Isa 25:8 | KingComments | STEP | The remaining heathen peoples will come to Mount Zion and may share in the feast that the LORD has prepared for Israel ( ). The mountain has become a huge court, where a large crowd can gather. That great platform may have been created by the great landslides that struck the earth during the judgments ( ; ). connects to the last verse of Isaiah 24 ( ). This banquet is reminiscent of the peace offering, especially in connection with the banquets held on the occasion of the appointment of a king ( ; ). The wine is a picture of joy ( ). There is food and joy of the best kind and in abundance. We can make a spiritual application here. The “choice pieces with marrow” speak of the rich blessings we have received in Christ, the “unfathomable riches of Christ” ( ). We may thus be spiritually nourished by the Holy Spirit who makes this riches a reality for our hearts. If we nourish ourselves with Christ in this way, we can only rejoice, of which the “refined, aged wine” speaks. Not only does God give, but He also takes away. The veil of unbelief which satan has cast upon the nations and upon Israel which blinded them ( ) will be swallowed up ( ). The counsel of God, which has been hidden from the people for many centuries, is now unveiled, revealed forever. This counsel implies that God in Christ fulfills His purpose to bless the nations through Israel ( ; ). Blinded by satan, the nations still believe all sorts of nonsense, for example, the foolishness of the theory of evolution. The nations still walk “in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding” ( ). Death will also have to return its prey. All those who perished after the church’s rapture and during the great tribulation will come to life ( ; ). is one of the few references in the Old Testament to the resurrection. Modern theologians regard this as a later addition in order to defend their thesis that the idea of resurrection only evolved and came about later in the history of Israel. Paul does not care about that. He refers to this verse to show that once death will be abolished completely and not only as here for the believers from Israel and the nations ( ). There will be no longer any other consequences of sin such as tears and reproach for God’s people ( ). Prophetically, this is a reference to the national and spiritual restoration of Israel ( ; ; ; ; ). The foregoing is reason for a new song of praise. They honor the LORD on Whom they have not hoped in vain. They will come to the acknowledgment that the Lord Jesus is God, that He is Immanuel, ‘God with us’. There is every reason to rejoice about the redemption He has given ( ). Don’t we have at least as much reason to rejoice about our redemption from the power of sin? Where is our jubilation of deliverance?

‏ Isaiah 25:8

All Peoples Share in the Salvation

The remaining heathen peoples will come to Mount Zion and may share in the feast that the LORD has prepared for Israel (Isa 25:6). The mountain has become a huge court, where a large crowd can gather. That great platform may have been created by the great landslides that struck the earth during the judgments (Rev 6:14; Zec 14:4).

Isa 25:6 connects to the last verse of Isaiah 24 (Isa 24:23). This banquet is reminiscent of the peace offering, especially in connection with the banquets held on the occasion of the appointment of a king (1Sam 11:15; 2Sam 6:18-19). The wine is a picture of joy (Psa 104:15). There is food and joy of the best kind and in abundance.

We can make a spiritual application here. The “choice pieces with marrow” speak of the rich blessings we have received in Christ, the “unfathomable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). We may thus be spiritually nourished by the Holy Spirit who makes this riches a reality for our hearts. If we nourish ourselves with Christ in this way, we can only rejoice, of which the “refined, aged wine” speaks.

Not only does God give, but He also takes away. The veil of unbelief which satan has cast upon the nations and upon Israel which blinded them (2Cor 4:3-4 ; 2Cor 3:13-16) will be swallowed up (Isa 25:7). The counsel of God, which has been hidden from the people for many centuries, is now unveiled, revealed forever. This counsel implies that God in Christ fulfills His purpose to bless the nations through Israel (Col 1:20; Rom 11:11-15). Blinded by satan, the nations still believe all sorts of nonsense, for example, the foolishness of the theory of evolution. The nations still walk “in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding” (Eph 4:17-18).

Death will also have to return its prey. All those who perished after the church’s rapture and during the great tribulation will come to life (Isa 25:8; Rev 20:4). Isa 25:8 is one of the few references in the Old Testament to the resurrection. Modern theologians regard this as a later addition in order to defend their thesis that the idea of resurrection only evolved and came about later in the history of Israel.

Paul does not care about that. He refers to this verse to show that once death will be abolished completely and not only as here for the believers from Israel and the nations (1Cor 15:54). There will be no longer any other consequences of sin such as tears and reproach for God’s people (Rev 21:4). Prophetically, this is a reference to the national and spiritual restoration of Israel (Rom 11:15; Isa 26:19; Eze 37:1-14; Dan 12:2-3; Hos 6:2).

The foregoing is reason for a new song of praise. They honor the LORD on Whom they have not hoped in vain. They will come to the acknowledgment that the Lord Jesus is God, that He is Immanuel, ‘God with us’. There is every reason to rejoice about the redemption He has given (Isa 25:9). Don’t we have at least as much reason to rejoice about our redemption from the power of sin? Where is our jubilation of deliverance?