Read: Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18
Chapter 25 is a song of praise that all God’s children through the ages can sing. It is especially for the last days that we are living in. The city that has fallen is symbolic for Babylon and evil. God makes a feast on Mt. Zion for the righteous and they will celebrate the end of death. All sorrow and oppression will be gone. Our salvation has come and sin and pride will be destroyed along with all of God’s enemies.
In Chapter 26, Jerusalem is the strong city of Salvation. We will live in perfect peace of mind. God’s judgments, laws and ways will be taught and lived by. The wicked will be ashamed and judged. Even their remembrance will be wiped out of the earth. But the righteous dead will live again.
God encourages them to hide for a while while he judges the wicked with his fury. He will punish Leviathan who is the creature of chaos in ancient mythology. He is referring to Satan whom he will slay. But, his pleasant vineyard, his people he will watch over and keep safe. Both Judah and Israel will be fruitful and purged of evil. Their guilt and shame will be forgiven and cleansed.
The trumpet will sound and the righteous will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain. The pride and foolishness of man will be gone and all will worship the Lord as king. He is just and mighty. The false prophet and the defiled priests will be judged by the army of Assyria.
The unbelievers had criticized Isaiah as a stammerer who said the same thing over and over, treating them like children. They refused to listen to what Isaiah said even though he gave it to them what God said line by line. Now, his words will be their undoing. They will be judged for not listening to his clear message.
In Galatians, Paul says that all who rely on the law to save them are under a curse. The law says that they must do every one of the laws to save them. Paul tells them that it is the righteous who live by faith. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. He became the curse for us because the law says that everyone who is crucified is cursed. Through him we can all receive the blessing of Abraham even if we are Gentiles.
The promise was given to Abraham and his off-spring. Jesus was one of his offspring and we are one of Christ’s off-spring.
The promise to Abraham was given before the law existed. The law was given later as an intermediary until Christ could come. The law could not give life or righteousness; they come only by faith in Jesus Christ.
Lord, thank you that we are living in the time of grace and faith. Thank you for Jesus who became the curse for us that we might experience the grace of forgiveness and life. May we extend this truth to those we meet today.
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