BibleProject | Heaven and Earth on the MountainSample

Returning to the Mountain-Garden Way

Today, we’ll examine two of Isaiah’s famous prophecies about Zion from the biblical-mountain perspective we’ve developed so far.

In the future, Isaiah says, the temple on Mount Zion (in Jerusalem) will become the most important place where Heaven and Earth meet—a central hub to provide moral instruction for the whole world. Don’t forget God’s first promise to Abraham. His family will eventually bless all the “families” (or nations) on Earth (Gen. 12:2-3). Isaiah’s poetry envisions this finally happening, and there’s more.

Like the “river” (Hebrew nahar) that flowed out of Eden (Gen. 2:10), now the nations will “stream” (nahar) to Zion to learn about God’s ways (Isa. 2:2-3). It’s a poetic image of God’s ultimate plan coming to fruition. The blessing humanity first enjoyed in Eden will be available to all people once again.

And notice how our reading in Isaiah 65:17-25 opens with God saying he’s ready to create a new Heaven and a new Earth. By the end, he says all death and evil will be finally removed from his “entire holy mountain” (verse 25). While he’s surely talking about Jerusalem and Mount Zion, he also seems to expand that vision worldwide—all creation will be lifted out of chaos and darkness.

Isaiah seems to be using the biblical mountain theme to poetically imagine Eden’s good life renewing Jerusalem, its inhabitants, and the entire world. In this new Eden, sorrow will turn to joy, people will enjoy the fruit of their labor (contrast Gen. 3:17-19), and even predator and prey will live in harmony. God’s mountaintop garden will be restored.

Reflection Questions:
How will the restored Zion be like a new Eden? What does this reveal about God's care for all people?

After watching the Water of Life video, how would you describe a way of life that depends on the living water?