“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of the people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 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 25:8-9
Main Thought: What a marvelous and wondrous truth that we have spoken and displayed here by Isaiah that speaks of the salvation and the deliverance of God’s people. Isaiah speaks of our God being “a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” (Isa. 25:4) earlier in this chapter in verse 4 in that current day, but it is obvious here that Isaiah is writing of a future time, a time when death, disease, and all suffering will be no more for the people of God. This is seen in Revelation 21:4 when John writes, following the appearance of the new heaven, new earth, and the new Jerusalem, that “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” This is a great promise that we have, that no matter what kind of suffering and sorrow we have here, it will be taken away by Christ and will be nothing even to be thought of or be a memory in our eternal home. What was it Paul said in Romans 8:18? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” In the salvation that the Lord has given to His people, Isaiah says their reproach, or shame, is taken away meaning that Christ takes away the shamefulness of their sin. His shed blood has cleansed away their sin and shame (Isa. 1:18) forever, never to be seen or remembered again. In Isaiah 25:9, we see the anticipation of the people of God awaiting the consummation, the completion of that salvation, for they say “We have waited for him, that he might save us.” This phrase does not mean that we are not saved now or know that we possess salvation now. We can know that we have been saved from the penalty of our sins, for in Ephesians 1:7 the apostle Paul says “In Him, we have [present tense] redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…” We can also know from the authority of the Scriptures we have been saved from the power of sin over us because it is written “that our old self [our old man] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing [done away with], so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Rom. 6:6). But here he is speaking of the future promise of the completion of our salvation, our glorification when He returns and “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). What a marvelous consolation and promise these verses present, and may we like the saints before us “rejoice in His salvation.”
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3
Psalm 92:8
“But You are on high forever, O Yahweh.” – Psalm 92:8
John 11:25-27
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27
John 8:23-24
“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24
John 6:39-40
“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40
John 2:18-21
“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
Psalm 85:6
“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
John 14:19
“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19