Listen

On this mountain, the Lord of heavenly forces will prepare for all peoples a rich feast, a feast of choice wines, of select foods rich in flavor, of choice wines well refined. He will swallow up on this mountain the veil that is veiling all peoples, the shroud enshrouding all nations. He will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe tears from every face; he will remove his people’s disgrace from off the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken. They will say on that day, “Look! This is our God, for whom we have waited—and he has saved us! This is the Lord, for whom we have waited; let’s be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”

Isaiah 25:6-9

Think

After remembering some of God’s mighty, saving acts of the past in the previous few verses of Isaiah 25, the prophet offers us a glimpse into the future and a hopeful look at the celebration we’re going to have because of what God has done.

Throwing a huge feast in the ancient world meant two things to the host: First, you were celebrating a huge victory. Second, you were welcoming all your guests as family. The prophet here is saying God is going to host a huge party to celebrate all God has done for God’s people—including God’s victory over sin, sadness, and death. And the best news? We’re all invited to celebrate together. We celebrate a God whose kingdom is both inclusive and full of laughter and joy!

Chuck Powell

Question to Ponder:

Have you ever been part of a huge banquet or feast that felt like a glimpse of the kingdom of God?

Pray

You are my God, for whom I have waited; and you have saved me! You are the Lord, for whom I have waited; I am glad and I rejoice in your salvation! Amen.

Go

Go, always remembering what our faithful God has done.