Isaiah 25:6 On this mountain Adonai-Tzva’ot
will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food and superb wines,
delicious, rich food and superb, elegant wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
the veil which covers the face of all peoples,
the veil enshrouding all the nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever.
Adonai Elohim will wipe away
the tears from every face,
and he will remove from all the earth
the disgrace his people suffer.
For Adonai has spoken.
9 On that day they will say,
“See! This is our God!
We waited for him to save us.
This is Adonai ; we put our hope in him.
We are full of joy, so glad he saved us!” (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Previews attract attention. When the new movie is advertised, we see intriguing quick scenes designed to preview the whole show. Quickly we can get a sense of what to expect. Isaiah attracts our attention with a preview of eternal life with God: There is an abundance that satisfies our deep hungers. Everyone gets more than enough of the very best. God removes the shroud of shame and fear from human hearts. Death is swallowed up forever. This powerful scene of joy has an eternally happy ending. And our response? It is worth waiting for.
Today, we get merely a glimpse of what is ahead. Today, we live with the promise of God's gift of salvation. Today, we wait and wait for the long-expected day when we see the whole show. "This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in God's salvation." Coming soon to a life near you.
O God of life and hope, teach us to wait with patience and joyful expectation. When I am burdened with shame or fear, remind me of the previews of what is coming to all your loved ones. Amen.
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).
Today, we get merely a glimpse of what is ahead. Today, we live with the promise of God's gift of salvation. Today, we wait and wait for the long-expected day when we see the whole show. "This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in God's salvation." Coming soon to a life near you.
O God of life and hope, teach us to wait with patience and joyful expectation. When I am burdened with shame or fear, remind me of the previews of what is coming to all your loved ones. Amen.
Betsy Dartt, '81
Visitation Pastor, Our Savior's Lutheran, Spring Valley, Minn.
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).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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