Having looked at the background to Isaiah last week, we discover that chapter 2 begins in pretty much the same way as chapter 1 but the emphasis of the rest of the chapter is very different.
Chapter 1 focusses on the sin of the people of Israel and their need to repent. Chapter 2 looks forward to the time when God’s Kingdom comes in the form of a new Jerusalem, particularly in its setting on a hill.
Hills and mountains are special places of communion with God and many Bible characters get closer to God during mountaintop experiences. Abraham, Moses and of course Jesus all went up mountains to talk to God. Jesus himself was eventually put to death on top of a hill outside Jerusalem, the ultimate example of God bridging the gap between us.
You can hear the talk by Revd. Martin Poole here Isaiah 2_1-5
