A Delicious Banquet – Part 1

Isaiah 22:1-25:12

“You are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled. In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There He will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever!” Isaiah 25:4-8

There is SO MUCH in this passage that I would love to dwell on all day! But I have to point out the thing that grabbed my attention enough to make me scramble to collect my reading materials and dash back inside to my computer. The delicious banquet.

You see, as I was hand writing the verse from above I had a revelation. The banquet isn’t a physical meal. Well, at least, it’s not only a meal – let’s put it that way. (Because I really love food and I’m seriously looking forward to heavenly meals.) As I wrote the word banquet my mind was immediately transported to Jesus in the gospel of John. He had just turned five loaves and two fishes into a meal that fed five thousand men and ALL their (uncounted) wives and children. The next day He’s across the lake when these same men come to find Him in order that He might feed them again. And it’s Jesus’ response that I fast forwarded to with the mention of our upcoming heavenly banquet:

“I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.” They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in You. What can you do?…”

Now keep in mind folks, these are the SAME people who ate multiplied bread and fish just the day before!

“… What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:26-27, 30-35

Jesus is our daily bread. He is the very thing that sustains us through the daily grind of life.

To Be Continued tomorrow……