I am amazed … at the book of Isaiah. Every morning as I write these Lessons, new (and exciting) glimmers (no, flashes) of truth flood my soul! And today is no exception. In fact, today is exhilarating! (That’s why I have titled today’s Study “Isaiah 25, what a JEWEL!”
First I must “survey” the chapter, present it in “outline” form anyway. I want you to see its “beauty!” (It is about the Millennium, no doubt. My favorite study Bible (the King James Version with notes by Dr. Cyrus I. Scofield) labels the chapter “Triumphs of the Kingdom Age.”
Here’s is one of Isaiah’s “Masterpieces” in microcosm …
Isaiah 25:1 … praise to God for His Wise Master Plan, and for His Power to execute that Plan! Read this … “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Both what God has done … and what God has said!) A pretty good start to any chapter anywhere, exalting our Lord! Note the personal attribution: “My God,” with converted Israel speaking.
Wow!
Then Isaiah 25:2-5, praise to God for subduing the earth’s violent, rebellious heathen Nations! Again, read it. Do not skip it! “For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.” In other words … the “strong people,” then the “terrible nations” … all tamed, conquered! And the “poor” and “needy” (the persecuted Jews) … now safe and secure! What a “reversal!” The Old Testament Prophets love this writing scheme, evil overcome by good!
Wow!
Next Isaiah 25:6-9, almost too THRILLING to group with these other verses! God defeating Death! “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, 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.” We may revisit this Text tomorrow. There’s a lot that needs to be said here! Especially where God “swallows up death!”
Then Isaiah 25:10-12 (yes a short chapter, only a dozen verses) says: “For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.” Recalcitrant, irrevocably stubborn Nations decimated! Yes, any rebellion during the Millennium will be immediately squelched! Even an example is given … the “Moabites.” The kind of people called later by Paul the Apostle “reprobates.”
Wow!
What a chapter of victory!
And the Lord willing, more about it tomorrow.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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