Isaiah 24-25
Isaiah 24:4-6
“4 The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. 5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.”
Isaiah makes no attempt to hide the fact that humanity’s sin will be met with God’s justice. The problem of the world is the one in our own hearts (24:16). This chapter is bleak with judgement. But in Isaiah 25 we see the dawn.
“6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”
When Jesus performed the sign of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, he was showing that he was the one bringing salvation. He would swallow up death, wipe away tears and bring the best wine – a new covenant with God.
Because Christ we can say: v.9 “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
As we start this year, and see the curse of sin on the world, let us hold fast to the hope in Christ and wait for the Lord.
Pray for –
- Mourning the curse of sin on our world
- Joy in the reversing of the curse achieved by Christ
- That we would wait for the Lord amidst trials.
Also pray for –
- Jacob’s MRI this Friday
- The half-night of prayer this Friday night
- Thanksgiving for getting the corner of the kilt-shop needed for P140.
