Left Out
Read Isaiah 24:1–27:13
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6. 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.
7. There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
8. 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!
9. 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!”
10. For the Lord’s hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem. But Moab will be crushed. It will be like straw trampled down and left to rot. Isaiah 25:6-10
In George Orwell’s classic novel Animal Farm, all the animals enjoy equal rights until it becomes apparent that some animals consider themselves “more equal” than others.
God doesn’t judge superficially—he judges people by their character and not by their appearance. In this reading, Isaiah celebrates God’s impartiality. God’s only requirement is that we love and serve him.
Isaiah praised God for his greatness and described God’s wonderful acts. Isaiah specifically praised God for making salvation available to all who would turn from their sin. God welcomes “all people of the world” (Isaiah 25:6). God’s banquet has an international guest list. This means that men and women of every color, race, language, and custom who love God will dwell together in heaven. There will be no segregation there.
Be willing to share your life with people who differ from you. Don’t discriminate against them just because they are a different sex or different color, have different customs or speak a different language. Remember, if they also trust in Christ, they are your brothers and sisters and will sit with you at God’s banquet table. Include others—it’s a very God-like action to take.
