On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and the finest of wines.
Isaiah 25:6
Yesterday, we looked at this verse noticing the wonderful way the Lord provides and invites us to feast on what He has given us. Today we continue to draw lessons from the verse.
In the New Testament Jesus proclaims himself to be the “Bread of life” and the “water of life.” The Lord also institutes a supper where bread and wine signify his sacrificial death and by faith we symbolically feed on him as we eat and drink. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them” (John 6:54-56). Jesus is often eating a meal and there are precious table talks for those invited. One of the ways Jesus describes the Kingdom of God in a parable is like a wedding banquet where a great feast is prepared. All are welcome to the full prepared banquet – a picture of the great gospel of free grace.
In another parable when the lost, prodigal son returns home the father invites all to celebrate and feast. At one of the great resurrection appearances by the lake of Galilee Jesus invites the disciples “Come and have breakfast” (John 21:12). Edith Schaeffer remarks on this verse that, if the risen Lord about to be exalted King in ascension can humbly condescend to grill fish for his friends, then no opportunity in family or church to prepare food for others should be onerous or beneath us. Jesus has dignified and sanctified the daily duties of home catering and food preparation. When Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicea, he invites them to let him back in to the church. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev 3:20). The fellowship of Christ is a feast of his presence in all the fulness of love and grace. A foretaste of the future feast of eternal glory which will satisfy our appetites for ever. There will no longer be thirsting or hunger.
C. H. Spurgeon preached on the above verse from Isaiah 25 on December 20 1868, “We have nearly arrived at the great merry-making season of the year. On Christmas-day we shall find ourselves enjoying with all the good cheer which we can afford. Servants of God, you who have the largest share in the person of him who was born at Bethlehem, I invite you to the best of all Christmas fare—to nobler food than makes the table groan—bread from heaven, food for your spirit. Behold, how rich and how abundant are the provisions which God has made for the high festival which he would have his servants keep, not now and then, but all the days of their lives! God, in the verse before us, has been pleased to describe the provisions of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although many other interpretations have been suggested for this verse, they are all flat and stale, and utterly unworthy of such expressions as those before us. When we behold the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed — when we see him offered up upon the chosen mountain, we then discover a fulness of meaning in these gracious words of sacred hospitality.”
So again today, “Taste and see the Lord is good.” Enjoy the gospel feast. By faith feed your mind and heart on the healthy diet of Bible truth. Satisfy your appetite, thirst and hunger as you fellowship with our Saviour Jesus.
Meirion Thomas, Malpas Road