Isaiah 25:1-12.  Chapter 24 described the end of the world.  Well not really the end of the world but the end of the world as we know it.  The world we live in is under a curse, a curse brought on by the disobedience of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24) and deserved by each of us as we continue to be disobedient to God.  Adam and Eve lived in a paradise designed to be the permanent place for mankind to live.  In Genesis the paradise lost, will be the paradise restored in Revelation 20-21.  At that time mankind will live in peace with God and each other and God will be our king (Isaiah 24:23).

Chapter 25 of Isaiah divides into three paragraphs (verses 1-5, 6-8, 9-12).  The first and third paragraphs are songs (or at least the lyrics to what could be songs).  In the first paragraph the song begins with a declaration to Yahweh (LORD) that he is my God.  He is lifted up (exalted, like a pitcher or coach after a big win) because he has done (past tense) great things.  Things he had planned long ago and been faithful to follow through on.  Bad guys have been dealt with and the helpless and needy have been taken care of.  Notice that the description of the bad guys includes a fortified city and a palace, this kind of reminds us of one of the main ideas of Isaiah, God is going to deal with pride.  Verses 3 gives hope to all of us though because it looks like some of the strangers and ruthless people will switch to God’s side.  I like it that the door to Heaven is open for all who will return to God.

The second paragraph describes a banquet or feast.  This feast is “on this mountain”.  Remember that Isaiah was a prophet to Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) and the capital was Jerusalem that sits on the top of a mountain.  That is the mountain Isaiah is talking about.  It is sometimes called mount Zion.  This banquet is going to have great food but there is something even better at this party.  First there is a present, the covering or veil in verse 7 is described in verse 8, death.  Death, the great consequence of the curse, will be removed.  And check out the results no more tears and no more being in trouble with God (reproach means to turn aside, the idea is like God has turning his back on us but now we are friends again).  This is a “done deal” because God has said so.

The final paragraph is another song but this one is kind of mixed.  For Isaiah and all those who have put their eternity into God’s hands it is a happy song but for others it is scary.  God will protect the mountain and the kingdom of people it represents but for those who have not given their lives to God there is trouble.  Moab was a very proud people who had been trouble for the Israelites since Moses had led them to the land (See Deuteronomy 23:3-5).  So this song is not so much about Moab, but rather is using Moab as an example pride and opposition to God (see verse 11).  The description of the trouble is gross.  God’s enemies are like straw thrown down over manure (cow poop) so people could walk over it without getting too much on their feet.  The straw tries to “swim” out to the middle of the icky mess but will not be able to.  Yuck.  What a contrast with the banquet of God.

So Paradise lost in Genesis is Paradise regained in Revelation.  Past events, in the first song, are proof of future promises. But there is a down side to all of this.  There are people who will not take advantage of the salvation that God is offering, they will try to get to God on their own, and fail.  This chapter in Isaiah really shows the reality of there only being two sides.  Jesus said he is the only way to God, you just can’t get back to God any other way (John 14:6).  The book of Hebrews tells us that it is appointed for men to die once and after that there will be a judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  Revelation 20:11-15 describes that judgment and the result is not good for those who’s names are not written in the book of life.  That book is also called the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27) a reference to Jesus and the fact that he is the only way to God (See “The Old Testament Connection”).  In Hebrews 3-4 it talks about having a restored relationship with God and calls it “his rest”.  In Hebrews 4:7 we are told that it is possible to have a part in that wonderful eternity but we must respond to God.  We cannot have a hard heart but must turn our lives over to Him.  There are clearly two ways to spend eternity, with God or without Him.  The things God has done so far are our proof that he will follow through on the rest of the plan.  The question is, which side will you be on in eternity?   I hope you will choose the banquet.  I look forward to eating with you there and singing to honor God.  Lord thank you that the offer is to all the strangers and ruthless people.  I once was one of those.  But now I am your people, adopted by you into your forever family.  Thank you for Jesus who paid the price and opened the door to Heaven.  I don’t think I will really understand until I get there but help me have a passion for eternity here and now.  Help me not get caught up in life so much that I miss seeing what you are doing and honoring you here and now.  Help me see so I can help others see.  Thank you for your patience and faithfulness.

PS.  Sorry this got published late.  I had a hard week of moving dirt and concrete.

Isaiah 24:1-23.  If you remember back to Isaiah 13 I said it was the beginning of a new section of Isaiah.  Scholar have different ideas about where the section ends some say chapter 23 and others say chapter 27.  Chapters 13-23 all have the same type of information the “burden” messages about different nations.  Chapters 24-27 have different information.  But remember that Chapters 2-12 were a section with chapters 2-11 built around a reflective or chiastic form with chapter 12 being sort of a response to the others.  Chapters 23-27 are different in what they talk about from chapters 13-23 but they are also complimentary.  We need to remember that Isaiah was using older messages and arranging them together to make a point to the people in Jerusalem and Judea.  We also need to keep in mind that the book (or most of it) was probably put together about the time of Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah.   Also some of what Isaiah wrote could have been new for the book.  Remember he was a prophet of God and moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).  While chapters 13-23 gave a close up and personal “here and now” group of predictions as the people saw the events unfold they would become more sure of the other predictions Isaiah would make.  When someone tells you something and they are right all the time it gives you more confidence in all of what they tell you.  That is what makes Bible prophecy so cool, it is very specific and so far (and I’m talking about a lot of prophecies) it has always been right.  In fact it has been so right that some scholars who do not want to believe I the supernatural origin of the Bible try to put very recent dates on much of it so that the prophecies look like history.

The first part of the reading (vv. 1-13) describes destruction, this time though the description is of the whole earth.  The reasons are in verse 5.  The earth is polluted because the people broke laws.  We are not talking about physical pollution here but moral pollution.  Mankind has lived their way and ignored God.  So a curse has come and the people of the earth are paying for what we have made life.  It’s interesting that we tell ourselves that God is the one who takes all the fun out of life but here we see that fun disappears when we suffer the consequences of our own actions.

Verses 14 through the first part of 16 describe the joy the people of God feel as they see the destruction.  Interestingly I think verse 13 could be part of both sections. Olives are harvested by putting a cloth under the tree and shaking the tree very hard so the olives fall off.  It is a very violent process.  And gleaning is when poor people are allowed into the fields after all the stuff has been picked to get the leftovers.  That can be a picture of poverty, but for the poor people it was a time to be happy, at lest they could get something.  So this time of judgment of the whole earth is a mixed bag, mostly black jelly beans with a few good ones (Dr. Pepper if Ron is reading).  The people of God are happy though because they have been waiting for the promised kingdom and now it seems God is going to come and take ultimate control.  In 2 Thessalonians 1:1-10 describe how the church in Thessalonica was suffering because they were following Jesus.  Paul told them the fact that they were suffering showed that they really had believed in Jesus and were following Him. He assured them that “in that day”, the day when Jesus returned, that Jesus would deal with those who had been mistreating them.  The destruction we are reading about here in Isaiah 24 is the beginning of that final take over.  It is also described in Revelation 4-20.  What is ver impressive is that in Revelation we see God is still wanting people to turn around an come to him (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9-11; 22:17).

Although the people of God are happy, Isaiah is terrified.  The destruction is so massive he cannot stand the vision.  At the end of the chapter he seems to regain his perspective by realizing that this is the process which must take place for God to come and rule.  Remember God is pure and holy so evil must be removed from the earth.  According to verses 21-22 Angles will also be held accountable in that day.  This is talking about the Devil and the angels that followed him in rebellion against God.  These two verses sound a lot like what is described in Revelation 20:1-3, 10.

We need to remember that mankind is in the middle of a process.  God is building a kingdom, but unlike us the kingdom isn’t about castles it’s about people.  The thing about castles is you plan and decide when they will get done but with people, well love takes time.  God is patiently enduring all our wickedness (or at least most of it) to give us time to respond to him (2 Peter 3:9-15).  Notice how in those verses God is waiting for people to turn around (repent) but also for them to follow him more fully.  We can be encouraged that the kingdom is coming but we need to be horrified by the loss of people that will be a part of it.  God will deal with evil but that should be a sad day as we realize those people will be forever cut off from God.  IN the mean time God is patient with us because he doesn’t really want any to perish.  We need to be helping others understand the reality of what God’s word says.  The work of God here and now gives a great deal of weight to what he says he will do “in that Day”.  God help my life first and most be a witness to your presence.  Let me be transformed, changed.  Like the Thessalonian believers help my faith in you grow each day and let it show by my love for others.  Give me endurance and trust you for the outcome.  Thank you for the prophets who endured much so I could have proof of your existence and plan and love.  Thank you for your patience which results in people having the chance to know you.  Help me serve your kingdom better each day.