Podcasts about Isaiah 25

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people - so start delighting in holy living today by trusting and obeying God!----As Joni Eareckson Tada celebrates her 73rd birthday, she invites you to join her in sharing the Good News of Jesus with people struggling with disability!Give in Joni's Honor Looking for more encouragement?  Follow Joni on Facebook and subscribe to her daily devotional. Listen to all of Joni's 4-minute and 1-minute programs at  joniradio.org!Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Get involved at joniandfriends.org or on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

God hides you in the cleft of a rock – the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. In him your soul is safe and secure, so take heart!

Read: Isaiah 25:1-12 Pray: That we would praise God that Jesus has come to establish a feast of salvation for all peoples. Sing: We Will Feast in the House of Zion – Sandra McCracken

I Owe God A Praise!♥️

Isaiah 25-27; Proverbs 20; John 18

Morning: Numbers 16:5; Psalm 1:6; Psalm 38:9; Psalm 139:23–24; Psalm 142:3; Proverbs 21:2; Matthew 6:4; Romans 8:27; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 4:18 The Lord weighs the heart. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.—“The Lord will show who is his, and who is holy.”—“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!—There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.—O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.—When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!—He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Numbers 16:5 (Listen) 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his,1 and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. Footnotes [1] 16:5 Septuagint The Lord knows those who are his (ESV) Psalm 1:6 (Listen) 6   for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,    but the way of the wicked will perish. (ESV) Psalm 38:9 (Listen) 9   O Lord, all my longing is before you;    my sighing is not hidden from you. (ESV) Psalm 139:23–24 (Listen) 23   Search me, O God, and know my heart!    Try me and know my thoughts!124   And see if there be any grievous way in me,    and lead me in the way everlasting!2 Footnotes [1] 139:23 Or cares [2] 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16) (ESV) Psalm 142:3 (Listen) 3   When my spirit faints within me,    you know my way!  In the path where I walk    they have hidden a trap for me. (ESV) Proverbs 21:2 (Listen) 2   Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,    but the LORD weighs the heart. (ESV) Matthew 6:4 (Listen) 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV) Romans 8:27 (Listen) 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because1 the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Footnotes [1] 8:27 Or that (ESV) 2 Timothy 2:19 (Listen) 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (ESV) 1 John 4:18 (Listen) 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (ESV) Evening: 2 Samuel 23:4; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 25:8; John 16:33; Romans 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18; Revelation 21:4 Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. That no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction.—“In me you… have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” When I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.—The night is far gone; the day is at hand.—He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.—“Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”—We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 2 Samuel 23:4 (Listen) 4   he dawns on them like the morning light,    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,    like rain1 that makes grass to sprout from the earth. Footnotes [1] 23:4 Hebrew from rain (ESV) Psalm 17:15 (Listen) 15   As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. (ESV) Psalm 30:5 (Listen) 5   For his anger is but for a moment,    and his favor is for a lifetime.1  Weeping may tarry for the night,    but joy comes with the morning. Footnotes [1] 30:5 Or and in his favor is life (ESV) Isaiah 25:8 (Listen) 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. (ESV) John 16:33 (Listen) 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV) Romans 13:12 (Listen) 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4 (Listen) 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 (Listen) 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV) Revelation 21:4 (Listen) 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

Songs of praise and rejoicing at trusting God and His protection.   God saves by faith, none are saved by the Law.  

Isaiah 25

Who are some of my friends and loved ones I want to accept Jesus as their resurrection and life today?

Morning: Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 40:28–29; Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 10:35–36; James 1:3–4 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary…. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.—Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.—You have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall. The testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.—Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Psalm 27:14 (Listen) 14   Wait for the LORD;    be strong, and let your heart take courage;    wait for the LORD! (ESV) Isaiah 25:4 (Listen) 4   For you have been a stronghold to the poor,    a stronghold to the needy in his distress,    a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;  for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, (ESV) Isaiah 40:28–29 (Listen) 28   Have you not known? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God,    the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary;    his understanding is unsearchable.29   He gives power to the faint,    and to him who has no might he increases strength. (ESV) Isaiah 41:10 (Listen) 10   fear not, for I am with you;    be not dismayed, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you,    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (ESV) Hebrews 10:35–36 (Listen) 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (ESV) James 1:3–4 (Listen) 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV) Evening: Psalm 23:2; Psalm 37:7; Song of Solomon 2:3–4; Isaiah 57:20–21; Matthew 11:28; Ephesians 4:14–15; Hebrews 4:10; Hebrews 13:9 He makes me lie down in green pastures. “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet…. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”—“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”—Be still before the Lord.—Whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.—So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste, he brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Psalm 23:2 (Listen) 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.1 Footnotes [1] 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest (ESV) Psalm 37:7 (Listen) 7   Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,    over the man who carries out evil devices! (ESV) Song of Solomon 2:3–4 (Listen) She 3   As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,    so is my beloved among the young men.  With great delight I sat in his shadow,    and his fruit was sweet to my taste.4   He brought me to the banqueting house,1    and his banner over me was love. Footnotes [1] 2:4 Hebrew the house of wine (ESV) Isaiah 57:20–21 (Listen) 20   But the wicked are like the tossing sea;    for it cannot be quiet,    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.21   There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (ESV) Matthew 11:28 (Listen) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (ESV) Ephesians 4:14–15 (Listen) 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (ESV) Hebrews 4:10 (Listen) 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (ESV) Hebrews 13:9 (Listen) 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (ESV)

Morning: Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57; 2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:14 That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death. Our Savior Christ Jesus… abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.—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.—When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.—Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (Listen) 4   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,1    I will fear no evil,  for you are with me;    your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. Footnotes [1] 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness (ESV) Isaiah 25:8 (Listen) 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. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (Listen) 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:   “Death is swallowed up in victory.”55   “O death, where is your victory?    O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV) 2 Timothy 1:7 (Listen) 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV) 2 Timothy 1:10 (Listen) 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (ESV) Hebrews 2:14 (Listen) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, (ESV) Evening: Job 38:19; Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16; John 9:5; Colossians 1:12–14; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 John 1:5–7 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?” God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.—“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.—The Father… has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.—“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Job 38:19 (Listen) 19   “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,    and where is the place of darkness, (ESV) Matthew 5:14 (Listen) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (ESV) Matthew 5:16 (Listen) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that1 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Footnotes [1] 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that (ESV) John 9:5 (Listen) 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (ESV) Colossians 1:12–14 (Listen) 12 giving thanks1 to the Father, who has qualified you2 to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Footnotes [1] 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks [2] 1:12 Some manuscripts us (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 5:5 (Listen) 5 For you are all children1 of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. Footnotes [1] 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse (ESV) 1 John 1:5–7 (Listen) Walking in the Light 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

Morning: Psalm 144:5; Song of Solomon 8:14; Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 64:1; Acts 1:11; Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 22:20 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down. Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.—We ourselves… groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.—Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”—Christ… will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.—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.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!—Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.—But our citizenship is in heaven. Psalm 144:5 (Listen) 5   Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!    Touch the mountains so that they smoke! (ESV) Song of Solomon 8:14 (Listen) She 14   Make haste, my beloved,    and be like a gazelle  or a young stag    on the mountains of spices. (ESV) Isaiah 25:9 (Listen) 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.” (ESV) Isaiah 64:1 (Listen) 64   Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,    that the mountains might quake at your presence— (ESV) Acts 1:11 (Listen) 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (ESV) Romans 8:23 (Listen) 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (ESV) Philippians 3:20 (Listen) 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (ESV) Titus 2:13 (Listen) 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (ESV) Hebrews 9:28 (Listen) 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV) Revelation 22:20 (Listen) 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (ESV) Evening: Psalm 16:6; Psalm 34:7–10; Psalm 61:5; Isaiah 54:17; Malachi 4:2; Romans 8:32 You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”—The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.—The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.—He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Psalm 16:6 (Listen) 6   The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (ESV) Psalm 34:7–10 (Listen) 7   The angel of the LORD encamps    around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8   Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!9   Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,    for those who fear him have no lack!10   The young lions suffer want and hunger;    but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (ESV) Psalm 61:5 (Listen) 5   For you, O God, have heard my vows;    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. (ESV) Isaiah 54:17 (Listen) 17     no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD    and their vindication1 from me, declares the LORD.” Footnotes [1] 54:17 Or righteousness (ESV) Malachi 4:2 (Listen) 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (ESV) Romans 8:32 (Listen) 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)

Today's Prayer Meditation is on Isaiah 25 O Lord, I honor you and praise your name. You are my God. You have done miraculous things. Things you planned and had prophesied long ago, you fulfill with perfect faithfulness. The mighty cities of the wicked will crumble into heaps of ruins. Cities with strong walls will be turned to rubble. Beautiful palaces in distant lands will disappear never to be rebuilt. Strong people will honor you and declare your glory; ruthless nations will fear you. But you are my tower of refuge, O Lord, my strong tower and safe place when I am in distress. You are my refuge from the storm and my shelter from the heat. When the ruthless come like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert, you silence their noise. As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boasting of ruthless people is stilled. You are the God of Angel Armies. You spread a wonderful feast before me. It is a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. Father, you have removed the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hung over me. You will swallow up death and abolish it forever. You will wipe away all my tears. You will remove forever the shame and disgrace from your people and your land. You have spoken it, and your word will not return to you void. You are my God. I trust in you, and you have saved me. I rejoice in you and in the salvation you bring. Your hand of blessing rests upon me.  So be it. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. ----- Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/winter-evensong License code: TIU7VPETODXL8YAD

Recap of Isaiah 25-28. For more information on our year-long journey of the Bible, visit windowsmirrors.org Join our PATREON: patreon.com/windowsandmirrors

The Bible tells one big story of redemption. Today, we are journeying through Isaiah 25-27 and exploring how it points to Jesus, where it fits into the story of Scripture, and how the truth of God's Word impacts our lives. Follow along with us in the Story of Redemption Study Vol. 3, today on page 6. Visit The Daily Grace Co. for the Story of Redemption bundle and for more beautiful products that will equip you on your journey to knowing and loving God more. Follow @dailygracepodcast on Instagram for exclusive podcast content and @thedailygraceco for all things The Daily Grace Co. Subscribe to the Daily Grace Podcast on iTunes or Spotify. Read the Bible in a year with us in the Bible App.

One Year Bible Reading Plan - July 21 (Isaiah 25-28) Speaker: Pastor Tim Evans This audio is a production of North Clay Baptist Church. For more information from North Clay Baptist Church, visit our website at www.northclay.org

One Single Story: Day 199 We are to praise God for judgment and salvation. Pastors Stephen Mizell, Alyssa Bream and Jay Rivenbark talk about God's sovereignty on today's podcast. Does God want to turn nations back to himself?  July 18th Reading: Isaiah 23-27 For more on One Single Story, visit onesinglestory.com.

Morning: Psalm 37:30–31; Psalm 116:10; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 10:32; Matthew 12:34; Acts 4:20; Romans 10:10; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:16 “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… in all wisdom. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.—Death and life are in the power of the tongue.—The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.—Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”—I believed, even when I spoke. “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”—With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Psalm 37:30–31 (Listen) 30   The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,    and his tongue speaks justice.31   The law of his God is in his heart;    his steps do not slip. (ESV) Psalm 116:10 (Listen) 10   I believed, even when1 I spoke:    “I am greatly afflicted”; Footnotes [1] 116:10 Or believed, indeed; Septuagint believed, therefore (ESV) Proverbs 4:23 (Listen) 23   Keep your heart with all vigilance,    for from it flow the springs of life. (ESV) Proverbs 18:21 (Listen) 21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue,    and those who love it will eat its fruits. (ESV) Matthew 10:32 (Listen) 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, (ESV) Matthew 12:34 (Listen) 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (ESV) Acts 4:20 (Listen) 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (ESV) Romans 10:10 (Listen) 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV) Ephesians 4:29 (Listen) 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (ESV) Colossians 3:16 (Listen) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV) Evening: Psalm 42:1–2; Song of Solomon 8:14; Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 64:1; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:8; 3 John 14; Revelation 22:20 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.—As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?—Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.—Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.—God our Savior and… Christ Jesus our hope.—Though you have not seen him, you love him. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!—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.” Psalm 42:1–2 (Listen) Book Two Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul? To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of the Sons of Korah. 42   As a deer pants for flowing streams,    so pants my soul for you, O God.2   My soul thirsts for God,    for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?2 Footnotes [1] 42:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 42:2 Revocalization yields and see the face of God (ESV) Song of Solomon 8:14 (Listen) She 14   Make haste, my beloved,    and be like a gazelle  or a young stag    on the mountains of spices. (ESV) Isaiah 25:9 (Listen) 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.” (ESV) Isaiah 64:1 (Listen) 64   Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,    that the mountains might quake at your presence— (ESV) Philippians 3:20 (Listen) 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (ESV) 1 Timothy 1:1 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, (ESV) Titus 2:13 (Listen) 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (ESV) 1 Peter 1:8 (Listen) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (ESV) 3 John 14 (Listen) 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. (ESV) Revelation 22:20 (Listen) 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (ESV)

One of the deepest longings for God's people is for us to be with Him. Today as we look at Isaiah 25, we'll focus on that day when we'll finally be with the Lord without the curse and how we're truly be able to enjoy eternal fellowship with Him! The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on YouVersion Bible App Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

We are a family-run international ministry with television, print and online programs designed to guide you through the Bible in one year. From social issues and apologetics to theology, history and science, our mission is to educate, edify and encourage the believer to actively engage with God's Word in all ways.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether Today we will read Psalm 75:8 and Isaiah 25:6. They say, “For there is a cup in the Lord's hand full of wine blended with spices, and He pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, Draining it to the dregs.” And Isaiah 25:6, “The Lord of Hosts will prepare a feast for all the peoples on this mountain a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine.” Wine is a complex subject in scripture. Of course wine is a naturally occurring process when you leave fruit out in the sun. Biblically though, wine is used for everything from joyful celebration to condemnation. There are numerous warnings against over-consumption. Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine to keep the party going. He also referred to his own blood as wine. Some abstained while others drank. Wine is complex. And more, God offers wine. In the first passage we see God holding a cup of spiced wine. Think sangria or mulled wine at the holidays. It's sweet. But it's poured out on the wicked who drink every last drop. Strange way to punish the wicked. In the next passage in Isaiah, we see the menu for God's feast He'll throw for His people. There's no shortage of wine there and not the cheap stuff. And it's not just that it's aged wine, no, it's “finely” aged wine. This is wine prepared with skill - the art of winemaking. God is giving us the good stuff. Both of these wines come from God. It's sobering (if you pardon the pun) that God is either the source of our destruction or our feasting. That may be alarming, but should it be surprising? God is the source of all. How we experience God then is serious business. The real issue then isn't wine but God, and you. On one hand there is the wicked: blind consumers not just of wine, but of everything, ignorant of Who or where it comes from. They consume from a distance and do so until they are no more. On the other hand, there's the people of God on the mountain of God. They are those who, we can assume, have chosen to be on the mountain, to be close to God, to be in His community. They experience a fine feast in the Presence of God. One is close and one is far. I suppose the simple question for you today is, which one do you want to be? “God I want to experience You and all You have to offer.”

Your words were found and I ate them

Listen to Isaiah 25.1-27.13 from the King James Bible as read by Pastor Brad Canterbury on today’s edition of God’s Word for Today, produced by VCY America

5/30/22

Morning: Isaiah 25:9; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:13–14 We await a Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.—But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.—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.” Isaiah 25:9 (Listen) 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.” (ESV) Philippians 3:20 (Listen) 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (ESV) Titus 2:11–14 (Listen) 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV) Hebrews 9:28 (Listen) 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV) 2 Peter 3:13–14 (Listen) 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Final Words 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV) Evening: Proverbs 22:13; 1 Corinthians 7:31; 1 Corinthians 9:24; 1 Corinthians 9:26–27; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 3:13–14 So run that you may obtain it. The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!”—Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. I press on toward the goal.—So I do not run aimlessly…. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest… I myself should be disqualified.—For the present form of this world is passing away. But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent.—Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 22:13 (Listen) 13   The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!    I shall be killed in the streets!” (ESV) 1 Corinthians 7:31 (Listen) 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 9:24 (Listen) 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 9:26–27 (Listen) 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,1 lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. Footnotes [1] 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave (ESV) 2 Corinthians 7:1 (Listen) 7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body1 and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Footnotes [1] 7:1 Greek flesh (ESV) Philippians 3:14 (Listen) 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV) Hebrews 12:1–2 (Listen) Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV) 1 Peter 1:13 (Listen) Called to Be Holy 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,1 and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Footnotes [1] 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind (ESV) 2 Peter 3:13–14 (Listen) 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Final Words 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV)

With family: Numbers 33; Psalm 78:1–37 Numbers 33 (Listen) Recounting Israel's Journey 33 These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places. 3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments. 5 So the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth. 6 And they set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 7 And they set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is east of Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol. 8 And they set out from before Hahiroth1 and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah. 9 And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there. 10 And they set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. 11 And they set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 And they set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. 13 And they set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush. 14 And they set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah. 17 And they set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. 18 And they set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19 And they set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez. 20 And they set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah. 21 And they set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22 And they set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. 23 And they set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. 24 And they set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25 And they set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. 26 And they set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. 27 And they set out from Tahath and camped at Terah. 28 And they set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah. 29 And they set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. 30 And they set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. 31 And they set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan. 32 And they set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad. 33 And they set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah. 34 And they set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah. 35 And they set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber. 36 And they set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh). 37 And they set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39 And Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor. 40 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel. 41 And they set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. 42 And they set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. 43 And they set out from Punon and camped at Oboth. 44 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the territory of Moab. 45 And they set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad. 46 And they set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim. 47 And they set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho; 49 they camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab. Drive Out the Inhabitants 50 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 51 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. 53 And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. 54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. 55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. 56 And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.” Footnotes [1] 33:8 Some manuscripts and versions Pi-hahiroth (ESV) Psalm 78:1–37 (Listen) Tell the Coming Generation A Maskil1 of Asaph. 78   Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!2   I will open my mouth in a parable;    I will utter dark sayings from of old,3   things that we have heard and known,    that our fathers have told us.4   We will not hide them from their children,    but tell to the coming generation  the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,    and the wonders that he has done. 5   He established a testimony in Jacob    and appointed a law in Israel,  which he commanded our fathers    to teach to their children,6   that the next generation might know them,    the children yet unborn,  and arise and tell them to their children,7     so that they should set their hope in God  and not forget the works of God,    but keep his commandments;8   and that they should not be like their fathers,    a stubborn and rebellious generation,  a generation whose heart was not steadfast,    whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9   The Ephraimites, armed with2 the bow,    turned back on the day of battle.10   They did not keep God's covenant,    but refused to walk according to his law.11   They forgot his works    and the wonders that he had shown them.12   In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders    in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.13   He divided the sea and let them pass through it,    and made the waters stand like a heap.14   In the daytime he led them with a cloud,    and all the night with a fiery light.15   He split rocks in the wilderness    and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.16   He made streams come out of the rock    and caused waters to flow down like rivers. 17   Yet they sinned still more against him,    rebelling against the Most High in the desert.18   They tested God in their heart    by demanding the food they craved.19   They spoke against God, saying,    “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?20   He struck the rock so that water gushed out    and streams overflowed.  Can he also give bread    or provide meat for his people?” 21   Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;    a fire was kindled against Jacob;    his anger rose against Israel,22   because they did not believe in God    and did not trust his saving power.23   Yet he commanded the skies above    and opened the doors of heaven,24   and he rained down on them manna to eat    and gave them the grain of heaven.25   Man ate of the bread of the angels;    he sent them food in abundance.26   He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,    and by his power he led out the south wind;27   he rained meat on them like dust,    winged birds like the sand of the seas;28   he let them fall in the midst of their camp,    all around their dwellings.29   And they ate and were well filled,    for he gave them what they craved.30   But before they had satisfied their craving,    while the food was still in their mouths,31   the anger of God rose against them,    and he killed the strongest of them    and laid low the young men of Israel. 32   In spite of all this, they still sinned;    despite his wonders, they did not believe.33   So he made their days vanish like3 a breath,4    and their years in terror.34   When he killed them, they sought him;    they repented and sought God earnestly.35   They remembered that God was their rock,    the Most High God their redeemer.36   But they flattered him with their mouths;    they lied to him with their tongues.37   Their heart was not steadfast toward him;    they were not faithful to his covenant. Footnotes [1] 78:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 78:9 Hebrew armed and shooting [3] 78:33 Hebrew in [4] 78:33 Or vapor (ESV) In private: Isaiah 25; 1 John 3 Isaiah 25 (Listen) God Will Swallow Up Death Forever 25   O LORD, you are my God;    I will exalt you; I will praise your name,  for you have done wonderful things,    plans formed of old, faithful and sure.2   For you have made the city a heap,    the fortified city a ruin;  the foreigners' palace is a city no more;    it will never be rebuilt.3   Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;    cities of ruthless nations will fear you.4   For you have been a stronghold to the poor,    a stronghold to the needy in his distress,    a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;  for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,5     like heat in a dry place.  You subdue the noise of the foreigners;    as heat by the shade of a cloud,    so the song of the ruthless is put down. 6   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.”10   For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,    and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,    as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.111   And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it    as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,    but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill2 of his hands.12   And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,    lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. Footnotes [1] 25:10 The Hebrew words for dunghill and for the Moabite town Madmen (Jeremiah 48:2) sound alike [2] 25:11 Or in spite of the skill (ESV) 1 John 3 (Listen) 3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears1 we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's2 seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. Love One Another 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,3 that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,4 and God5 in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. Footnotes [1] 3:2 Or when it appears [2] 3:9 Greek his [3] 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16 [4] 3:24 Greek him [5] 3:24 Greek he (ESV)

Morning: Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 33:24; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:19; Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:26; 1 Corinthians 15:54; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear… and death shall be no more, neither… mourning… , for the former things have passed away.” 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.—Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.—And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.—“No more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.”—And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?—The last enemy to be destroyed is death…. Then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The things that are unseen are eternal. Isaiah 25:8 (Listen) 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. (ESV) Isaiah 33:24 (Listen) 24   And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”;    the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity. (ESV) Isaiah 35:10 (Listen) 10   And the ransomed of the LORD shall return    and come to Zion with singing;  everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;    they shall obtain gladness and joy,    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (ESV) Isaiah 60:20 (Listen) 20   Your sun shall no more go down,    nor your moon withdraw itself;  for the LORD will be your everlasting light,    and your days of mourning shall be ended. (ESV) Isaiah 65:19 (Listen) 19   I will rejoice in Jerusalem    and be glad in my people;  no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping    and the cry of distress. (ESV) Hosea 13:14 (Listen) 14   I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol;    I shall redeem them from Death.1  O Death, where are your plagues?    O Sheol, where is your sting?    Compassion is hidden from my eyes. Footnotes [1] 13:14 Or Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? (ESV) 1 Corinthians 15:26 (Listen) 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 15:54 (Listen) 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:   “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (ESV) 2 Corinthians 4:18 (Listen) 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (ESV) Revelation 21:4 (Listen) 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV) Evening: John 17:24; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 5:30; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:10; Hebrews 2:14–15; Revelation 1:17–18 Raised us up with him… in Christ Jesus. “Fear not, I am… the living one.”—“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am.” We are members of his body.—And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.—You have been filled in him, who is the head. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” John 17:24 (Listen) 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 1:31 (Listen) 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (ESV) Ephesians 2:6 (Listen) 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV) Ephesians 5:30 (Listen) 30 because we are members of his body. (ESV) Colossians 1:18 (Listen) 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV) Colossians 2:10 (Listen) 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (ESV) Hebrews 2:14–15 (Listen) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (ESV) Revelation 1:17–18 (Listen) 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (ESV)

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Welcome to Shaped By The Word Season 2. This year we will be reading a selection of 260 passages aimed at helping us see the unfolding drama of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Join our staff team every week-day as we fix our gaze on Jesus and remind our hearts that Scripture points to Him from beginning to end.

Morning: Genesis 21:1; Genesis 50:24; Numbers 23:19; Joshua 21:45; 1 Samuel 30:6; Psalm 62:8; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Acts 7:34; Acts 7:36; Hebrews 10:23 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.—David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.—“God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”—“‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them.' This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.”—Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. He who promised is faithful.—Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?—“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”—The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Genesis 21:1 (Listen) The Birth of Isaac 21 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. (ESV) Genesis 50:24 (Listen) 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (ESV) Numbers 23:19 (Listen) 19   God is not man, that he should lie,    or a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Has he said, and will he not do it?    Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (ESV) Joshua 21:45 (Listen) 45 Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (ESV) 1 Samuel 30:6 (Listen) 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,1 each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Footnotes [1] 30:6 Compare 22:2 (ESV) Psalm 62:8 (Listen) 8   Trust in him at all times, O people;    pour out your heart before him;    God is a refuge for us. Selah (ESV) Isaiah 40:8 (Listen) 8   The grass withers, the flower fades,    but the word of our God will stand forever. (ESV) Matthew 24:35 (Listen) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV) Acts 7:34 (Listen) 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.' (ESV) Acts 7:36 (Listen) 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. (ESV) Hebrews 10:23 (Listen) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (ESV) Evening: Psalm 121:1; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 145:15; Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 30:18; Matthew 6:26; Acts 17:25; Romans 8:25; Romans 10:12 The eyes of all look to you. “He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”—The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.—“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” The same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.—I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?—Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.—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.”—But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Psalm 121:1 (Listen) My Help Comes from the Lord A Song of Ascents. 121   I lift up my eyes to the hills.    From where does my help come? (ESV) Psalm 123:2 (Listen) 2   Behold, as the eyes of servants    look to the hand of their master,  as the eyes of a maidservant    to the hand of her mistress,  so our eyes look to the LORD our God,    till he has mercy upon us. (ESV) Psalm 145:9 (Listen) 9   The LORD is good to all,    and his mercy is over all that he has made. (ESV) Psalm 145:15 (Listen) 15   The eyes of all look to you,    and you give them their food in due season. (ESV) Isaiah 25:9 (Listen) 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.” (ESV) Isaiah 30:18 (Listen) The Lord Will Be Gracious 18   Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,    and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.  For the LORD is a God of justice;    blessed are all those who wait for him. (ESV) Matthew 6:26 (Listen) 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (ESV) Acts 17:25 (Listen) 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (ESV) Romans 8:25 (Listen) 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV) Romans 10:12 (Listen) 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (ESV)

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 114 Psalm 114 (Listen) Tremble at the Presence of the Lord 114   When Israel went out from Egypt,    the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,2   Judah became his sanctuary,    Israel his dominion. 3   The sea looked and fled;    Jordan turned back.4   The mountains skipped like rams,    the hills like lambs. 5   What ails you, O sea, that you flee?    O Jordan, that you turn back?6   O mountains, that you skip like rams?    O hills, like lambs? 7   Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,    at the presence of the God of Jacob,8   who turns the rock into a pool of water,    the flint into a spring of water. (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Leviticus 20 Leviticus 20 (Listen) Punishment for Child Sacrifice 20 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. 6 “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 9 For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him. Punishments for Sexual Immorality 10 “If a man commits adultery with the wife of1 his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 11 If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. 12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. 13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. 14 If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. 15 If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. 16 If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. 17 “If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity. 18 If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity. 20 If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 21 If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity.2 He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless. You Shall Be Holy 22 “You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. 24 But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.' I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. 25 You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. 26 You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. 27 “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” Footnotes [1] 20:10 Hebrew repeats if a man commits adultery with the wife of [2] 20:21 Literally menstrual impurity (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 25 Isaiah 25 (Listen) God Will Swallow Up Death Forever 25   O LORD, you are my God;    I will exalt you; I will praise your name,  for you have done wonderful things,    plans formed of old, faithful and sure.2   For you have made the city a heap,    the fortified city a ruin;  the foreigners' palace is a city no more;    it will never be rebuilt.3   Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;    cities of ruthless nations will fear you.4   For you have been a stronghold to the poor,    a stronghold to the needy in his distress,    a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;  for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,5     like heat in a dry place.  You subdue the noise of the foreigners;    as heat by the shade of a cloud,    so the song of the ruthless is put down. 6   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.”10   For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,    and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,    as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.111   And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it    as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,    but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill2 of his hands.12   And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,    lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. Footnotes [1] 25:10 The Hebrew words for dunghill and for the Moabite town Madmen (Jeremiah 48:2) sound alike [2] 25:11 Or in spite of the skill (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Galatians 5 Galatians 5 (Listen) Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified1 by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,2 still preach3 circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Keep in Step with the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,4 drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do5 such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Footnotes [1] 5:4 Or counted righteous [2] 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13 [3] 5:11 Greek proclaim [4] 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder [5] 5:21 Or make a practice of doing (ESV)

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Pastor Beau Bekendam

Hear now the word of the Lord from Isaiah chapter 25. O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners' palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. 4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, 5 like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down. 6 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.” 10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. 11 And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. 12 And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. Isaiah 25, ESV The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. In the roughly seven years that I have been here at Harvest, we have had by that time stretch an unusual concentration of funerals this year, in 2022, since the beginning of this year. As a pastor, as I've been thinking about Easter and the resurrection from the dead in light of all of these funerals that we've had in the last few months, thinking about the process of preparing for these funerals. Preparing for a funeral is always unique. Every person who dies was a unique person who reflected the glory of God in a unique way. Part of preparing for a funeral is trying to capture that, trying to understand that, trying to encapsulate that person's life and the way in which that person glorified God in whatever way during the course of his or her life. As a pastor, I always know that funerals always bring unique challenges as well. There are always questions that you can't answer when it comes to a funeral, whether you were talking about an 80 year old man who loved the Lord, who lived a life of love and devotion and worship and service to the Lord all of his life. Or whether you're talking about a five year old who was taken from our midst too soon. In the midst of this, preparing for funerals, being a pastor, you always feel so inadequate. What can I say to capture this? What can I say to address these questions? There's a special, poignant sense of difficulty in trying to answer these things and trying to address these questions and these doubts and these this pain and the sorrow and to bring comfort to these difficult situations. But it's that poignant pain in the midst of death and sorrow that always, always drives us back to the gospel. The unshakable, immovable foundation of the Gospel. That our only hope in life and in death, our only comfort, is that we do not belong to ourselves. But we belong body and soul to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ. Now, if you've been with us normally, regularly, you know that right now we're normally regularly in the middle of a sermon series through the Gospel of Matthew, where we have a very zoomed in, focused look on the life and ministry and teaching of Jesus, our Savior. Right now, we're in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter five and looking carefully at his teaching on the nature of the law. Today, we are going to zoom out. We don't want to lose the forest for the trees. We don't want to miss the big picture in the midst of all of the details. The details are so important, we need to hold them up, like looking at the different facets of a gem to see all of the beauty of the glory of Christ. But today we want to zoom out and see the whole picture. To see it once all that Jesus Christ came to do and to accomplish in his earthly life and ministry. So our big idea as we study Isaiah 25, a prophecy written hundreds of years to foretell what Jesus would accomplish by both his first coming and the second coming that we are still awaiting today. Our big idea is this that Jesus came to swallow up death forever.. As we look at this prophecy, we see three parts here. 1. Devastating Storm of Salvation 2. Death Swallowed Up 3. Dung Hill Swimming. Devastating Storm of Salvation Well, let's look at first the first five verses, a devastating storm of salvation. To understand the passage we just read, I mean, it's not totally fair to just drop into the middle of Isaiah. This is such a long book, first of all. It's also just a towering book in terms of its importance in the Bible and understanding the whole scope and sweep of salvation. Some theologians have called Isaiah the fifth gospel. We have the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They've called this the fifth gospel written from the Old Testament because it's so central in understanding the person and work and accomplishments of Jesus Christ. To understand this passage in particular, without going into all that's happening, Isaiah, we actually have to turn back to Isaiah 24 if you want to flip the page back. I want to point in Isaiah 24, Isaiah foretells the judgment that is coming upon the whole earth. The entirety of the judgment that is looming, looming over a wicked world where God is coming to undo creation itself as a curse and a punishment against the sin of this world. The focal point of that is a city. It's not that God's judgment is going to fall just on one geographic location, one locale, one city of all the earth, but that this city is a symbol for all of the wickedness throughout all of human history. We see this city talked about in verses ten through 13. When we read that, "the wasted city is broken down, every house is shut up so that none can enter. There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine. All joy has grown dark. The gladness of the earth is banished. Desolation is left in the city. The gates are battered into ruins. For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations." This city is symbolic. It's representative of the judgment that's coming upon all nations against the sin of all nations, against the sin of all the earth. So we come to Isaiah 25 and if we're not aware of that context, then we won't think much of this first sentence, this first verse. But it's really important in light of that judgment to understand that Isaiah is praising God for this judgment. In Isaiah 25, verse one, he says, "Oh, Lord, you are my God, I will exhort you. I will praise your name for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure." That's not just a generic praise that's particularly reflecting the judgment that God is bringing against the Earth. We know that from verse two. Here's that city again, "For you have made the city a heap." Why do we praise God? Because he has made this rebellious city symbolizing all the wickedness in all generations, in all cultures and civilizations throughout history. This city will be made a heap. The fortified city a ruin. The foreigners palace is a city no more. It will never be rebuilt. God's judgment is coming. Isaiah praises his God for this. Which is why it's so unexpected. It's really striking in this passage to come to verse three, where we read that this judgment doesn't lead probably to where we think it will lead. Look at verse three as a consequence of what we just read, as a consequence of this judgment, "Therefore, strong people's will glorify you. Cities of ruthless nations will fear you." This is shocking. The judgment of God leads to salvation. The judgment of God leads to the faith of the nations. The judgment of God leads the nations, these ruthless nations, to not only fear God, but to glorify God. This judgment leads to salvation, the salvation of the world. Now, part of the way that Isaiah in this oracle describes the way that salvation comes out of this judgment is to depict God as a defense, a place of refuge, a strong wall against the storm of the ruthlessness of the nations. Look at verse four, "For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress. A shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place." In Nebraska this time of year, we all kind of buckle in for the season of severe weather that we're going to face. So this past Tuesday, when the tornado sirens went on in our house, it wasn't entirely unexpected. We knew the drill, knew just what to do. Got the kids out of bed, took them down to the basement until it passed. You know, I've been through so many tornado warnings in the course of my life, but every time I'm always mindful of just how vulnerable and precarious our situation is. I mean, if that tornado does descend and cut right through my neighborhood, if my house is in the center of the path of that tornado, it doesn't matter how strong of a house you have, you don't stand much of a chance. You do your best to get in the safest place in your house, nut you are always utterly exposed. You're always vulnerable. You are always completely dependent upon the grace of God. Now, that's always true, but when this tornado sirens go off, you are reminded of that afresh. God is depicted here as the stronghold in the midst of the whirlwinds and the tornadoes and the storms of this world, God is depicted as the refuge in whom we find shelter. God is the one bringing a storm of judgment and yet God is also in some way, in some sense, the refuge from the storms of the world as our salvation. How does this work together? Well, keep reading. Part of the way through verse five, "You subdue the noise of the foreigners as heat by the shade of a cloud. So the song of the ruthless is put down." The images here are all of weather. There's heat beating down of the world and God is like the shade of a cloud to give refuge and defense to this. One part of the weather disrupts another part of the weather. It was ten years ago this week, April 14, 2012, that there was supposed to be the tornado to end all tornadoes. That's how they talked about it a little bit beforehand, raging through Lincoln, Nebraska. I know because I lived there at the time. It was also a very memorable event because Nebraska canceled their spring football game for the first time since 1949 because of this severe weather that was supposed to come through. My infant daughter was not even three weeks old. My wife and I took her and even our two cats and we went to my in-laws house into the basement. They had a basement, we did not at the time. We wanted to go somewhere safe because of the violence and devastation that was going to rain down on Lincoln. I remember early that morning it was cold and then a little bit later that morning, the temperature swelled very high. When you have those two fronts, the cold front and the warm front, and when they collide and this is what meteorologists were looking for, that is a recipe for a devastating storm of salvation. I remember around noon and this actually delayed the start of the spring game. Around noon, a small rain shower crept up. A small rain shower crept up and it wasn't much of anything, but there was a little bit of lightning. So they had to delay and postpone the spring game until eventually they canceled it altogether. But eventually, that storm never came. I understand people from the Weather Channel had flown in to journalistically show what was about to happen here. This tornado never came. And as they explained it later, apparently that small little rainstorm sapped the energy from that warm front and that cold front. One part of the weather interfered with another part of the weather so that the judgment and the devastation never came. This is what Isaiah is saying. God is in some sense not only the raging storms of this world, but even the raging wrath of God, which is often portrayed as the devastating thunder of weather. Think of Psalm 29, "The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The Lord thunders free." God's wrath is depicted as the raging of the storms. Somehow, in the midst of the judgment of God, the people of God are kept safe as a refuge. What's he talking about? Isaiah doesn't make it clear here. We need the rest of Scripture to unfold to us how God can be both the raging storm as well as the shelter from this storm. The scriptures tell us very clearly this happened at the cross of Jesus Christ. When our Lord Jesus came into this world, when God of God, the Son of God came into this world and took on human nature so that He could suffer and bleed and die. There as Jesus hung on the cross, all of the raging wrath of this world, the wrath of the nations, as he was nailed to the cross by Romans, condemned by his Jewish brethren, all of that fell upon him. But not just that storm, it was also the storm of the raging wrath of God against us, against our sin. And all of that fell on Jesus. At the cross, Jesus stretched His arms out to protect us from the danger that looms and lurks against us. The danger of God's wrath against us, his judgment against us, his curse against us. Jesus became a stronghold for us and the storms of this world. And in the storms of God's own wrath against our sin. This is the story that Isaiah is looking forward to. From that hill, that mountain outside of Jerusalem on Golgotha. Isaiah skips past that in the rest of his vision to see far beyond that. Another day on another mountain, very close on Mount Zion. Where we read and versus six through nine of another scene, another event. The scene changes very quickly where we see the second section where death is swallowed up. Maybe Isaiah's thinking in this passage, in this oracle goes like this, well, this is the first part, the judgment that brings salvation. But no matter where you live, no matter when you live, even if you get through the raging of the nations in your day, what about death? Death comes for us all. We all must face it. What about the enemy of death? What will God do to disrupt death? Death is Swallowed Up This is what we see in verses 6 to 9 where death is swallowed up. Again, a sudden shifting of the scene. No longer are we talking about the scenes of the world, the city of this world. No longer are we talking about Jesus becoming our stronghold in a refuge and shelter on the hill of Calvary Golgotha. Now we are on another mountain, Mount Zion, in Jerusalem and inside the city of Jerusalem. In verse six, "On this mountain." How do we know we're talking about Mount Zion? Well, again, flip the page back, Isaiah 24:23, "Then the moon will be confounded in the sun ashamed for the Lord of hosts reigns. He reigns as a king on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders." Well, back to 25:6, "On this mountain, (Mount Zion) 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." The Biblical background to what Isaiah is talking about here, where God feasts with his people on a mountain, goes to yet another mountain to Mt. Sinai back in Exodus chapter 24, where God made a covenant with his people. Then after he had made a covenant with his people to seal, to confirm, to ratify this covenant with his people, he called up a representative sample of his people. Moses was there, Aaron Moses brother the high priest was there. Aaron's two sons, who would be the priests after him, should have been, they died before this. Nadab and Abihu, they were there and then 70 of the elders of Israel were all on top of that mountain. Remember at the end of 24, where it talked about the Lord as glory being seen with his elders? Well, that's again reminding us of Exodus 24. Where on that mountain, this representative group of God's people, we read, they beheld God, and they ate and drink in Exodus 24:11. This was a foreshadowing of the great feast that God's people would enjoy with him. What Isaiah looks forward to here, all of that was foreshadowing this same scene. But look here now there is no more representatives. It's not that the elders alone will be on the mountain with the Lord. We see that not only that, but all God's people will be there. Not only all God's people, but we also see that this is a feast for all peoples everywhere. In the previous section we saw that God's judgment was coming against all people here, the feast is for all peoples on top of Mt. Zion. Now, this is a rich feast. It has rich food. It has aged wine, well, refined. The description here of aged wine, John Oswald talks in his commentary, he says, "This was a practice of keeping the dregs the ingredients from the wine continuing to soak in the wines. You just left them soaking and soaking and soaking and continuing to give off their flavor until the time came to serve the wine. And that refers to the well refined part. Then you would filter out those drags." So this is absolutely as flavorful and full of just aged glory on this mountain that they're going to eat from this rich feast. Here we are on the mountain of God with all the peoples. What's happening here? Well, this is a feast fit for the coronation of a king. I remember the last verse of Isaiah 24, "The Lord reigns, the Lord reigns as a king." This is His coronation party. This is when He is proclaimed king over all the peoples. This isn't just a party. This is a momentous shift in all of human history. Nothing from this point on will ever be the same because in verses seven and eight we read that the Lord swallows up. First, we read the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over the nations. This is probably referring to the death shroud covering an individual, but symbolically the shroud of death as a whole that covers all peoples and all nations. But to make it very clear in verse eight, we read again, "He will swallow up death forever." Now, this is a great reversal because it is death, it is the grave, it is Sheol, the Bible says, that swallows us up. That's the main problem that we have. Forget about these nations. Forget about the rebellion of the world. Our biggest problem is with death that swallows all of us up. No matter what, we escape from this world. But here, death is not swallowing us up. The Lord is swallowing up death forever. In that he is taking away the reproach of all the people. The Reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth. Our shame, our sorrow will forever be removed. We will no longer have those questions that we have at every funeral we encounter in this life. I want you to see also the universality of this. Alec Mortier points out, notice how in verses six and seven twice we read of all peoples, and then in verse seven we read about all nations. All peoples that be reference to the ethnic groups, the tribes and the languages, whereas the nations would refer to the political entities. All peoples, all nations, and then in verse eight, we come to all faces. That God is going to wipe away the tears from all faces. Every individual will be able to interact with God on this mountain. All of these peoples, all of these nations, every individual has become in verse eight, his people, God's people. The reproach of God's people He will take away from all the Earth. Well, in this scene, it's not hard to see why in verse nine, Isaiah returned to the praise that it began in verse one. In verse nine, he says, "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." Now again, Alec Mortier commentary points out, Notice the confession here. Notice the declaration. Part of this is subjective and experiential. This is our God. We have waited for him. But then it turns objective. He's not just our God, some small tribal deity in some remote corner of the earth. This is the Lord. This is Yahweh. We have waited for him. This is our God, this is Yahweh. We read that all of this is happening. It will be said on that day, this great confession of praise will happen on that day. Well, once again, Isaiah is looking forward. But he's not only looking forward into a time that is still in the future for us. He's also looking forward, again this is hundreds of years before Jesus's birth and death and resurrection. He's looking forward to Jesus's resurrection. What we're told in the Scriptures is that the resurrection of Jesus, what we are celebrating on Resurrection Sunday is not one event, and then there will be another resurrection later that it will be a different event. We are seeing two parts of the same resurrection. They're described as a single harvest where we have with Christ, resurrection from the dead, the first fruits, the first fruits of a harvest, the first ingathering of the crops. So then at the end, when Jesus returns, He will bring in the rest of the harvest. He will bring us up from the dead with him. This will be one harvest so his resurrection is our resurrection. It's on that day in the future when we will see all that Christ came to accomplish and to begin and his first coming and all that Christ will bring to its completion at a second coming. This is our God. We have waited for Him that He might save us. You know, we live in an age of anxiety. Now, this isn't because we suddenly have new pressures that people before us didn't deal with. In the past, people dealt with death, and death was actually much more present in ages past. But we live in an age of a heightened anxiety. And one of the biggest reasons for this is our technological ability to share in a broadcast the things that we are doing. This has given rise to what people call the fear of missing out FOMO, FOMO, fear of missing out. This especially as striking teenagers. Teenagers have a far higher sense of anxiety and depression and tragically, rates of suicide than other people in the past. And it's because a lot of people have traced this to social media. We see all of these parties going on. Someone else is doing something that we're not able to do, and that can be a crushing weight. Why wasn't I invited? Why am I not there? My life isn't as exciting as all of that. We come to this story. This oracle, this prophecy and Isaiah is broadcasting to us, the party, to end all parties. The greatest party from all human existence. Here it is before our eyes and we should fear, lest we miss out on this event. We should fear less we are not involved in this party, because even though this is for all peoples and all nations, this will not be for every last individual. Isaiah makes this clear in the final section in verses ten through 12, where we come to this odd section, how does this fit in this dunghill swimming? It's a graphic, vital section to this passage that seems so out of place next to the glorious coronation feast of the Lord. But there is right here a purposeful contrast. Dunghill Swimming On one mountain, there is a great feast, as Yahweh is celebrated as king over all his people. In verses ten through 12, we come to yet another mountain, the mountain of Moab. Verse ten, "For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain and Moab shall be trampled down in his place as straw trampled down in a dung hill." Mount Zion is a is a glorious mountain where the Lord is coming down in His glory and dwelling with his people and this other mountain, Moab, is contrasted as nothing more than a dung hill. A filthy, smelly pile of dung. That's what this text is telling us. Now, why is this telling us this? Well, it's not just picking on Moab here, although Moab was a particularly arrogant nation against the nation of Israel. But singling Moab to show us here that the world will tell you that there are other parties you can join. There are other places where you can celebrate. There are other places where you can be made happy and satisfied, perhaps for all of eternity. But understand, there is no other mountain. There was no other party because there is no other savior. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved but the name of Jesus Christ. He alone can save. He is the King who will reign on Mt. Zion and every other mountain is a false counterfeit. So this is depicted graphically the fate of those who rebellious, arrogantly, prideful, rebel against the king who has made a feast for all the peoples. We read in verse 11, "he the Moabite will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim. But the Lord will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of His hands and the high fortifications of his walls, he will bring down, lay low and cast to the ground, to the dust." You know, as we have young children growing up in our house, it's a joy to see them become self-sufficient in their lives. We want to train them to gain life skills they're going to need to survive. But sometimes it can be a little bit frustrating when they insist, I can do it myself. Sometimes this means insisting I can do it myself when we are late and they want to buckle their own seatbelt and they can't quite yet. It's just one more delay and it's child, let me help you, but "I can do it myself." Other times it's something they shouldn't be doing. Something that is dangerous, something that I can see will make a mess. We've walked out and we've seen high stacks of things they've clearly climbed on to get something they really shouldn't have had from a high shelf. You think you could have been seriously injured child, what were you thinking? Or you see a child just confidently, triumphantly carrying something you know will devastate your carpets if they spill it. I can do it myself. You want your children to have this sense of self sufficiency. You want them to grow in these life skills that they can't survive without. The whole point of raising children is to send them out. But you also have to train them about their limitations, to be aware of what they can and can't do. God is showing to us here our limitations. You don't have an answer for death. You don't have the means, by any stretch of the imagination, to throw your own alternate party on another hill. All you will get is swimming in a dung hill. There's a poignancy here. What do we do with death? Well, understand, we have no hope except for what Isaiah prophesies here. Application So our application this morning is from verse nine. Behold your God. As you wait for the salvation of the Lord. Now on Easter Sunday. I'm very mindful that people have come here this morning from a variety of places. Welcome, it's really good to see you this morning. This is always true. We talk frequently about how we are a church of many stories who are united as one body in Christ. But this is especially true on Easter. For those of you who have been here every week. You know, we've been working again slowly through the gospel of Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount. Again, we've been zoomed in on individual facets of Christ glory of what he came to do. Today is an opportunity to zoom out so that we don't lose the forest for the trees. We don't miss the big picture in light of the individual details, as important as those are. This morning's message helps us to see the goal of redemption all at once. But for those of you who are not here every week, maybe you regularly attend elsewhere. Maybe this is your first time here, I want to absolutely make sure that you leave today, having heard the truth that this message points out in the fifth gospel, in Isaiah, the prophecy that foretells so much about who Jesus Christ came to be and what he came to do. Isaiah is seeing a vision where he is foretelling a day far off in the future, still a day when Jesus Christ, the king, the King of kings, will come to judge the world. On that day, we are told that Christ will condemn those who have rebelled against him. Those who have persisted in their arrogant pride, I can do it myself, through whatever avenue that is for you. Jesus Christ comes to judge the wicked rebels who have resisted his reign and his rule. On that day, Jesus comes to establish a feast forever. A feast on Mount Zion in a new heavens and a new earth where he will forever dwell with his people, where he comes to serve us at table as though he were a common servant, and yet he is our Lord. Where he comes to celebrate with us his victory forever, because He comes to swallow up death forever. This is the hope that we have of the gospel, but there is a difference. Some will end not at this eternal, joyful party with Jesus, but some who do not look to Jesus and faith will spend an eternity separated from Him in hell. The difference between whether you spend your eternity in the dung hill of Moab or at the Feast of Mount Zion, has to do with whether you turn from your rebellious sin against God now and instead look to Jesus Christ who has come into this world. Who lived the absolutely perfect life. Who completely fulfilled every bit of God's requirements in His righteous law. Yet, though he was perfect, though he was righteous, this same Jesus came to die. He came to give up his life so that as he stretched out his arms on the cross, he covered us over as a mother hen covers her chicks. To shield us from the wrath and the storm of God. Not just the raging storms of this world, but to protect us against God's judgment that we have earned and deserved because of our sin. As he gave up his life, he was buried in the grave, but on the third day, on Easter Sunday, our Lord Jesus rose then from the dead, as the first fruits of the resurrection. As the first fruits of those whom God is going to bring again from the dead. Christ is risen and Christ is coming again. When He comes again, we will be raised up with Him who are looking to him with faith now. Jesus came to swallow up death forever. When he returns is when all of this comes to its completion. This will be his coronation day. This will be the day when we will feast with him at the wedding feast of the lamb. If you want to be at that party, if you fear missing out from that party, then turn this morning to faith in Jesus Christ. Turn this morning to him. This isn't exclusive. Jesus Christ says, come, come. All those who are weary, all those who are in sin and struggling, all those who are guilty wherever you are coming for them, your sin is not too great unless you don't go to your great savior. The heart of rebellion is this go it alone. I'm swimming for myself. I'm going to make this, sink or swim on my own. I want to do it my way. I can do it myself. But this is the opposite of the heart of faith, which is captured in verse nine. The heart of faith will say on that day, "Behold, this is our God, we have waited for Him, that He might save us." It's looking to Jesus Christ to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. It's waiting for Him to do all that He is promised in those scriptures. Have you turned from your own self-determination? From your own I can do it myself-ness. Are you looking to Jesus Christ who died and rose again as your Savior, he's the one who shed his blood from your sins. If so, oh, keep waiting and hoping on the Lord. But if you've never known Jesus, today ought to be the day. Every Lord's day, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But this day should be the day when you come to know Christ. If you want to know more, please come talk to me. I would love to tell you more about Jesus, but turn from your sin and look to Christ and faith and be saved. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that you would give us grace. I pray that you would bless us. I pray that you would encourage us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that none who are sitting here today would miss out on this feast. I pray that you would open eyes and unclog deaf ears and that you would give soft hearts to respond in faith to the Gospel of Jesus, as is proclaimed in this prophecy, written hundreds of years before our Savior's birth. We pray that we would love Jesus as we expectantly await Him here on Earth. Oh, Lord, let that day be such a joyous, wondrous day as we praise you for the wondrous things you have done, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. Father, we pray, bring everything about that you have promised. We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

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Morning: 2 Samuel 22:32; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 44:6; Habakkuk 1:12; Hebrews 4:15–16; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 12:18; Hebrews 12:22–24; Revelation 1:17 “Fear not, I am the first and the last.” For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest…. But you have come to Mount Zion… and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.—Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.—For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”—Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?—“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” 2 Samuel 22:32 (Listen) 32   “For who is God, but the LORD?    And who is a rock, except our God? (ESV) Isaiah 9:6 (Listen) 6   For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given;  and the government shall be upon1 his shoulder,    and his name shall be called2  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Footnotes [1] 9:6 Or is upon [2] 9:6 Or is called (ESV) Isaiah 44:6 (Listen) Besides Me There Is No God 6   Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel    and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:  “I am the first and I am the last;    besides me there is no god. (ESV) Habakkuk 1:12 (Listen) Habakkuk's Second Complaint 12   Are you not from everlasting,    O LORD my God, my Holy One?    We shall not die.  O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment,    and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. (ESV) Hebrews 4:15–16 (Listen) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV) Hebrews 12:2 (Listen) 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV) Hebrews 12:18 (Listen) A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken 18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest (ESV) Hebrews 12:22–24 (Listen) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly1 of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Footnotes [1] 12:23 Or church (ESV) Revelation 1:17 (Listen) 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, (ESV) Evening: Job 23:10; Psalm 18:31; Psalm 61:2; Psalm 90:1; Psalm 119:116; Psalm 142:3; Isaiah 25:4; John 10:28; Philippians 4:6–7; Hebrews 6:19 Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!—“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”—Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.—For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. And who is a rock, except our God?—“They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”—Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!—We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. Job 23:10 (Listen) 10   But he knows the way that I take;    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (ESV) Psalm 18:31 (Listen) 31   For who is God, but the LORD?    And who is a rock, except our God?— (ESV) Psalm 61:2 (Listen) 2   from the end of the earth I call to you    when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock    that is higher than I, (ESV) Psalm 90:1 (Listen) Book Four From Everlasting to Everlasting A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 90   Lord, you have been our dwelling place1    in all generations. Footnotes [1] 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge (ESV) Psalm 119:116 (Listen) 116   Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,    and let me not be put to shame in my hope! (ESV) Psalm 142:3 (Listen) 3   When my spirit faints within me,    you know my way!  In the path where I walk    they have hidden a trap for me. (ESV) Isaiah 25:4 (Listen) 4   For you have been a stronghold to the poor,    a stronghold to the needy in his distress,    a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;  for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, (ESV) John 10:28 (Listen) 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (ESV) Philippians 4:6–7 (Listen) 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV) Hebrews 6:19 (Listen) 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (ESV)

We are to praise God for what He has done, for His righteous judgment, for His goodness, and for what He will do. Missionary Justin B

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Thank you for listening. Check out more at www.seekGodtogether.com Today we will read Psalm 75:8 and Isaiah 25:6. They say, “For there is a cup in the Lord's hand full of wine blended with spices, and He pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, Draining it to the dregs.” And Isaiah 25:6, “The Lord of Hosts will prepare a feast for all the peoples on this mountain a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine.” Wine is a complex subject in scripture. Of course wine is a naturally occurring process when you leave fruit out in the sun. Biblically though, wine is used for everything from joyful celebration to condemnation. There are numerous warnings against over-consumption. Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine to keep the party going. He also referred to his own blood as wine. Some abstained while others drank. Wine is complex. And more, God offers wine. In the first passage we see God holding a cup of spiced wine. Think sangria or mulled wine at the holidays. It's sweet. But it's poured out on the wicked who drink every last drop. Strange way to punish the wicked. In the next passage in Isaiah, we see the menu for God's feast He'll throw for His people. There's no shortage of wine there and not the cheap stuff. And it's not just that it's aged wine, no, it's “finely” aged wine. This is wine prepared with skill - the art of winemaking. God is giving us the good stuff. Both of these wines come from God. It's sobering (if you pardon the pun) that God is either the source of our destruction or our feasting. That may be alarming, but should it be surprising? God is the source of all. How we experience God then is serious business. The real issue then isn't wine but God, and you. On one hand there is the wicked: blind consumers not just of wine, but of everything, ignorant of Who or where it comes from. They consume from a distance and do so until they are no more. On the other hand, there's the people of God on the mountain of God. They are those who, we can assume, have chosen to be on the mountain, to be close to God, to be in His community. They experience a fine feast in the Presence of God. One is close and one is far. I suppose the simple question for you today is, which one do you want to be? “God I want to experience You and all You have to offer.” --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

John Stange leads a membership community to help others build online ministry platforms.  If you're interested, please visit:  https://www.platformlaunchers.com/ . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . To read the first three chapters of "Dwell on These Things" by John Stange, click here:  https://desirejesus.com/dwellonthesethings . To get a free copy of John Stange's book, "The Mind of Christ - How to make the most of the new perspective, new eyes, and new outlook you've been given through Jesus," please CLICK HERE. . To email John Stange directly, please send your message to john@desirejesus.com.