On the Mount

Daily Byte

My trip up Table Mountain in Cape Town was STUNNING - what a beautiful view. We were lucky enough to have a perfectly clear day and we could see for miles and miles. Table Mountain is the “face” of South Africa for many people. Foreigners may not necessarily recognize the Durban beachfront (unfortunately) but a lot of them will recognize Table Mountain.

The Lord’s Holy Mount, though it often seems as elusive as Table Mountain in the winter, is right here among us. Isaiah prophesied that a king would emerge from Jesse’s family and would “stand as signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.” In Romans 15:7-13, Paul explains that Jesus, the ‘stump of Jesse’, is truly that signal of life and hope for all peoples. Early Christians understood that the crucified man Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus invited all people into the covenant that existed between God and Israel.

Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has already fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. He has called all nations to God. With righteousness he judged the poor and with equity he decided for the meek.

Isaiah’s words have been fulfilled; we know that on the cross Jesus conquered death once and for all. Through that act, we can have faith that the Holy Mount, where there is no hurt or destruction, is our reality. While we wait for the complete renewal of the heavens and the earth we are charged to live life as a signal and a witness of what the Lord has done.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 11:7-8

The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.