This chapter breaks from Isaiah’s usual prophetic style and reads like a psalm of praise, celebrating God’s plan to destroy death and save His people.
“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things… the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine… And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 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.” (v1, 6-8 abr)
The Bible describes death as an enemy – it is a divisiveness which separates two beings. People are designed for relationship with God, and each other, and death causes relational separation (at least for a time). Death exists on both physical and spiritual planes.
A physical death removes a living being from the face of the earth, separating them from their loved ones. Regardless of one’s beliefs, this loss is extremely painful for those who are left behind. I know this pain firsthand, and you may also know it. Due to sin, we will all very likely suffer the loss of loved ones, and we will eventually leave this physical existence ourselves.
A spiritual death separates a living being’s spirit from the presence of God, or seen another way, God does not allow their spirit into His presence. Jesus died and was raised from the dead to destroy this kind of death / separation. It is promised that those who call upon Jesus as their Lord and King, acknowledge their sin, ask for forgiveness, and choose to obey Him will not experience this second (spiritual) death.
Though physical death continues in this world, and it’s brutally painful, it will one day be abolished by God, just as sin will ultimately be destroyed. Until then, there will be much physical / emotional pain and suffering as a result of sin. People still leave this broken world, and we will remain separated from them until we are reunited in eternity. I encourage us to continue building Jesus’ kingdom, working with the Holy Spirit to save people into God’s kingdom, so there will be fewer people who experience that second (spiritual) death, and more people who are reunited in Jesus’ presence for all of eternity.
Father God, our Merciful Lord and Gracious Redeemer, You promise to free us from the power of death. Please walk with us through the pain and suffering of this world, and welcome us into Your presence both now and in eternity. May our sin be forgiven, and Jesus be our Lord, so we may witness to others for Your glory and their salvation. May we continue serving you with all of our remaining time, from this day forward, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training