Text:
Isaiah 25:1-9
Focus: Easter
Function:
Celebration
Form: Bible
Study
Intro:
These are the first
four lines of the world's oldest lover's poem, found in Turkey. The
words were written 4,500 years ago. The poem is like 30 lines long
and the ancient managed to write it on a piece of clay 4” by 6”
with those little cuneiform letters. It is amazing.
You can see a picture
of it by searching on the internet for the world's oldest love poem,
or clicking on the link to my sermons online.
What a day we live in
when all this printed information is right there for us to find!
What a day when we can
hear audio, or see video clips of the things that interest us!
It wasn't so for the
people who originally heard this message from Isaiah. Paper was
expensive, and writing on almost dried tablets of clay was limiting.
Isaiah the prophet, in
order to help his people remember the message, used poems, and sang
most of his prophecies. Today's passage includes two poems about
God's deliverance. They come right after a poem about how God will
act to protect His own people.
And the first 5 verses
continue that theme. God cares about our suffering. The prophet's
poem, given that way so that people will remember it, says: 4For
you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their
distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
And not only is God a
refuge, but He has given them a victory. Easter is a victory for
every believer.
There is strong
language about the victory given. Big powerful cities are destroyed.
Strong people, foes that we cannot easily defeat will see the Glory
of God's power on behalf of His people.
On Easter, we celebrate
the proof of God's deliverance in our lives.
And it speaks to all of
life. I have to keep reminding myself to have faith. Because Jesus
rose to heal us in every facet of our lives. One
commentator says this: (In this passage) We
read of a people lifted out of that despair through the destruction
of the enemy.
It speaks to life in
bringing peace between warring parties. The commentator says:
(His victory is
like) In international affairs it would be like the destruction of
the hatred that exists between Israeli and Arab.
And
that is out there, but what about here, in our own little world?
Jesus' deliverance is more than “out there” for us. He speaks of
personal lives. The author says:
In our personal
lives, it would be like the removal of the enemy of debt, bitterness
in our job or marriage, even the enemy of fear, anxiety, guilt,
jealousy....
When we trust, or rest,
in Jesus, even those enemies of fear, bitterness, jealousy, guilt and
anxiety are calmed, dispelled, if we trust Him, if we give them over
to Him. He rose to save us.
This is what Jesus
wants to do for us. And it isn't just those personal things, at also
speaks to the deep Spiritual matters in our lives. He says:
In spiritual affairs
it is the destruction of the power of sin, evil, even death, in our
lives. Satan may be a roaring lion, prowling, seeking someone to
destroy, but in Jesus the believer is surrounded by a divine power
which protects us from this ferocious beast. The powers of darkness
may rant and rave, but they cannot take us from the protective hand
of our Lord.
Easter is the proof of
that!
Easter is proof of God
who gives us victory over whatever is keeping us down.
When we think of
victory, we think of a contest. In chapter 24 and these first 5
verses, it is more than a contest, it is war.
And there is warlike
imagery, the alien city, the alien stronghold, the alien people are
all cast down.
Most wars are about
money and greed and power. And we know that religion has been used as
a fuel to light the fire of war. Most people would not want to die to
make someone else rich, but if they are incited with a promise from
their religion, maybe they would act.
But Easter has the
message that God is bring the entire world back to Himself.
And if we take verses
1-5, the first poem that Isaiah wanted people to remember, if we take
them without the next three, we might have that problem. The problem
being that is only about Israel, and we Gentiles are the alien, the
enemy.
But God wants to remind
the people that His salvation, His promises, His healing, His
protection, and His love is for the entire world.
It is highly symbolic
from this passage, but Isaiah the prophet sees the New Jerusalem, the
Holy City coming down from heaven that is referred to in the book of
Revelation.
This city includes
everyone who will come into it. Everyone who chooses it. Every person
who by faith decides to let Jesus be their Savior.
And in that city, there
is going to be a feast.
When Jesus instituted
the Eucharist, He said: “I wont have this feast again until I have
it with you, anew in heaven....” (Matthew
26:29)
At the end of the ages,
or as soon as we individually get to heaven, there is going to be a
feast with us and Jesus. He is waiting for it with you.
And it is for everyone
in the entire world who believes.
So the prophet adds
another poem, expanding the story. Verses 6-9 are important.
Hear verses 6-9 from
the Message:
Isaiah 25:6-9
The
Message (MSG)
6-8But here
on this mountain, God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will throw a feast for all the people of the world,
A feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines,
a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so!
will throw a feast for all the people of the world,
A feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines,
a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so!
9Also at
that time, people will say,
"Look at what's happened! This is our God!
We waited for him and he showed up and saved us!
"Look at what's happened! This is our God!
We waited for him and he showed up and saved us!
We
celebrate Easter every year. We know the story.
But
again, this song was given to them in a form that they could use to
easily memorize it.
It
is important to keep that celebration.
There
is a feast being prepared for every single person who comes to Jesus.
It
is a simple message.
Jesus
came to deliver the world from its warlike ways. He came to deliver
people from hatred, bitterness, envy and other things that bind us
like addictions, hopelessness, and etc. And He came to forgive us of
every sin that keeps us from God.
And
all of that is for the entire world. Every person who trusts Him.
CONCL:
Do you trust Him? We
are not being invited to some sort of club, fraternity, sorority, or
nation that is made up of people who win over other people.
No we are invited back
into God's family, a place of wholeness, health, prosperity and
healing.
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