Glory to the Righteous One

After the Judgement and grief of Isaiah so far - it is a relief to read through chapters 25-27. It is a song of Praise. Praise for God's Salvation, His People, and His Victory.

Isaiah had to bear lot. He was young and somewhat insecure when God first called him to be a prophet for Him. He had to bear the burden of the weighty message God had for His people. Isaiah was given a look into the grief and torment that would consume the earth "in that day" - the day when Christ stands on the earth and judges His creation.

And now - the good news.

Isaiah reaches out beginning in Chapter 25, with an intensely personal cry - "Lord, thou art MY God..."


MY God.

My Strength. My Refuge. My Shade. (25:4)

"...I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." (vs. 1)

God is always on the side of the poor, the needy, the distressed. Jesus told us, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

He will bring down the proud city. He will bring down His enemies and those that tread on His people. The Jewish people, and His children through Christ's righteousness around the globe. He will bring shade in the heat, and refuge in the blast of the storm. He will swallow up death in VICTORY and wipe away all tears. And then...we will celebrate.

A celebration that Christ has been looking forward to since that last time He sat and ate with His disciples:

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day, when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29)

His bride, the Church of Christ gathered from all over the world, will sit and eat with Him. He will serve us Himself, and sit and fellowship with us.

"And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. (25:6) And he will destroy in the mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." (25:7)

God will host a lavish, loving, "inaugural" celebration with us, and take away all manner of separation. Somehow, to me, the promise in this verse is not just the cloud of spiritual darkness that separates people, but language barriers and cultural differences and prejudices, so that believers from every nation, tongue and tribe will be able to fellowship and worship together, as Kingdom Citizens.  No "Cross-Cultural Communications" course necessary! And what a day that will be!

Chapter 26 begins with describing the safety and protection that Christ's rule will bring to the city of Jerusalem and essentially, the earth.

"And in that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. OPEN YE THE GATES, that the righteous nation which keepeth truth may enter in."

Have you seen Jerusalem recently? Israel is one on of the most heavily guarded countries in the world - and for good reason. The enemies of God's people are everywhere on the face of this world.

But not so during the Millennial reign of Christ. Righteousness, Truth and Salvation will keep the city of Zion, and the whole world. Highways will be built to those open gates, and all who desire can enter in.

Can you imagine?

It's difficult to wait.

"O LORD," Isaiah cries in verse 8, "have we waited for Thee! the desire of our soul is Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee. With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

For thousands of years the Jewish people have waited om their Messiah. When He came - they did not know Him. Now, still they wait - not understanding that when He comes again, He comes to Judge and to restore. And now, His people through Christ's righteousness - the Church, combined of Jews and Gentiles - await His second return.

And He is coming.

But He will not be humble this time.

No infant form.

No stable.

No manger.

No persecution.

He is coming as the King of King and the Lord of Lords.

Tell them.

They need to know.

"Even so come Lord Jesus..."

Map tann