Scripture Reading(s)
Isaiah 25:6-9
25:6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
25:7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
25:8 Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
25:9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Reflections
This is a passage that speaks to redemption and judgement. In the first half, we see how the nation of Israel is coming out of a period of deprivation and destruction. For years there was no reason to sing, no wine to drink and no reason to have any joy. Now, they are coming out of a time in which they are about to celebrate God’s victory in bringing them out of a hard time, the real reason to rejoice is in God’s salvation and redemption.
Today, that same promise of salvation is extended to all who choose to believe in Him. It is a gift that is given to the heart of a person who will choose to step out in faith, forsake their sin, and give their lives over to God. However, there is the warning that one day, judgment will be laid on those who reject the message of the Gospel and have chosen to turn their face away from God.
Another promise is made to those who have experienced loosing a loved one and death has played a role in their lives in one way or another. God intends to wipe away our tears and bring an end to sadness and loos once and for all. This also speaks to the victorious day when God will defeat the enemy, Satan and put him in his final, rightful place.
There is coming a day in which all Christians will truly rejoice in our salvation. That day will be when we come face to face with our Lord and Savior and rejoice in spending eternity with Him, with no more sadness, tears or sin to play a part in our lives. Death will be no more and everlasting joy will reign forever.
When listening to the prophets of the Old Testament one gets the impression that God’s salvation of the world is yet to be fully completed. In a way, that is correct. We have a phrase for this phenomenon. It’s “already but not yet.” Salvation has already come in that Jesus came and died for our sins. Yet, His mission has not yet been completed. That is where we come in.
In the salvation journey we Christians are tasked with both waiting for the rest of prophetic fulfillment as well as being part of it. While we tend not to venture into prophetic views on DOTB, it’s worth noting that Christians have a role to play in the salvation story. It is us who will take the gospel to all the nations and with the power of the Holy Spirit we will do that with wonderful signs.
Do not be discourage waiting on the Lord but keep busy doing the work that He has left for us, until He returns.