Someday, after simple meals along the way, a future feast is coming
By Dean Collins
The book of Isaiah is filled with hope but also speaks of the stark realities of judgment. The prophet weaves his words in and out of the immediate historical context, the specific judgments of God’s chosen and their surrounding adversaries, and rescue for God’s people. And the prophet gives his readers and listeners hope of a Messiah and the eventual final judgment followed by a great Heavenly feast.
Reading Isaiah can at times seem harsh and at other times bring feelings of peace and joy. Isaiah 25 begins with worship. The prophet praises the Almighty God for wonderful things. When we are in the middle of uncertainty or suffering, it’s sometimes hard to worship. But Isaiah gives us a pathway to worship: Praise God for the wonderful things of the past. Praise him for the things that are permanent, even if we feel unstable.
I often sit in the same chair as I read, pray, and write each day. If the weather permits, it is on the deck just outside my home office door. There is a giant, old oak tree that I peer through and watch the sunrise. From that seat I’ve seen hundreds of ways nature awakens and the day begins. Sometimes it’s cloudy. Sometimes misty. Some days are clear. Some mornings are colorful and some are dark. But every day I am aware that God delivered us through another day. If I am sitting there, I know Jeremiah’s words align with Isaiah’s. We can give praise and thanks for the gift of the new day and the faithfulness of God in bringing it to us and us to it.
Promised deliverance
As Isaiah worshipped he described God as the stronghold to the poor, the needy, those in distress. God is the shelter in the times it storms. He is shade, protection, and provision. But then Isaiah’s prophecy takes us to a banquet table where a feast is being served. Rich food is on the platters, well-aged wine overflows the glasses. And on this mountain is a covering for all people (25:7).
No more sickness. No more tears. Nothing to fear, for even death has been defeated and swallowed up forever. Isaiah continued by telling all people for all time that our sins are covered. There will be no more disappointment. Our long wait is over. We waited for the Lord, and he delivered. Such good news.
Homeowners shared food and supplies at the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, July 4, 2020. Photo by Brad Sherman via Wikipedia Commons.
Present needs
But we are still waiting for the glorious day Isaiah described. The great banquet is not today, but daily meals are still needed. As I read Matthew 25 alongside Isaiah 25, I am convinced and convicted. Ahead of the great banquet God has prepared for all people in eternity, we are called to be a part of God’s provision for the least of those we encounter along the way.
If God has blessed us with a new day, then we must keep our eyes open for those he places in our path who struggle to find enough food or shelter for even one more day. Jesus is shockingly clear that when we see and serve those in need we are seeing and serving him.
Jesus is shockingly clear that when we see and serve those in need, we are seeing and serving him.
We can greet each new day with confidence because God has provided a new breath, a new hope, and a new opportunity. But the new opportunity is not to be hoarded. It is to be shared both with those we know and those with whom we share community. And we are called to serve those God calls his own who, for some reason, are isolated and in need.
Before the feast on the mountain of the Lord, there are simple meals to serve along the way.
Steadfast love
As you pray, listen to this song. I don’t know the singer in the video. I stumbled across it as I was writing this morning. I taught this very song to thousands of high school and college students in the late 70s. As I listened this morning from my chair on the deck, a hummingbird fluttered around potted flowers nearby. Coincidence? Maybe. But probably evidence of how God’s steadfast love and faithfulness is expressed each day. After you listen and pray, maybe God will show you someone you can bless today.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 25:1-9; Matthew 25:31-40 ESV
Photo by Fabio Sangregorio on Unsplash
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