Listen here.
Welcome to Devotions for Worship where we meditate on the
appointed Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday. Thank you for being with
me today.
I am Pastor Eric Tritten from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in
Hudson, OH.
This coming Sunday is the 19th Sunday after
Pentecost.
The Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of
well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow,
of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all
peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord GOD will wipe away
tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all
the earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
"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."
(Isa. 25:6-9 ESV)
Comments
This text is sometimes used at funerals because it serves as
a great example of the celebratory feast for God’s salvation. And at this
feast, God himself swallows death forever while he provides the finest fare for
his followers.
Can you imagine it? The Lord serves his people. Rich food –
no non-fat anything in this spread. Well aged wine – the best vintage. This is
clearly an important part of the meal as wine is mentioned twice! This is wine
that makes one’s heart glad for this is a celebration of God’s salvation.
And as we feast God swallows up death, wipes away tears from
our eyes, and takes our reproach away … he takes our sin away.
Does this sound a bit familiar? It makes me think of the
Lord’s Supper, which is often referred to as a foretaste of the heavenly feast
that is yet to come. It is not as fancy outwardly. Those little wafers are not
exactly tasty, and the wine is often far from fine, but what is delivered in
that meal – Jesus body and blood, in, with, and under the bread and wine –
swallows up death, wipes away our tears and takes our reproach away. And it is
a meal that is for now and then; a meal that we receive here in time that
connects to eternity as God himself feeds us. Ponder that the next time you
receive the Lord’s Supper!
My son is coming home from college for a few days and he
asked my wife if we could have one of his favorite meals while he’s home. I
think that the thought of that food might be making him a little homesick.
The Lord’s Supper is a little like that, too. It reminds us
of a feast – a feast we haven’t enjoyed yet, but we know we will – a feast that
celebrates that God feeds us and gives us everlasting life through faith in
Jesus.
Prayers
Father, you are the host of the feast and we are your
guests. We come as you call us to receive the food you feed us. For now that
heavenly food is concealed in bread and wine – truly there but undiscerned by
sight and taste – but powerful to do what you promise, forgive us and give us
life. Keep us steadfast in faith, fed on your Word and on Christ’s body and
blood, until the day when we feast in your presence and you, you feast
swallowing up death forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you so much for using Devotions for Worship, I pray
that our time together has blessed you and given you something to meditate on –
some reminder of God’s grace to rattle around in your brain – for the rest of
the day.
One of the things we can do to help us meditate on God’s
word is to memorize it. Psalm 119:11.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 25:9 - It will be said on that day, "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." (Isa. 25:9 ESV)
Pray for Puerto Rico and give to help them: https://www.lcms.org/puerto-rico-relief
Would you do me a favor? If you got something out of this
devotional time, would you like and/or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or
wherever you do social media? That would help me get the word out, and
hopefully help these devotions be a blessing to others.
God bless you!
Comments