Isaiah 26:1-15
The passage begins with, “In that day this song will be sung ” The theme of “forward looking” is not uncommon in scripture as different prophetic voices speak to the events of future days. The day that “that” is referring to here is that day when;
the Lord of host will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow and refined aged wine. And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all the peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6-9)
OK….we know there will be singing in “that” day but what song are we to sing in “this” day, right now? This question might be particularly important if “right now” our hearts do not feel like singing. How do we compose music in our hearts without the gush of inspiration or when our appraisals are inclined to affirm dismal trends? I believe we can move toward an answer by looking at Isaiah 26:3,4;
The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace (shalom), because he trust in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Back to this future banquet to be held in “that” day, I suppose that as much as anything I desire it is to attend this banquet. If there is anything that causes me to tremble it is my awareness that many invitations have been sent out for this affair and the RSVP of most indicated regrets that they would not be able to attend due to the engagements they had in this world. It causes me to tremble that some who were en route to the party, ran out of oil and were not permitted to enter. And in some cases those who were being invited even killed those delivering the invitations!
I believe we RSVP daily for that banquet in the way we compose our song. It’s relatively easy to write music when circumstances are indicating promising trends but what do we do when we are in pain, or when the stock market crashes, or when that relationship is strained or that negative-whatever is haunting you? Here is a great irony and a potentially very encouraging truth; It is in these moments especially that our songs have the potential to become the sweetest of symphonies to the Lord’s ears.
If we will keep our minds and hearts steadfast by rejecting bitterness and resentment and just cast our cares upon Him, our inner conflicts can be transformed into lyrics of longing like those we find in this passage, saying that;
Indeed, while following the way of Thy judgements, O Lord, we have waited for Thee eagerly; Thy name, even Thy memory, is the desire of our souls. At night my soul longs for Thee, indeed my spirit within me seeks Thee diligently; for when the earth experiences Thy judgements the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (vs. 8,9)
I believe when the lights are brought up in the banqueting hall, there will be a dawning that will reveal that our circumstances and those of the world’s were always being influenced by the judgements of God. By this I mean that at any moment in time, for both individuals and nations, because of His readiness to save, there was redemptive potential hidden in all our affairs, especially the painful ones. Some, by faith, will persevere and find themselves at this banquet hosted by the Lord Himself, surrounded by kindred spirits; but for others;
Oh Lord, Thy hand was lifted up yet they did not see it.
Father, help us to hear the music within us and discern its Composer. Help us to recognize and edit out the contributions from this world, our flesh and the devil. Help us to persevere until our lyrics are filled with hope, faith and joy, until the rhythms are in time with the Holy Spirit’s movements, until we hear the harmony created by the unity of Your children’s voices. Thank you that we can say even now that we rejoice and are glad in our salvation. Amen.