ii. 2-5. _And it shall come to pass in the last days, &c._
Theme: _The Glory of the Latter Days._ "The last days," when men
shall no longer need to offer the prayer, "Thy kingdom _come._" The
glory of the latter days will consist--+I. In the exaltation of the
Lord's house above all other institutions+ (ver. 2). Now the
Exchange, the Senate, the University, &c., are the great "mountains"
of society; then the sanctuary will be supreme. In other words,
religion will be the ruling force in society, dominating and
directing all the others. This is the truth set forth by the figure
of the upraising of Mount Zion above all the other mountains, "so as
to be visible in all directions." +II. In universal submission to the
authority of God+ (ver. 3). Not by the Jews only (as in Isaiah's
time), but by "_all_ nations,"[1] and not (as now) by some
individuals merely, but by "all _nations,_" will this authority be
recognised and obeyed. Sin will be the exception, righteousness the
rule. And so, as a consequence of this--+III. In universal peace
among men+ (ver. 4).[2] All contentions necessarily cease when men
know and do the will of God. James iii. 14--iv. 1. Love towards man
always results from genuine love toward God.
A contemplation of their glorious future is calculated--1. _To
sustain us amid the sins and sorrows of our time._ When we look at
the condition of the world as it is, we are tempted to despair. But
there is a better day to come. In the widening diffusion of Christian
truth, and in the growing power of Christian principle, even now we
may see at least streaks of light which tell that the dawn is near.
2. _To animate us in our efforts to regenerate society._ These
efforts are not in vain, though they sometimes seem so. We are
working in the line of victory (1 Cor. xv. 58). 3. _The blessing of
the future we can make our own now._ "O house of Jacob, come _ye,_
and let _us_ walk in the light of the Lord," that is, "in His paths"
(ver. 3). We can make religion the supreme force of our life, and can
act with a constant recognition of God's authority; and doing this,
_we_ shall have peace--with God, with ourselves, and in our homes
(Isa. xxxii. 17, 18).