Isaiah 25:6-10

⁶ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the covering that is spread over all nations;

⁸ he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.

⁹ It will be said on that day,
“See, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

The story told in the biblical book of Isaiah sounds notes of trouble, hardship, struggle, and hope. In many ways, it is a re-telling of the human condition. As individuals or groups of people, we may know of struggle and troubled times in our lives. And yet, as the people of God, hope is the final word.

Whether we are living through exile thousands of years ago, or just trying to deal with the hardships of 2023, God promises the blessings of God’s presence in our lives. And we hope for great things:

A feast of rich foods
Deliverance from death
The removal of tears and disgrace
The assurance of our salvation

In the end, and maybe in the here and now, hope in God wins.

Prayer

God, as we look at the reality of daily life, let us pause to thank you for the promises to each of us regarding your transforming presence. Let us savor your grace, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.