The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 25:7-8a,
"On this mountain he [the Lord] will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever."
As Isaiah continues his prophecy of the end of the age, he speaks of a mountain of refuge and shelter the Lord becomes for his people. In verse 6 he says, "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines." It is reminiscent to me of Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Isaiah says that on this mountain the Lord will destroy the "shroud", the "sheet", that enfolds all peoples and covers all nations. In that this prophecy speaks of what is yet future, it is important to note that this shroud or sheet remains in place now, in our day.
Some interpret this shroud as being the spiritual blindness this lost and fallen world exists in while estranged from its Creator. In Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, he prophesied in 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." In John 8:12 Jesus claimed, "I am the light of the world." With this view, the Lord will do two things: remove spiritual blindness and swallow up death.
Others see the shroud as God's judgment of death he holds over us all. A new age is coming when death will be vanquished by God, "They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3b-4. Paul, in speaking of the nature of the resurrection believers have to look forward to quotes this passage in 1 Corinthians 15:54, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'"
I suspect the latter is best, but either way, what an amazing and wonderful outlook we have!
As Isaiah continues his prophecy of the end of the age, he speaks of a mountain of refuge and shelter the Lord becomes for his people. In verse 6 he says, "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines." It is reminiscent to me of Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Isaiah says that on this mountain the Lord will destroy the "shroud", the "sheet", that enfolds all peoples and covers all nations. In that this prophecy speaks of what is yet future, it is important to note that this shroud or sheet remains in place now, in our day.
Some interpret this shroud as being the spiritual blindness this lost and fallen world exists in while estranged from its Creator. In Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, he prophesied in 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." In John 8:12 Jesus claimed, "I am the light of the world." With this view, the Lord will do two things: remove spiritual blindness and swallow up death.
Others see the shroud as God's judgment of death he holds over us all. A new age is coming when death will be vanquished by God, "They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3b-4. Paul, in speaking of the nature of the resurrection believers have to look forward to quotes this passage in 1 Corinthians 15:54, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'"
I suspect the latter is best, but either way, what an amazing and wonderful outlook we have!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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