Isaiah 25:6-9 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 25:6-9 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. Verse 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Verse 8Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
Verse 9It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Devotion
Previews attract attention. When the new movie is advertised, we see intriguing quick scenes designed to preview the whole show. Quickly we can get a sense of what to expect. Isaiah attracts our attention with a preview of eternal life with God: There is an abundance that satisfies our deep hungers. Everyone gets more than enough of the very best. God removes the shroud of shame and fear from human hearts. Death is swallowed up forever. This powerful scene of joy has an eternally happy ending. And our response? It is worth waiting for.
Today, we get merely a glimpse of what is ahead. Today, we live with the promise of God's gift of salvation. Today, we wait and wait for the long-expected day when we see the whole show. "This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in God's salvation." Coming soon to a life near you.
Prayer
O God of life and hope, teach us to wait with patience and joyful expectation. When I am burdened with shame or fear, remind me of the previews of what is coming to all your loved ones. Amen.