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The Mountain of the Lord, Part 2 The Mountain of the Lord, Part 2

The Mountain of the Lord, Part 2

Devotions

Near the end of John Milton’s Christian epic poem Paradise Lost, the archangel Michael takes Adam to the top of a mountain. There he shows him visions of future history. Having chosen to disobey God’s command, Adam and Eve were about to be exiled from Eden. What lay ahead for humanity? Was there any hope? Yes! Though Adam saw a future with much sin and rebelliousness, he also saw clear evidence that God is in control and has a loving plan of redemption. There was no reason for despair.

We, too, can find hope on the “mountain of the Lord”! Today’s reading closely resembles yesterday’s (especially the first three verses) and has the same time period in view. Christ has returned and set up His kingdom. He will rule from Jerusalem, which will be “the highest of the mountains” politically and spiritually (v. 1). The city will be the world center for worship and learning about God (v. 2).

With Christ as King, there will be perfect justice and perfect peace. Instead of training for war, everyone will sit at home under their own fig tree, enjoying security and prosperity (vv. 3–4). Life on earth will be the way it was meant to be. There will be no more war, no more death, and no more idolatry.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain’” (Zech. 8:3). Israel needed this hope (v. 5). They had been conquered and exiled. Their temple had been destroyed. We, too, need this hope. We live in a fallen world full of sin and death. But when Christ returns, all that will change!

Pray with Us

Please uphold in prayer the ministry of Moody Radio’s WFCM station, broadcasting in Tennessee. May the Lord guide its staff—Scott Thunder, Dawn May, and Jonathan Garrison—in spreading the gospel and encouraging believers.

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He has just published his first book, On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.

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