Text: Isaiah 25:1-12, Genesis 3:17-19, Hebrews 12:22-24
When I was a teenager our house was hit by a tornado. Seeing trees leveled, cars smashed, and our back porch splintered into a million fragments—it was disarming.
Reading through the middle section of Isaiah makes me feel a bit like I did as I surveyed the post-tornado damage. Chapter after chapter, Isaiah prophesied about God’s impending judgment. It was bad news all around. From Babylon to Arabia, Jerusalem to Egypt, then ultimately the whole earth, Isaiah foretells a reckoning so widespread that the entire planet will be “stripped completely bare” (Isaiah 24:3). He describes a time when all celebration will cease (v.8) and how “panic, pit, and trap” await all who dwell on the earth (v.17).
My response to these chapters is to cover my eyes and read them through slightly opened fingers. But that is not how Isaiah reacts.
As chapter 24 wraps, God stops speaking to Isaiah about what’s coming. Isaiah doesn’t grit his teeth or pout or whimper. Faced with the news of the world’s coming woes, Isaiah erupts in praise:
“The Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for you have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”
– Isaiah 25:1
Because he knows the complete character of God, Isaiah can look past the devastation and see God’s power. He can look beyond the judgment and see God’s faithfulness.
While Isaiah had a front row seat to some very bad news, he was also among the very first to know the good news of the gospel.
He foretold the Messiah, born to a virgin and given the name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
He knew our Savior would come from the line of David (Isaiah 9:7).
He even foresaw Jesus’ burial in a tomb purchased by Joseph of Arimathea (Isaiah 53:9).
God gifted Isaiah eyes to see past his moment in history and into the mystery of the gospel. Long before any other human knew that Jesus would die on a hill, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and leave His burial clothes behind to return in a resurrected body, Isaiah saw a reason to celebrate: “On this mountain He will destroy the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations” (Isaiah 25:7).
Yes, God was going to put an end to certain wicked rulers and pagan practices. He would wipe out evil and sin, but He would also destroy death and sorrow. Isaiah celebrated because he knew that the shroud, or curtain, that separated all of humanity from God would soon be torn in two.
Jesus, give us eyes to see past the devastation to the good news of the gospel. Amen.
Erin Davis is an author, blogger, and speaker who loves to see women of all ages run to the deep well of God’s Word. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin chasing chickens and children on her small farm in the Midwest.
“While Isaiah had a front row seat to some very bad news, he was also among the very first to know the good news of the gospel.”
This is such a beautiful reflection of Isaiah’s purpose. The last few days have been hard to read but today’s glimpse into the celebration of Jesus and what He did for us is encouragement to keep on keeping on!
I have scary storms in my life to, like that high windstorm we had not so long ago, but after the rain, there was a rainbow! Its good to be able to see thru are hardships for the good things.
Reading posts like this make surfing such a plrsauee
The utter devastation and the delay in Christ returning always stops me in my tracks. Surely after each World War, He would come. Surely following the atomic bomb, He would come. Surely the Vietnam War would force His hand. Bloody conflicts in the Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria. Not an exhaustive list. Not. At. All. The people cry, ” How long, Oh Lord? How long?”. We know He is coming. We know He is patient and long-suffering. We know He does not desire for anyone to perish in eternal separation. How much evil will man do before He says “Enough. I’m on my way now”? I shudder at the evil. Yet I’m grateful He will keep His Word. I cannot imagine all the suffering. I cannot imagine all that is heaven. I pray that none would wait too long. I pray that hearts and minds would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. No one knows the day or the time. As with the ark, the door to rescue will one day be closed. I shudder for those on the wrong side of that door. Praying that today there would be many who grab hold of Him who is the life preserver. Today. For we do not know if we will have tomorrow.
I always look forward to reading your take away, Churchmouse. Your words move me this morning and I pray alongside you for the hearts of those who are waiting.
I listened to a podcast called the Robcast this week. The topic was the myth of redemptive violence. So basically how people engage in a tit for tat with those who hurt them. Someone says or does something mean to you, you feel the need to get back at them. And then this cycle perpetuates over and over again. Jesus took the violence out of circulation when he died on the cross. He was making a bold statement: the violence stops here.
That’s why I was struck by the verse that reads, “so he silences the song of the violent.” Isaiah 25:5. Because that is the purpose of Christ, to put an end to violence – violence being the opposite of love.
Then we go to the Hebrew reading for today. “To Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24. Abel spilled blood to keep the violence in circulation. Christ spilled his own to remove it and replace it with love.
I think that’s why Isaiah 25:9-10 is so important. Because when you refuse to participate in the tit for tat (redemptive violence), you will likely appear to lose by the world’s standards. People will say your opponent got the best of you, which is hard for our egos to take! But that’s why we have to wait for the Lord. Because he will illuminate the love we chose to respond with in a miraculous way, as he did with Jesus. Even if it’s after our death. We just have to rest in his faithfulness.
I also liked the part in today’s Hebrew reading where it says God is the judge. I do believe human judging is also a form of violence. Divine judgment is a skill beyond us. So it’s my prayer that we all remind ourselves to take the violence out of circulation, to chose love and compassion instead of self-righteousness, arrogance, judgement, and pride.
Because to not do so will have you swimming in your own sh**. Isaiah 25:11-12. (Ahahaha what an incredibly modern analogy. I love Isaiah LOL)
Love this!
Lana-wow! Redemptive violence! How appropriate to consider in today’s social media storms and everyday behavior. I love the humor of your interpretation of Is 25:11-12. That’s exactly what he says! Thanks for bringing a smile!
Wow! Thanks for sharing. The perspective is eye opening for sure.
Love this! Thank you for such thoughtful insight!
If inrtmfaoion were soccer, this would be a goooooal!
I have a difficult time with the word “judging”. We are not to judge other people’s hearts as that is God’s province. However, I think we are to “judge” our actions and those of others. We have to say whether something is good or bad, hurtful or encouraging.
I agree!
I agree too :)
Thank you thank you thank you for this! I also listened to the robcast this week and have had it in my mind the past couple readings. I really appreciate your application here of the lie of redemptive violence and how we can find hope in these scriptures and the cross. I might put up a post it of Isaiah 25:5 as a reminder!
I must listen to this podcast, thank you for sharing your heart- love your comment!
So much insight! Thank you so much for sharing. That was just beautiful!!
Sooo good! ;) love that podcast.
Beauty from the ruins. Those were the words that were spoken to me by a dear friend just over a year ago as I poured my heart and struggles out to her in a field in Ethiopia. Now I am in my final two months of my senior year in college and as I read today within the first three verses of Isaiah 25 those words sprang to mind once again. I have been walking through a very hectic and difficult season right now and sometimes it feels like the Father is so far away. But I am so grateful for these verses today because they reminded me that even if God feels distant, and my world feels like it is spinning out of control and my life seems to be rubble around me there is beauty there. There is beauty in the ruins because of Jesus, because no matter how crazy, lonely or overwhelming my life gets Jesus is our hope that something better is coming. Our hope that this is not all there is to life. I’m holding on to that truth today as I continue in this season of life. I pray that each of you ladies are filled with His Peace and reminded that even if life is falling apart there is hope and beauty because of Jesus.
Amen Gabrielle! I am also going through a challenging season as well. I found hope tucked away in all the “death and devastation”- Jesus was their hope and Jesus is our hope and will forever be our hope. He is working out all things for our good and so we will wait and praise and wait and praise!
Gabrielle, praying for you in this time where the Lord seems far. Asking Him to remind you of His nearness and to comfort you with His Word. Grateful for you!
– Stormye
Who is our guest writer today?
I was wondering this too. I caught myself looking for a name attached to the devotional and then saw your question. I was blessed by today’s reading of the Word and the words penned by our guest writer. God gets all the glory!
I was wondering the same thing. I think this has been the best writing so far in this study, I was excited to see who wrote it. Whoever it was, thank you, your words blessed me!
Hi Jeni! Glad you enjoyed the writing today. Our author was Erin Davis – she did a wonderful job. Grateful for you!
– Stormye
Hi Jeni and Susie. I had the privilege of writing for SRT today. My name is Erin Davis. Grateful the Lord used it to equip and encourage you.
Grace & Peace!
e
Erin, thank you for this. A great reflection on today’s reading.
It says she is Erin Davis
Great question, Missy! Erin Davis wrote today’s reading. Wasn’t it great?
– Stormye
I love today’s reminder about Isaiah the man, and not simply the book. I think so often I read Scripture forgetting the hand that wrote the words. Forgetting that this was a real, living, breathing, flesh of a man who heard these words of awful destruction and terror from God. Yet, he did not run and cower, which if I’m honest, is probably what I would do if God told me He was going to destroy everything! Isaiah the man is a heck of a guy! To boldly proclaim the prophecies to his community and leaders. To praise God for His holiness and righteousness in the face of destruction. And yet, Isaiah is no more holy than me or you. He is not some super human. He is a man with great faith and trust in God, not for what He does for him but for who He is. May we be women of the same faith and trust today. Women who praise God even when life hurts or doesn’t make sense because we know who our God is….a loving, merciful, gracious Father.
A great, faithful man indeed!! It’s also assumed that he paid the ultimate price and was sawn in two. It makes me feel small with all the seemingly small inconveniences that might make me turn my face away from God’s light.
Have a blessed day Ladies.
What a great remind and what sweet encouragement today, Audrey. Thank you for sharing!
– Stormye
What a wonderful reminder to run to God today, rejoicing and praising. Not to be afraid or sad, but hopeful. Remember that Jesus said that we would have tribulation, but He has overcome the world!