10/10/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Isaiah 25:6-9 is one of my favorite passages to use at a funeral. It speaks to the great care of God for his people. His invitation to his people in verse six shows that he is the mighty Lord. He is involved in caring not only for his special people but for all the peoples. He gives them abundance, a feast. It is not only a lot of food, but it is special food. The menu is repeated as if in wonder.
What is the meal all about? When we look at the passage, at first glance we think it is a funeral meal, a feast at the time of death, commemorating the end. But that takes the passage backwards. Verse seven depicts a people who are already dead. They need to be brought to life. All the nations are dead.
In verse 8 we read that God is going to destroy death. How can this be? Jesus, in his death, becomes like us. In his resurrection, he kills death itself. With that victory over deat Jesus takes away our sorrow. He takes away the disgrace that we endure because we couldn’t overcome death. He commands life and then he makes it happen.
The final result is joy. God’s people have looked to him for salvation. He gives life and joy. This is all by God’s gracious decree, not based on any of our merit. After all, in verse seven, we were dead. Life comes from the Lord, not from us. We look to him in faith as the one who delivers life.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Isaiah 25:6-9 is one of my favorite passages to use at a funeral. It speaks to the great care of God for his people. His invitation to his people in verse six shows that he is the mighty Lord. He is involved in caring not only for his special people but for all the peoples. He gives them abundance, a feast. It is not only a lot of food, but it is special food. The menu is repeated as if in wonder.
What is the meal all about? When we look at the passage, at first glance we think it is a funeral meal, a feast at the time of death, commemorating the end. But that takes the passage backwards. Verse seven depicts a people who are already dead. They need to be brought to life. All the nations are dead.
In verse 8 we read that God is going to destroy death. How can this be? Jesus, in his death, becomes like us. In his resurrection, he kills death itself. With that victory over deat Jesus takes away our sorrow. He takes away the disgrace that we endure because we couldn’t overcome death. He commands life and then he makes it happen.
The final result is joy. God’s people have looked to him for salvation. He gives life and joy. This is all by God’s gracious decree, not based on any of our merit. After all, in verse seven, we were dead. Life comes from the Lord, not from us. We look to him in faith as the one who delivers life.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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