He will remove the cloud of gloom

Audio Blog

Isaiah 25:3-9 NLT

Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory; ruthless nations will fear you. But 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! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”
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It's not always going to be this way?  What way? you may ask. I mean that oppression and pain will not always be the order of the day. Someday sorrow and pain will be abolished. In that day the Lord will bring salvation!

God promises that there is coming a day when there will be plenty and no one will be hungry. Some day God is going to throw a party. He's going to invite people from everywhere. All the enemies and oppressors will be silenced. God promises a day of salvation. A day that will end all the years of tears. God will be a refuge and a sanctuary for all those who have been bullied. He'll comfort those who have been harassed. God will make a wonderful place of safety for all the poor and needy.

And there will be joy! Gloom will be banished! All shame will be removed. And death will be defeated once and for all.

Jesus will bring this day! On the cross he set this all in motion. He had victory over sin and the grave in those three horrible yet glorious days. When he burst forth from the tomb with power, he declared that the promise of God through Isaiah is a sure thing.

Through his life and ministry we see a glimpse into the new world promised by Isaiah. We see the hungry fed and the oppressed protected. We see the pain of brokenness and disease healed. We see the dead raised to life.

See Jesus is bringing the great and terrible day of the Lord, but then with joy everlasting he is bringing the forever of peace, life and salvation.

Are you ready? Are you waiting in expectation? Are you living in faith? Are you facing the troubles of today in the assurance that God wins?

Are you getting ready for God's great victory party?

Live in anticipation and you'll live in joy.

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