Our Scripture to start this week off is a wonderful message from the Prophet Isaiah. Instead of a message of judgment or one of urging the people to get back on the right track with God, Isaiah records blessings that he saw for God’s people in the future, one that looks beyond God’s judgment upon the nations to His future kingdom blessings. It is a message that anticipates the future Millennial Kingdom of Christ, and ultimately God’s final victory over death.
Isaiah opens this passage with his praise and worship of the Lord, not just for what He has done in the past, but also for what He has promised in the future, events that the prophet is certain God will accomplish. God’s “counsels of old” refer to His eternal plans and decrees (vs. 1). Isaiah knows that the Lord is sovereign, and that whatever He foretells is certain to happen. He knows and can trust that God is perfectly faithful. Today we look back and see that the prophecies concerning Jesus’ first coming were literally fulfilled. Therefore, we can expect the prophecies concerning His second coming and kingdom will be fulfilled literally, as well. True worship grows from recognizing God’s faithfulness.
Though the city in verse 2 is not specifically identified, it can represent mankind’s rebellious world system. Its destruction depicts the downfall of proud human civilizations that oppose God. No earthly power can ultimately stand against God.
Isaiah proceeds to tell us that God is a refuge for the afflicted (vs. 3-5). In contrast to the destruction of the proud, God will protect the humble, the poor, the needy, and distressed. The Lord repeatedly demonstrates His concern for those who trust in Him, and promises to be a divine refuge in trouble. Believers today know that Jesus remains a refuge during trials, persecution, and the uncertainty of this world.
Next we read of Isaiah’s prophecy of the great Messianic banquet (vs. 6). The mountain refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and looks ahead to the reign of the Messiah Jesus. This feast symbolizes joy, fellowship, victory, abundance, and peace, and is connected to the future Messianic Kingdom after Jesus returns. We see references to this great banquet several times in the New Testament. Jesus speaks of it in Matthew 8:11, and the Apostle John had visions of it in Revelation 19:9. God’s future for His people is not sorrow but celebration.
God has also promised to remove all spiritual blindness on earth (vs. 7). The “covering” represents the spiritual blindness and ignorance that has affected humanity since the Fall of Adam. There is a veil of ignorance and evil that covers the world, blinding us to God’s love. Selfishness, greed, and desire for power obscure our vision, making us unable to clearly see God (II Corinthians 4:3-4). Left to ourselves we experience only darkness, confusion, and despair. God will not leave us hopeless. His love can remove whatever blinds us, and reveal His truth.
Isaiah continues by prophesying the Lord’s victory over death (vs. 8). Death had entered the world through sin (Romans 5:12), but here we see God promising its ultimate defeat. Paul also quoted this verse in I Corinthians 15:54. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees the future resurrection of believers (John 11:25-26). As followers of Jesus, we have an amazing hope. The hope of eternal life, and the hope that one day we will see God the Father face to face. On that day, when death is swallowed up, He will wipe every tear away from our face (Revelation 21:4). For believers, death is not the end. Jesus Christ has conquered the grave!
Our Scripture closes with the joyful expectation of God’s people (vs. 9). The redeemed recognize that God has fulfilled everything that He has promised. Twice we read “we have waited for him”. God’s people throughout time have lived in expectation. Abraham waited, David waited, the prophets waited, and believers today also wait. At this time Isaiah prophesies that our faith will become sight, and our hope will become reality.
As followers of Jesus, we can praise the Lord, as we know that He is faithful to every promise He has made. We can turn to Jesus in times of distress, and take comfort in His victory over death. Throughout Scripture God’s people are characterized by waiting on God, and their waiting is never in vain. Today let us keep looking forward to the day when faith becomes sight, and we can join the redeemed in saying “This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
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