire.

This is a humbling process that every one on earth will experience as Father is highly exalted in all the earth. Remember every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD.

Those who continue to fight it, who are like waters that roar and foam, will experience the desolations and the quaking of the mountains. But don’t get stuck there because God also said, in Psalm 46:4, that there is a river whose streams make the city of God glad. We discussed that already.

So, we simply need to chill and “Be still” like God told us to. Knowing God. Trusting God. By the rivers where you can be glad while you wait for God to be exalted in the earth.

Lets do another one

Isaiah 9:1-7

Here is just a snippet

⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Christ Jesus is the reigning KING of the Government of God and under HIS government there will be peace. The rule/command is that we LOVE.

Oooweee
This makes me shout and my spirit leap within me.

[Note: There is more that God’s Word says about nations not taking up sword against nation. Here is the list of verses that lets you know that this happens for those who choose residency under the Kingdom of God ruled by King Jesus:

Isaiah 11:1-16; Isaiah 32:1-20; Isaiah 65:1-25; Hosea 2:18-23; and Zechariah 9:9-10

Neither shall they learn war anymore.

(NIV says, “neither will they train for war anymore.”)

This is because the KING has commanded that we love

The KING has commanded that we show mercy

The KING has commanded that we forgive

Here is were Micah says a little more before again confirming what Isaiah said. This is what Micah said:

Micah 4:4

But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree,
And no one shall make them afraid;
For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken

King Jesus has spoken. HE has given us His instructions. Remember that HE said that the one who will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who is “doing the will of the Lord”.

Now I opened this by asking the question:

Did Isaiah and Micah prophesy of the end of racism?

The answer to that is not just racism, but isms and scisms as a whole. What has separated mankind as a whole has not been truth, but instead lies and jealousies that stems all the way back to the first family.

For example, it was jealousy that caused the first son to react in such a way as to kill the second son, thus opening a door towards more killing. Also, it was lies that plummeted the first parents (Adam and Eve) into the downward spiral of separation to begin with because their disobedience roots in the lies that was told them separated them from their Creator, God Almighty, and therefore, separated them from life.

Jesus Christ, who is KING of the Kingdom of GOD, restores that which has been broken through separation.

Jesus Christ, KING of the Kingdom of God, is the way, the Truth, and the life. Through King Jesus was are promises to know the truth and be set free by it.

This is what we see happening now as more and more truth is crying out in the midst of a world built on lies. In this, everyone has the free will to choose their path.

No one’s back is against the wall. We all have a choice now because of what King Jesus did for us all. That choice is presented to us in the form of an invitation given to all men. We see that invitation at Isaiah 2:5

⁵ O house of Jacob,

Remember Jacob and Israel is the same person but Jacob represents the fleshly man and Israel represents the spiritual man. So this invitation is to ALL fleshly humans

come

and let us walk
In the light of the Lord.

1 John 1:5-10
English Standard Version

Walking in the Light
⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A5-10&version=NIV;ESV

1 John 2:3-14
English Standard Version

³ And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment
⁷ Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. ⁸ At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. ⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
¹² I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
¹³ I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.
¹⁴ I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A3-14&version=NIV;ESV

I hope this 3-part consideration of Isaiah chapter 2 has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. As many times as I have read over it in the past, I never saw with such depth that which I was allowed to see this time.

There is definitely a separation work that is going on. We can begin to see the difference between those who have been called out of the kingdom of darkness and transferred over into the kingdom of light. We can see the impact of those who are walking in love as opposed to those who are still walking in selfishness, hatreds, and the jealousies that plague this world and how it operates.

The invitation to COME is still open.

Will you accept the Master’s call?

Where Isaiah ends with the invitation for all to come, Micah ends by letting us know what the Master, our Lord, King Jesus says about what life will be like under HIS rule.

Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the Lord Almighty has spoken (Micah 4:4)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%204&version=NIV;ESV

Micah concludes with the reminder to us that it is a choice.

All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:5)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%204&version=NIV;ESV