A Lavish Banquet
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Isa 25:6-9
6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Isaiah sees a day when all the peoples (ethnic groups - vss 6,7), all nations (political entities - vs 7) and faces (individuals vs 8) will no longer be at odds with God. Will no longer be rebellious towards Yahweh.
The veil of sorrow will be removed, the reproach of the people will be erased and death will be swallowed up forever.
These considerations can seem so removed from us. We may believe that is the future for God’s people and the reign of God will prevail over all people.
These are the promises of God’s covenant with His people. Isaiah describes a scene where covenant promise becomes covenant reality.
And the context where the promise becomes reality is at a banquet table. What we do today is look back on the means by which this reality has been secured.
We look back to the cross of Christ that we considered today. We look back to humbling, yet joyful reality that through the cross our sins have been paid for and we can be forgiven.
But as we come to the table today, we look forward to this reality. When our waiting to be saved will end. When we will be with our Lord and rejoice in His salvation. When He will wipe away tears from our faces.
It might seem far removed from what we know and experience now, but it’s not. It is certain.
If the scene that Isaiah describes is the hope you have on the basis of the cross of Christ, then you are invited to come to the table. If however, Christ is not your hope I want to urge you to consider your life.
What Isaiah describes is not a fairytale. These events will unfold, God will bring peace to the world and He will finally defeat His enemies. This is what we know, and why we come to the table today. If you reject this, then we ask you not come today.
But for all of us, we want to partake with a clear conscience. We contend with sin, so we may need to repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Let’s take a moment to seek the LORD.
Explain process
Serve everyone
Receive elements from elders
serve elders
ask if anyone needs to be served
Read for bread: 1 Cor. 11:23-24.
Ask elder to pray
Take the bread together
Read for the cup: 1 Cor 11:25
Ask elder to pray
Take the cup together
Pray
Benevolence Offering
