The Future Feast with the Lord
Isaiah 25:6–8
“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast
of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and
the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds
all peoples, the sheet that covers up the nations; he will swallow up death
forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will
remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah is a book that is full of language of judgement and
hope. Judgement is proclaimed over those who have continued to turn away from
the Lord, living according to their own desires and what is right in their own
minds. They are unjust and deceitful. They have prostituted their hearts to the
gods of their own lives. They are offering sacrifices, yet they are not coming
from a heart of desiring to serve or honour God as he is due.
However, though there is language of judgement as the people
are given over to what they have chosen, there is also hope.
Again and again, we see God calling his people back to him. He promises that
though the nations have rebelled and brought disaster upon themselves, there
will remain a faithful remnant. In chapter 8, we see that Isaiah and his children
are to be signs of the faithfulness of God. Though the people will dwell in
darkness for a time, chapter 9 demonstrates that “the people walking in
darkness has seen a great light,” and this “light,” we know is Christ. He is
the “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
(9:6).
From chapters 13 to 23 we see several prophecies against the
nations. The strong are to become weak, and will be led away in shame. Those
who think they are strong and mighty will be humbled. In chapter 24, Isaiah
then describes the devastation of the entire earth. Because the covenant has
been broken, the land defiled, there will be no more joy. All singing and
celebration will cease. It seems hopeless. God is described as conquering all
nations and kings of the world, and we conjure up images in our minds of a
reckless and power-hungry king who destroys everything and anything.
But then we see chapter 25, and a song of praise. Isaiah
proclaims that God has been a refuge for the weak, he has been a shelter for
the needy, providing and blessing. God cares for those that the nations had
neglected and walked all over. In the middle of this praise, Isaiah describes
this beautiful banquet. It is lavish, full of an abundance of food and wine. But
it is not just the leftover bits that no one else wanted, God is blessing his
people, all people, in fact, with “rich food” and “aged wine” … “the best of
meats and the finest of wines.” He is giving the fat portion, the part of the
sacrifice that was always reserved for God himself, and is giving it away in an
act of unparalleled generosity. He gives the best of the wine, that which has
been carefully aged. But he does not give it only to royalty and those who are
of high status. He does not give it to people that could give him these riches
in return. He does not give with an expectation that through this act he will
gain. Indeed, God is the Lord Almighty, he is above all and so cannot be made
any higher! When God provides this meal, it is a celebration of his goodness
and faithfulness to his people. He gives this meal to all peoples and all
nations. It is not exclusive. It is not only to those who have followed him
throughout their whole lives. It is not only to his chosen nation Israel, but
it is for all people. God is displaying his mercy towards all. As he provides
this meal, he destroys death. He overcomes the shrouds of darkness. As his
people eat the blessings he has provided, God consumes death. He will swallow
it up forever. Never again will death loom or threaten his people. He will wipe
away all tears, remove the disgrace of all people, and in doing so, brings hope
and joy.
This feast is a future feast that we can anticipate. In
Revelation 21:3–4 John writes of the dwelling of God with his people, and that
he will wipe away every tear from every face. Again, in chapter 22:1–5 there is
the image of Eden being restored, as there is the blessing of provisions from
God. These images of a future hope grow in us joy and anticipation. As we
anticipate the future hope of resurrection and renewal, we are called to usher
this into the present as we live in the now-but-not-yet. We know that as the
Church in Christ, we are to live into who he has called us to be. We are God’s
people on the earth. He has made known to us some of his great truth, and we
are to make this a reality in the world today.
So, what can we learn from Isaiah 25:6-8? What does this
promise of a future feast with the Lord mean for how we live and move and have
our being in the world? How does the future hope we have affect the way we
treat the people around us?
I would like to suggest a couple of responses:
2)
Hospitality. The feast of
Isaiah 25:6–8 is not only a future hope, but is a present reality as we usher
in the kingdom. God’s provision is radically inclusive. Who do we demonstrate
hospitality to? Do we invite only our friends and the people we are comfortable
with and used to, or do we bring in the strangers, foreigners, those neglected
by the world? Are we generous as we provide for others?
Comments