Homilist Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD… Poets have sung of a golden age, saints have prayed for one, the Bible distinctly teaches that one will come. This passage gives us the characteristics of this "good time coming." I. THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL BE THE SPIRITUAL REALISATION OF WHAT MOUNT ZION WAS BUT THE SYMBOL. What were the great ideas that Mount Zion of old symbolised They were especially two — 1. Man's meeting place with God. 2. Entire consecration to worship. It was for worship and worship only. These ideas will be fully realised in the last days. The whole earth will be man's meeting place with God, the Shechinah will gleam everywhere, light up every social circle, radiate from every institution, etc. Every spot, too, will be sacred to worship. Man will worship in everything, handicraft, commerce, politics, literature. II. THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL BE FREED FROM INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE. "They shall not hurt nor destroy." 1. They shall not hurt. They shall not hurt by any unkind word, or any ungenerous deed, by any species of mean conduct. Exquisite delicacy of conduct shall distinguish all. Every man shall deal with his fellow with the loving tenderness of a brother. 2. They shall not destroy. They shall not destroy the property, the reputation, or the life. There shall be no wars. III. THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL BE FLOODED WITH CHRISTIANITY. "As the waters cover the sea." Full as the waters roll through the channels of the Mediterranean, will Christianity roll through every district of human life. But whilst this universal diffusion of Christianity is a characteristic of the golden age, the text suggests that it is the instrumental cause. We infer — 1. That Christianity is essentially pacific. 2. That every philanthropist should use Christianity as his grand instrument. There is no other panacea for the world's woes. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. |
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