Isaiah 2:4c
©️2020 Gloria M. Chang
From swords of war to the sword of the Spirit—here is the hope of the mountain of the Lord, where every blade is beaten into a plowshare and the only sword that remains is the living Word of God.
In days to come,
Isaiah 2:2-5
The mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it.
Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Sword of the Word and Spirit
Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17
May the sword of the Word and the sword of the Spirit heal our divisions and put an end to the swords of war.
Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
Isaiah 2:4c
nor shall they train for war again.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《主耶和華的山，第 4 天》
這國不舉刀攻擊那國，
他們也不再學習戰事。
Dear GMC, your reflection reminds me of what Saint Pope John Paul II said: “Holiness is to raise one’s eyes to the summits. It is intimacy with God the Father who is in Heaven. In this intimacy each one of us is aware of our nature with all its limitations and difficulties.” Today, I will go to the mountain of the Lord, to the summits, to find communion with God. And take everyone in prayer with me. Thank you, GMC, for your inspiring reflection.
Thank you for the beautiful quote, and for your prayerful retreat on the mountain of the Lord.
Though swords of metal do not clang now,
military maneuvers use new weapons.
Drones carry deadly explosives,
no discrimination between old or young’uns.
Long range missiles fired from afar,
some enter the enemy’s protective shield.
Innocent lives in hospitals and schools,
counted as collateral damage in the field.
As the drones fly and the missiles strike,
peace talks drag on without resolution.
Will shalom pervade the warring parties,
before despair becomes mass destruction?
God alone is the Victor, our rock and refuge.
Lord, replace all weapons of war,
Clothe leaders with the helmet of salvation.
Shower your peace forever more.