Isaiah 25:1-26:11

Chapters 25 and 26 give the worship that will be expressed in the last days.  Ch. 25 is praise from the world for God’s faithfulness and truth.  Ch. 26 is Judah’s praise for salvation and restoration to the land.

·        25:1 makes the overall statement of the theme of this song.  God has done wonderful works and He has kept His word.  Compare this again with Rev. 15:3-4 and 16:5-7.  As the terrible events are occurring there is recognition that God is keeping His word.  How is he doing this, specifically?

·        25:2-9 tell us that God will diminish the cities of the world while he exalts the city of Jerusalem and His people Israel.  While this is the theme of Israel’s praise (Ch. 26) we see that the nations will also recognize what God was doing for Israel.  Israel’s long wait will finally be over.

·        25:10-12 singles out Moab as a stubborn nation that will not learn God’s faithfulness in keeping His word until the very end.

·        26:1-6 now tells of the praise that will come from Israel in the land of Judah.  Israel will come out of its hiding place (where God has protected them) and enter Jerusalem.  The picture is of a saved nation, experiencing the long prayed-for peace of Jerusalem because they trust in the Lord.  They are called to trust in Yah forever (a shortened form of Yahweh) because He is the one who alone has everlasting strength to make Israel to be able to rest secure.  Many people have rightly memorized 26:3 as the principle is always true. 

·        26:7-9 further emphasizes the saved nation who are upright, walking in the way of the just.  Those saints had waited long, often praying how long (as in Rev. 6:10 and answered in 18:20).  And note as well that finally the nations will learn righteousness from God’s righteous people. 

·        26:10-11 are profound words for each of us today.  The wicked, even when shown grace by God, would not learn righteousness.  In that future day they will see the truth that today they reject.

Ask God to give insight and application from these passages; there are many things it has to say to us.  Perhaps we will be encouraged to wait patiently for the working out of God’s plan in our lives.  Perhaps we will want to make sure our minds are stayed on Christ.  Perhaps we will understand how we must respond to His grace in our lives.  

The offer of salvation is just such grace.  God has sacrificed Himself for our sins.  This is done.  The Savior has suffered.  What has been my response?  Have I received His grace by faith in Christ?  Or am I rejecting His grace by trying to offer Him something of my own creation?  For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).