The Lord’s mountain
2 This is what Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In the days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of the mountains.
It will be lifted above the hills;
peoples will stream to it.
3 Many nations will go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,
to the house of Jacob’s God
so that he may teach us his ways
and we may walk in God’s paths.”
Instruction will come from Zion;
the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.
Reflection
This prophecy is speaking of that joyful, wonderful future time when God will be in God’s holy mountain and all the nations of the world will be drawn to the new Jerusalem. There they will worship God and be taught God’s ways and how to walk in God’s paths. There will be peace and joy living in the love of God as God’s children.
In the Bible, people intentionally went up into the mountains to the sacred places to seek God and God’s will for their lives. Think of Moses, Abraham and Isaac, and the transfiguration of Jesus in front of Peter, James and John. Jesus often spent time alone in prayer and reflection, deepening his relationship with God. On boats, in fields, on the roads, at healings and raising the dead, Jesus prayed to God. Jesus loved and trusted God. Jesus sought to follow God’s will for his life, and he derived the strength to be obedient to God’s purpose for his life, even dying on the cross for us, because he loved us.
God calls us where we are, and while we don’t need to go to the mountains when we pray, we do need to be intentional about having times and places to pray. We can pray where ever we are, no matter what is happening. We can praise God. We can express our gratitude to God. We can seek our purpose in God. We can pour out our concerns for ourselves and others. We can pray, not just in times of crisis, or at church, but at every moment, because God wants
to be in relationship with us, and reveal our purpose in Christ. God is that sacred place of love and care, where we can experience God’s love for us in every moment, in every breath we breathe. Prayer is our constant connection with God our Creator, Jesus our Savior, and the Spirit our Comforter, who are always with us.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering & Prayer
John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said “Prayer is the grand means of drawing near to God, the breath of our spiritual life.” God is calling us into relationship and prayer is our connection to God. Where’s your “mountain,” your place, where you can go and draw near to God? This week be intentional and set a time and place each day to spend time with God.
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, we desire to be closer to you, but life gets very busy. Help us to set aside time to be with you to pray and know our purpose. Amen.
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