The Book Of Isaiah. Day 106, Death Destroyed, Part One

Yesterday's segment of Chapter 25 contained praise from the prophet Isaiah. He praised the Lord for His judgment against wickedness and he praised the Lord for the help He gives those who call upon Him. Now we begin a segment where Isaiah praises Him for taking care of the biggest problem the mortal human body has. The Lord is going to destroy death!

Earlier in the book of Isaiah we foresaw the remaking of the heavens and the earth. Now we look at the conditions on the new earth. We look forward to the day when the King of kings reigns forever over the world from His throne in Jerusalem. We look forward to the day when there will be no more sin, illness, death, or mourning.

Jerusalem will someday be not only the capital of Israel but the capital of the whole world. The city of Jerusalem is what is in view here when Isaiah 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." (Isaiah 25:6)  When Isaiah says "this mountain" he means Mount Zion---Jerusalem. 

Whether he is speaking of this fine food and drink literally or figuratively, I cannot say for certain, but I tend to think it's both. In the book of Revelation we learn that the earth will be restored to an Eden-like state when the Messiah reigns over it. The crops that grow then will be the finest crops grown since Adam was in the Garden of Eden, or perhaps they will be superior to those. If this is literal food and drink Isaiah speaks of, then it's the best of the best. And that's what we would expect the Lord to give His children, isn't it? After the earth is remade, and when the Messiah sits on the throne, only the redeemed will be living on the earth. At that time the Lord will be able to bless human beings as never before, for no one will ever commit a sin again. 

As well as referring to literal food and drink, I think the feast is symbolic of the eternal spiritual blessings of the Lord's people. Later in the book of Isaiah we will find the Lord appealing to the people to turn to Him to be satisfied all the way to their souls. We were created with a spiritual space that only the Lord can fill; everything else falls short of fully satisfying us. In turning to Him, our souls are fed. Our hearts are filled. That is why the Lord phrases it like this: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:1-2)

In the verses above, the food and drink appear to be spiritual in nature. Human beings thirst for the living God. Human beings hunger for the living God. So the Lord says, "Why waste your time and energy running after things of this world that will never satisfy your souls? Only a relationship with Me will satisfy your souls. I offer you salvation---and it is free to you! It cost Me a great deal to be able to make you this offer, but to you it is free."

We will be able to enjoy the Lord's blessings as never before, for death will be taken out of the picture. We will have immortal bodies like that of the Lord Jesus. Those bodies will never be capable of dying. "On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever." (Isaiah 25:7-8a) Isaiah envisions the human race as being enfolded in a burial shroud because ever since man fell from grace, death has been the fate of the human body. But the Lord came to earth in the form of a man to set us free from the power of death. To quote the Apostle Paul: "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22,26) 

When the Apostle Paul says "all" will be made alive, he means those who have been redeemed, not all mankind. We know that not all of mankind ever has or ever will accept the Lord as their Savior. This is why Paul also says in that same passage, "those who belong to Him", to make it clear who will be given perfect immortal bodies like Christ's. 

It is going to take us another session or two to take a good look at the remainder of this passage. But it's a passage of good news! It's a passage that describes the destiny of those who belong to the Lord.