I invite you to examine classic Christian art with me. 

Artwork contributes to effective teaching and thinking; great intellects have historically used art as an integrative tool, even Albert Einstein:

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

Isaiah 11:6-9: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. -Isaiah 11:6-9 

Between 1820 and 1849, the Quaker sign painter-turned-preacher Edward Hicks created more than 100 versions of an allegory of spiritual and earthly harmony based on Isaiah 11.

 Hicks illustrated Isaiah’s prophecy of God’s kingdom on earth, where “Wolves and sheep will live together in peace…,” as if to suggest its fulfillment in America. Hicks also inserts a group of Quaker leaders in America, including William Penn, into his Peaceable Kingdom paintings, set in the American landscape he knew. 

Where do you reside? Create a mental image of Isaiah 11 in your hometown. How would you paint this scene to convey what you’ve read, allowing viewers to experience the moment as if they were part of it?

Prayer: 

(quote from Matthew Henry’s commentary on Isaiah 11)

Heavenly Father,  We give thanks for–”The wonderful effect of the gospel upon the minds of those that sincerely embrace it; it changes the nature, and makes those that trampled on the meek of the earth, not only meek like them, but affectionate towards them.” Amen