Isaiah 24 described an end-time disaster, but that is not the end of God’s project. While humans rebel and trespass against God’s directives, God acts to bring salvation.
The schemes and actions of humans can never overturn God’s sovereign purpose. God will defeat the forces of evil. Represented by a city organized for human desires that exclude the purposes of God.
O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of foreigners is a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of foreigners like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled. (Isaiah 25:1-5)
Let’s notice a few points made by the prophet about God’s activity.
- Those who oppose God and His eternal purposes will become a “heap” and a “ruin.”
- God’s activity will produce fear among the strong, but reveal how He is a refuge for the poor and needy.
The destruction of every hope in humanity makes way for repentance and hope in God. As you read the Gospels in the New Testament, notice how many times Jesus directs His saving and healing ministry to the poor, who are considered as outsiders in that culture.
- Foreigners (i.e. Gentiles) are included in God’s plan.
Blessed Images of the End-Times
Chapter 24 pictures the end-time destruction of all that stands in opposition to God. The beautiful song in chapter 25 envisions the glorious future that only God can give.
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.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the covering that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
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. (Isaiah 25:6-8)
People familiar with the New Testament will see these pictures included in the pages of that portion of scripture.
(1) Hunger is a serious issue for many in the world today.
Before 2025, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World reports indicated that over 730 million people were facing chronic undernourishment. Please note, there are only 340 million people in the United States. There are over 2 hungry people in the world for every American.
It is worth giving serious consideration to Isiah’s prophecy of an end-time banquet with Jesus’ message to the hungry and the full.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.” (Luke 6:21)
“Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.” (Luke 6:25)
(2) Death is the great leveling factor in life. From the great and mighty to the lowly oucast, death respect no one. Riches may help prolong life, but death is the same in the end.
The fact that our loving God will “swallow up death forever” is great news. There are many comforting and energizing passages about life after death in the Bible. This prophecy is one among many that describe God’s gift to His creation.
(3) I often quote portions of 2 Corinthians 5:1 when conducting a funeral service. Paul writes,“For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
I don’t have any idea of what God has in store for our new heavenly body, but it would be ludicrous to think of hospital beds, medicine, and walkers in heaven. This new body will be completely fitted for a relationship with God.
It’s almost as if Isaiah’s prophecy is toning down the expectations when he writes that God will “wipe away all tears” from their faces. An existence in the presence of the Creator and Lord of all will be the greatest experience ever.
Waiting for God
God’s gracious activity always demands a response. The response of faith is to “wait” on the Lord.
It will be said on that day,
“See, 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.” (Isaiah 25:9)
To wait on the Lord is quite different from waiting on your plane to arrive at the airport. To wait on God means to place our full trust in Him.
It contrasts with the double-minded person in James 1:7-8. The double-minded may have God as their Plan A, but they also have a Plan B in reserve.
When we wait on God, we trust His plan, timing, and outcome. When we are double-minded, we may talk a good game about God, but fall back on self-will if we feel things won’t work out the way we desire.
With so much at stake, let’s be people who respond to God in faith by fully relying on Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 