In a recent expression of Isaiah 2:4, the Philadelphia nonprofit The Simple Way called for donations of AK-47s and other guns, which blacksmiths and welders made into rakes, shovels, and hand trowels – in the words of co-founder Shane Claiborne, “turning weapons of death into tools for peace and for life.” See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WcfU3KLMeU.
The powerful message of Isaiah 2:4 has inspired monuments and movements like these around the world. The context for this message of hope remains as relevant today as when Isaiah first delivered it. As described in Isaiah 1:4-8, the people of Israel were in despair. Their world was plagued by war, corruption, unfaithfulness, and desolation. Despite these circumstances, Isaiah prophesized that better days were to come if God’s people would but “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5). The Rev. John Buchanan calls this message “the precious countercultural, counterintuitive good news that, in spite of what is going on in the world, a day of peace is coming, a day when the economy of war becomes an economy of peace: a day when the money spent on weapons is redirected to produce agricultural implements, when billions invested in bombs and airplanes and weapons systems are used for life—for education and schools, hospitals and health care. The countercultural message of Advent is that in spite of what is happening at the moment, a day of justice and kindness and mercy is coming.” See https://fourthchurch.org/sermons/2007/120207.html.
In this Advent season, we live with hope for the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy -- a day when peace, justice, kindness, and mercy rule. We bring this hope to life in the present when we live as disciples of Christ: when we feed the hungry and clothe the naked; when we provide aid for those who are persecuted or displaced by war; when we take steps to stop gun violence; and when we are a kind, compassionate, and caring people. We cannot know when Isaiah’s prophecy will fully come to pass. But God has a record of faithfulness and fulfillment of promises throughout the ages. On that we can rely and have hope that this prophecy, too, will be fulfilled, just as Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of a Messiah, the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Amen.
