WHEN JUDGMENT BECOMES A DESPERATE CALL

(A series in the book of Isaiah: Chapter 2)

Isaiah chapter 2 continues to present the vision concerning God’s people. In chapter 1 it is all about the horrible condition of Jerusalem. When Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem this describes God’s nation, His people. Chapter 1 displays God’s ceaseless invitation amidst the wickedness of Jerusalem. In chapter two the pattern continues in presenting the word of the Lord against Jerusalem.

However, there is an interesting shift in chapter 2, God is presenting an important aspect in addition to restoration, hope, and forgiveness of chapter 1. God presents a clear and transparent future glory of the New Jerusalem. Verses 2-5 opened this chapter with a declaration of a new nation of God. There is coming a NEW JERUSALEM—peace and justice reigns.

This new city is in direct contrast to the old city that the people tried to establish. The new Jerusalem is established by God. It is God who made it and formed it for His people. The old Jerusalem—rebellion, idolatry, and injustice—is the nation that people tried to establish in themselves taking it away from the hands of God. It is supposed to be God's chosen city but people stood up for themselves. Apart from God this is what humanity looks like—rebellious, disobedient, prideful, and proud.

Yes, the old Jerusalem stands in the heart of His people but God promises that HE has the New Jerusalem prepared for His nation. It is not that God just made them suffer and be lost forever. God gave them His vision of new life, newness, and love.

I don’t think that God is worthy of our picture of him—stern, harsh, and difficult. I don’t see God’s anger and rage from the perspective of this chapter. I see a God who is not giving up on His people. He is holding on and keeps on pursuing them with reasons for His children to embrace Him back. God sounds desperately bargaining all good things for His people and presenting them the consequences of the other choice. God is willing to bargain for the sake of getting you into His side again.

Verses 12-22 describes God displaying the consequences of their evil choices. But it is not expressed in condemnation but in a stronger hope and desire to persuade and to prove what He can do despite all their sins.

I see God is desperately calling His people back to Him. This is despite the very little hope to get them back. God sees the impossibility of His nation’s situation. They are in deep sinning and they are not struggling anymore. But despite their deliberate sinning, look at what God has done. He gave the message to Prophet Isaiah to present His case not against them but for them. Their case is hopeless and God presents unconditional acceptance, cleansing, and restoration not just personally but as a nation. God’s plan is not only for a single person it is for a people. He is calling people back to Him. God is pleading His people to come back to Him, to trust Him back, and not trust men.

Friends, this is God. He never gives up. You may think that yourself or others are great hopeless sinners, however, this chapter reminds us to load and clear that His arms are open and waiting for any repentant. He does not wait for you to be strong enough to come to you and be faithful. He calls you just the sinner you are and He promises to go through with you in your struggles. Why does He desperately call, He does because He sees from beginning to end and it is also loud and clear that it is HIM and His nation who will reign in the very end.