- 23. Knowledge of the Lord
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, as the waters cover the sea.
The Kingdom of God will fill the earth and cover it everywhere. This kingdom, this knowledge, this holy mountain is the invisible reign of God dwelling in the hearts and lives of all believers in Christ. In this place evil cannot hurt or destroy. There is a place to go to and enter in where we are safe from the harmful effects of sin and evil. That place is the kingdom of God. When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and “Deliver us from evil,” we are entering into the safe place, God’s holy mountain, where righteousness dwells because sin is forgiven. A renewed mind and a cleansed heart live out of the knowledge of the Lord and affect the world around us.
While this promise denotes the future Eternal State, it also includes the present state of life in this age in which heaven comes into the heart where we know God. In that safe place of God’s Presence, where the heart is cleansed through the gospel of forgiveness, there will be no hurt or destruction. The kingdom of God comes within us and we are delivered from the evil of sin and unbelief. With this promise that God will dwell in us we can go forth and live on the earth, and as faith spreads the earth will be full of God. At the same time as the knowledge of God fills the earth, the kingdom of darkness seems to grow and increase all the more. But the Lord wants us to see by faith that His kingdom is increasing, in spite of outward appearances. The Lord gives promises like this so that we can be as optimistic as He is. The optimism of the covering of the kingdom is meant to lift our spirits above the corruption and darkness of the world around us.
The hurt and destruction of Sin cannot enter into the holy mountain. The good news is that this place is available to us for it is right next to us, even within. Repent and believe the Gospel for the knowledge of God is at hand.