Friday, December 23—Isaiah 2:1-5: “Walking in the Light”
Prophets are visionaries. They declare what they see. Thus the great vision of Isaiah 2:2-4 is introduced as the word Isaiah saw (Isaiah 2:1). The prophet’s poetry begs us to see what he is saying.
And what does he invite us to see? “The days to come” (v. 2) are literally “the days behind.” Not the past, but those days that we fail to see no matter how hard we strain to gaze ahead and no matter which direction we choose to look. For to see the days to come, the days that finally matter, we need “eyes to see.”
The words of Isaiah are plain enough, yet if we are among those who trust the idols of the nations we won’t be able to see what he is saying (Psalm 35:15-18). We will not be able to envision a time when plowshares will trump swords and academies of war will be no more (v. 4). Our pride in what we have built will not let us imagine a world in which the only destination that matters is the house of Israel’s God and the only true worth is God’s word (vv. 2-3). Yet to those of the house of Jacob, the light that shines upon such a time and such a world is a light to live by even now (v. 5).
As I write these words I’m trying to picture where I will be on December 23, 2011. In my dreams it will be dark and cold and snowy outside and I’ll be warming myself beside the light of a crackling fire. A postcard-perfect Christmas Eve eve! The charm of such an evening for me is the contrast of the dark without and the light within. The contrast sparks my imagination and calls me to consider what daybreak will bring. Will the world be changed? Will the warmth of the light within prove to be a harbinger of the Light of the world? Will those who have walked in the light of the Lord be finally and fully vindicated?
“God of Israel and Lord of the house of Jacob, come into our homes this season and light our fires and give us eyes to see. The birth of Jesus gives us hope that the vision of Isaiah is true light that illumines both our path and our destination. Amen.”
Kevin Hall
