Tuesday 06 December 2022
- Bible Book:
- Isaiah
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 filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. (v. 6)
Background
Today’s reading is the central section in a vision of rejoicing which tells of what God is going to do for God’s people: their enemies will be overcome, God will rescue them, a great banquet will be prepared for all peoples and tears will be wiped away. Their trust will be vindicated.
Isaiah of Jerusalem recognises that the situation in which his small nation finds itself is perilous, threatened as it is by Assyria and neighbouring nations. But his vision stretches beyond the present peril to a future security in God.
Throughout scripture, food is associated with rejoicing and celebration, and we make that association too – using food to celebrate baptisms, weddings, family events, and, soon, Christmas. For example, after the return of the nation from exile in Babylon many years later, the prophet Nehemiah has the book of the law read to the people and then tells them "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet wine and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared." (Nehemiah 8.10)
Good things are for sharing and the rejoicing is for all. Jesus will use the image of the banquet to indicate the inclusive nature of the kingdom (Luke 14) and it is as we gather round the table of the Lord in the celebration of Holy Communion that we know ourselves to be one with God and with each other, in anticipation of the heavenly banquet.
To Ponder:
- Bring to mind an occasion in your life, when, after a time of worry and stress, you found yourself able to enjoy a celebratory meal. What did it feel like?
- Is there someone you need to meet up with and with whom it would be good to celebrate friendship over food, or even a coffee? Why not do just that…
Prayer
Loving God, when troubles pass, give me a thankful heart and the will to celebrate your goodness. Amen.