Lutheran Seminary ~ Moved By The Promise ~ God Pause ~ Monday, 28 October 2013 ~ Isaiah 25:6 In this mountain, the LORD of Hosts will make all peoples a feast of choice meat,* a feast of choice wines, of choice meat full of marrow, of well refined choice wines. 7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for the LORD has spoken it. 9 It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is the LORD! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”(Messianic WEB)
Several years ago I stood before the greatest buffet line I had ever seen. It was full of fine meats, seafood (I think I overdid it at the sushi bar), pastries, fruits, veggies, and more. My plate was soon full, and I refilled it several times. This meal was over-the-top extravagant—and it was expensive. As I catered to my gluttonous desires and appetites, I wondered how much of these delicacies would go uneaten and wasted at the end of the day; how many of the people in this restaurant could not afford the same morsels I continued to place on my next fresh plate; how many more people would go unfed and hungry at the end of the day. An image frequently used for the kingdom of God is that of a feast. Jesus talks about a wedding banquet, where all in God's company, even the very least, eat their fill, drink the best wine, and experience the blessing of the Lord forever. Isaiah especially reminds us that such a feast is not exclusive but is intended and promised to all.
When salvation comes, God tears down that which separates us—like a shroud or a sheet that is ripped away. Even death, the great divider, will be swallowed up, consumed by God, as tears are wiped away, and a restored community is welcomed to the table to fill their plates in the kingdom's banquet where all are fed. Blessed are those who wait and long for such a day. Blessed are those who join in God's restoration project for all humanity. In the midst of a divided world, so broken by fear, violence, and death, the question we are left to ponder is: can we wait? If we answer yes, what will we do as we live in the meantime?
When salvation comes, God tears down that which separates us—like a shroud or a sheet that is ripped away. Even death, the great divider, will be swallowed up, consumed by God, as tears are wiped away, and a restored community is welcomed to the table to fill their plates in the kingdom's banquet where all are fed. Blessed are those who wait and long for such a day. Blessed are those who join in God's restoration project for all humanity. In the midst of a divided world, so broken by fear, violence, and death, the question we are left to ponder is: can we wait? If we answer yes, what will we do as we live in the meantime?
Gracious God, meet us in the meantime. When we are most discouraged, remind us of your coming, and call us into this day with courage and strength. Amen.
Geoff T. Sinibaldo
New Canaan, Conn.
Master of Divinity , 2002
New Canaan, Conn.
Master of Divinity , 2002
Isaiah 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.
7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;
8 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.
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.(New Revised Standard Version)
7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;
8 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.
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.(New Revised Standard Version)
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