To Live is Christ — Thy Kingdom come . . .

Warren Wiersbe in his Old Testament commentary, Be Comforted, says this about the feast described in Isaiah 25:6:

For the Old Testament Jew, a feast was a picture of the Kingdom Age when Messiah would reign over Israel and all the nations of the world. Israel would enter into her glory, and the Gentiles would come to Zion to worship the Lord. When Jesus used the image of the feast in Matthew 8:11, the people knew He was speaking about the promised kingdom: “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s devotional reading asks if this feast is a metaphor, and in this sense it is. My hubby and I discussed this a day or so ago. He thinks it is purely symbolic. I think it is symbolic but also a real feast. Even so, there is more to this than eating. Wiersbe goes on . . .  

The food that we eat only sustains life, but at this feast, death itself will be conquered. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces. The funeral will turn into a wedding! Verse 8 was quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

Wiersbe adds that John also quoted Isaiah in Revelation 21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

He also explains there is metaphorical value in the “covering” and “veil” mentioned in Isaiah 25:7. He says these may suggest the blindness of Israel and the nations to the true God and Savior. This is repeated in the New Testament, particularly 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Wiersbe says that when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and glory, Israel “shall look upon Me whom they have pierced” and trust in Him for salvation. The veil shall be removed, and they will see their Messiah and their God. Then they will sing the song of Isaiah 25:9 as they enter into the great kingdom feast. . .

And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

As I read these things, I too have to declare that this is my God and I have waited for Him. He has saved me and I am glad and rejoice in His salvation, both now and in that day that is yet to come, with or without a real feast!