God’s Saving Word: Justice and Peace
Introduction
Isaiah 25:1‒9: Today’s reading celebrates God’s victory over the forces of evil and God destroying the power of death. Mount Zion is the place where Israel’s LORD will give a royal banquet for the nations. Zion, the place where God will live among his people, is the source of the LORD’s blessings.
Scripture Reading
A Hymn of Praise
25 Lord, you are my God;
I will honor you and praise your name.
You have done amazing things;
you have faithfully carried out
the plans you made long ago.
2 You have turned cities into ruins
and destroyed their fortifications.
The palaces which our enemies built
are gone forever.
3 The people of powerful nations will praise you;
you will be feared in the cities of cruel nations.
4 The poor and the helpless have fled to you
and have been safe in times of trouble.
You give them shelter from storms
and shade from the burning heat.
Cruel enemies attack like a winter storm,[a]
5 like drought in a dry land.
But you, Lord, have silenced our enemies;
you silence the shouts of cruel people,
as a cloud cools a hot day.
God Prepares a Banquet
6 Here on Mount Zion the Lord Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world—a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. 7 Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations. 8 The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken.
9 When it happens, everyone will say, “He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.”
Today’s Key Verse: Isaiah 25:9b
“He is the LORD! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.”
Reflect
Reread verses 1‒5. What “amazing things” has God done? How do you envision the banquet described in verses 6‒9? (You may wish to compare these verses with Revelation 21:1‒4.) What does it mean to you that God would live among people? In what ways have you experienced God’s blessings in your life?
Pray
Almighty God, I rejoice because you are our God in whom we trust and place our hope. You are always near, and your presence fills my heart with joy. Amen
Tomorrow’s Reading
Isaiah 32:1‒20: A king who will rule with integrity is promised.