Praise for Deliverance

October 20, 2024 Background Scripture: Isaiah 25; Daniel 6:10 - 28 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 25:1 – 10a It is much easier to interpret historic narratives than prophetic utterances. Prophecy often casts a two-fold declaration. One is more immediate to the time of the prophecy and the other may manifest hundreds, or even thousands, of years later. The Book of Isaiah contains both historic narratives and prophetic statements. Some of those prophetic statements are in the form of poetry. This is the case for the Lesson Passage today, It is a celebration of God's destruction of powerful nations that are wicked and burdensome to the people who fear God. Even more so, it celebrates God's destruction of one of mankind's greatest threats, death. Death's destruction is pictured as being swallowed up by God. The rulers of cities and nations that are trampled down by God may dare to hope for a day when they can be rebuilt. But anything that is swallowed up is totally consumed and gone forever. There is no fear that death will ever return from such a destruction. All of these are reasons for those who fear God to celebrate and praise Him. The poem goes on to describe a celebration meal prepared by God for the occasion. The scene of the meal is in the mountain. How appropriate because the Lord, as our Shepherd, will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Celebrating in the mountain will give the meal a place of visibility for any who are not invited to the meal. The finest wine and food are described as the course to be served and enjoyed. The invitees to the meal are described as all people. This is in line with God's promise to deliver, or save, people from all nations. In addition to the meal, God will remove those who have rebuked His people. The scene suggested by the prophet is one of overwhelming joy and celebration for the people of God. Put another way, there will be unrestrained praise for God's total deliverance of His people. This poem reflects much of what is written in the Book of Revelation. How we can appreciate this today is best understood from the Background Scripture taken from Daniel 6. It is the historic narrative of God's deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions. As it is with other biblical accounts of God's deliverance of God-fearing people from impossible situations, those situations often happen because of jealousy. Someone becomes enraged because of God's favor over another person's life. Daniel's faithfulness towards God led to him being brought before kings who sought his wisdom. Those kings discerned the excellent spirit God placed within Daniel. This led to Daniel receiving several promotions in the kingdom. When Daniel was considered for promotion over the rest of the king's servants, that was the tipping point. Daniel's jealous contemporaries set Daniel up for failure. This caused Daniel to be sentenced to death in a den of lions. The king who was manipulated into pronouncing the sentence stayed awake that night and fasted because of Daniel. The scripture does not record that the king prayed. However, he waited patiently for Daniel's God to deliver him. When the king discovered that God secured Daniel throughout the night, he had Daniel removed from the den and decreed that everyone throughout the kingdom had to fear the God of Daniel. Even the king who did not know God personally praised Him for His deliverance of Daniel. Situations such as this serve as reminders for us. If God can bless with such an amazing deliverance in this life, we cannot imagine what the ultimate deliverance from all enemies, including death, will be like. However, we will celebrate that deliverance with praise at a feast in the mountain. Robert C. Hudson October 14, 2024