A Fulfilling Banquet

 In Isaiah 25:6, "the LORD of hosts prepares a lavish banquet for all people on this mountain."  As we celebrate the first day of the New Year, many of us are preparing food for family and friends.  We can definitely relate to the preparations of a "lavish banquet".  But God is here preparing a banquet like no other.  In verses 7-8, Isaiah continues this inspired writing with, "and on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations.  He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces.  And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken."

In Matthew Poole's commentary, he writes, "the covering or veil is the ignorance of God and of the true religion, which was then upon the Gentiles, and now upon the Jews.  It is a veil that covers men's eyes and keeps them from discernment...  This is a manifest prophecy concerning the illumination and conversion of the the Gentiles.  

In verse eight, "He will swallow up death for all time, Mr. Poole continues with, "The Messiah, who is God and Man, will swallow up death; shall by His death destroy yet the power of death and take away the sting of the first death, and prevent the second death and give eternal life to the world, even to all that believe in Him."  God will "in due time confer upon His people the victory that Christ has already purchased.  And He will take away from His people all suffering and sorrows, and all the causes of them, which is begun here and perfected in heaven."

This was my passage of scripture on this first day of the New Year.  What hope and confidence God's word gives us daily as we all face the trials of life.  Sometimes, we think we can't go on, but God is truly our refuge and strength.  And Mr. Poole continues verse eight with the reproach we receive as believers in Jesus Christ.  "The reproach and contempt which was (and is) daily cast upon His faithful people by the ungodly world..."  And then Isaiah adds at the end of verse 8, "The Lord has spoken it."  Mr. Poole closes on this verse with, "therefore, doubt not of it, though it seem incredible to you."  

What a wonderful challenge from God's Word to start our day and the New Year of 2026!  I can add nothing.  As Job says in 40:4, "I shut my mouth."  Let the wisdom and power of God's Word usher you, too, into a year full of hope and strength from God alone!  And let verse nine of this passage not end your day but begin your time with newness of heart and mind.

Isaiah 25:9: "And it will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.  This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."