Isaiah: The Day of the Lord

Isaiah 2

Winston Churchill once joked that political success is “the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year—and then to explain why it didn’t happen.”^[1] This observation is clever—and often true. Human predictions fail all the time. But the prophet Isaiah wasn’t making educated guesses or appealing to public opinion. He wasn’t speculating—he was speaking for God. That’s why he could confidently declare, “If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:20 NIV). Isaiah’s message didn’t come from clever insight but from a heart illuminated by the very words of God!

After challenging Judah’s hypocrisy in chapter 1, the focus in chapter 2 shifts to “the day of the Lord.” A future time will come when the nation of Israel will influence the entire world. Isaiah describes what he saw on that imminent day.

Isaiah 2:2
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….

Think about the timing of this message. The northern kingdom is weakened and close to toppling under the weight of Assyria. Eventually, the southern kingdom will fall to Babylon. But God looks to the future when Jerusalem (“the mountain of the house of the Lord”) will have a primary position in the world (see Micah 4:1-3). “In the latter days,” nations will gather in Jerusalem from all over the world to learn God’s ways and “walk in his paths.” “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3). God will judge over the nations (Isa. 2:4), and wars will cease. People will “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isa. 2:5). Our Anchor Point for today’s chapter is Isaiah 2:4.

Isaiah 2:4
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. 

I believe this passage points to Christ’s return when he establishes his earthly kingdom. Weapons of war, such as swords and spears, will be transformed into tools for farming. Can you imagine a long period without war? Based on other references in Scripture, this anticipates the millennial kingdom (named for its duration of one thousand years). The kingdom's headquarters will be Jerusalem, where Jesus will reign (Isa. 9:3-7; 11:1-10), bring peace (Micah 4:2-4; Isa. 32:17-18), joy (Isa. 61:7, 10), and comfort (Isa. 40:1-2). Only believers will enter the millennial kingdom to pursue obedience (Jer. 31:33), holiness (Isa. 35:8), and knowledge of God (Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14). Some believe that “one thousand years” is symbolic, but this exact number of years is referenced in Revelation 20:1-7, suggesting a likely literal interpretation. Either way, the point is that God will bring a genuine, lasting peace—and it will center on Jesus.

Isaiah 2:1-5 paints a picture of what life in Israel will look like in the future—"in the latter days"—when peace and God’s rule prevail. However, in verse 6, Isaiah returns to the present, confronting Judah’s current rebellion. The people have embraced eastern religious practices, consulted fortune-tellers, and aligned themselves with foreign nations that worship other gods (Isa. 2:6). As a sign of their lack of reliance on the Lord, they have depended on their wealth and built a powerful military (Isa. 2:7). Furthermore, their land is filled with man-made idols (Isa. 2:8).

Because of this, the Lord of Hosts—literally, the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies”—has set a day of judgment when the proud will be brought low (Isa. 2:12). Isaiah uses powerful imagery to describe human arrogance: the “cedars of Lebanon” and “oaks of Bashan” symbolize majesty and strength, while the “lofty mountains,” “every high tower,” and “the ships of Tarshish” represent man’s security, pride, and self-reliance. These ships, made in or bound for Tarshish, are known for their size and beauty—the best of their kind. Together, these images stand for proud, self-sufficient people who believe they are untouchable. But Isaiah makes it clear: nothing and no one can stand against the judgment of Almighty God (Isa. 2:13-16).

Isaiah 2:17-19
And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away. And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.

People will try to hide from God on the day of his judgment. However, this judgment applies to everyone opposing him (Isa. 2:20-22).

Let’s pause here to highlight how Isaiah’s message is structured. Isaiah 2 begins with a glimpse of the future—specifically, the promise of the millennial kingdom (vv. 1–5). However, starting in verse 6, the focus shifts back to the present reality: a coming day of judgment for Judah because of their rebellion. This judgment would ultimately be fulfilled in 586 BC, nearly one hundred years after Isaiah’s ministry, and it also points to a future, final day of judgment. Let’s unpack that timeline.

According to Isaiah 6, the prophet began his ministry when King Uzziah died—around 739 BC—and continued until about 681 BC. During this period, the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. They would have heard Isaiah’s prophecies alongside those of Hosea, who prophesied directly to them. God used these prophets as instruments of grace, offering warnings and calling the people to return to him.

After Isaiah’s death, the southern kingdom of Judah continued to ignore these warnings. Although other prophets—like Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah—spoke boldly to Judah, they still refused to listen. Ultimately, in 586 BC, Babylon invaded and conquered them, just as Isaiah had foretold.

So, in Isaiah 2, we see a pattern that will appear throughout the book: God first reveals a future filled with hope and blessing (vv. 1–5), then immediately confronts the present reality of sin and rebellion (vv. 6–22). This back-and-forth between future hope and present judgment is a key feature of Isaiah’s prophetic style. As 2 Peter 3:8 (NIV) reminds us, “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Here’s one final thought: God gave Judah an entire century to repent before judgment came. He was patient, but they still rejected his grace. And we often do the same.

Interestingly, Isaiah 2:4 (KJV)—“They shall beat their swords into plowshares…”—is prominently engraved on a wall outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The UN's goal is global peace. Yet, like Judah, many of its leaders pursue peace while ignoring the God who provides lasting peace. And when grace is rejected, judgment is never far behind.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word
Read and reflect on Isaiah 2. Focus on our Anchor Point: Isaiah 2:4

Talking to God: 
Will you surrender to God’s grace? Or will you ignore it like Judah did?

Zoom Call to review Job
On Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm, we will meet on a Zoom call to review what we learned in Job and answer questions. Information and a link to join the call will be included in the May 5 devotion email.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God's Word. Submit your question below, and we'll reply soon. Let us know if you want to explore a relationship with Jesus further or desire spiritual counsel.

Outline of Isaiah

Theme: The Salvation (deliverance) of the Lord

I. Condemnation—(1–39)

1. Sermons against Judah and Israel—(1–12)
2. Burdens of Judgment against the Gentiles—(13–23)
3. Songs about Future Glory—(24–27)
4. Woes of Coming Judgment from Assyria—(28–35)
5. Historical Interlude—(36–39)

a. Hezekiah delivered from Assyria—(36–37)
b. Hezekiah deceived by Babylon—(37–38)

II. Consolation—(40–66)

1. God’s Greatness—(40–48) (The Father vs. idols)
2. God’s Grace—(49–57) (The Son, God’s Servant)
3. God’s Glory—(58–66) (The Spirit and the kingdom)^[2]