In days to come the mountain where the Temple stands will be the highest one of all, towering above all the hills. Many nations will come streaming to it,

and their people will say, "Let us go up the hill of the LORD, to the Temple of Israel's God. He will teach us what he wants us to do; we will walk in the paths he has chosen. For the LORD's teaching comes from Jerusalem; from Zion he speaks to his people."

A day is coming when the new king from the royal line of David will be a symbol to the nations. They will gather in his royal city and give him honor.

Now you will summon foreign nations; at one time they did not know you, but now they will come running to join you! I, the LORD your God, the holy God of Israel, will make all this happen; I will give you honor and glory."

All nations will remember the LORD. From every part of the world they will turn to him; all races will worship him.

For we are the people he called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles.

And in the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called the children of the living God."

And Isaiah is even bolder when he says, "I was found by those who were not looking for me; I appeared to those who were not asking for me."

At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God's promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God.

But now, in union with Christ Jesus you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud voice, Zion; announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming!

I, the LORD, was the first to tell Zion the news; I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say, 'Your people are coming! They are coming home!'

"Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world! I am the only God there is.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Israel, the LORD who created you says, "Do not be afraid---I will save you. I have called you by name---you are mine.

You treat us as though you had never been our ruler, as though we had never been your people.

The people of Israel will become like the sand of the sea, more than can be counted or measured. Now God says to them, "You are not my people," but the day is coming when he will say to them, "You are the children of the living God!"

At that time many nations will come to the LORD and become his people. He will live among you, and you will know that he has sent me to you.

Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the LORD Almighty and to pray for his blessing.

In those days ten foreigners will come to one Jew and say, 'We want to share in your destiny, because we have heard that God is with you.' "

At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.