If you remember back in Isaiah 9, God’s people were described as “walking in darkness.” The shadow of sin, suffering, and death hung heavy over them—and over us. But now, in Isaiah 25, the prophet gives us one of the most breathtaking pictures in all of Scripture. He says that, on the final day, God will eat the darkness.
Yes—He will swallow it up. The veil that covers every nation, the shroud that blinds every heart, will be gone. The world will finally see clearly for the first time. The result?
“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.”
(Isaiah 25:8, ESV)
On that day, God will eat death itself. It will be no more. The apostle Paul echoes this very promise in 1 Corinthians 15—“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
But Isaiah adds another beautiful image: God will wipe away the tears from all faces.
As a father, that line moves me deeply. I have three children. And yes—they love to cry. Sometimes they cry over big things, sometimes small things. Often they go to their mother, who sends them to me with the words, “Go tell your father.”
When they come running—eyes wet, hearts hurting—I have two options. I can lift them onto my lap and hold them close until they calm down. Or, I can kneel down, look into their eyes, place my hands on their little faces, and gently wipe away their tears, saying, “It’s going to be okay. Daddy loves you.”
That’s what God promises to do for His children. One day, at the feast on His mountain, our Father will kneel down, lift our faces, and wipe away every tear—every sorrow, every disappointment, every hurt.
Do you long for that day? Are you preparing for it? Because everything broken will be made whole. Every shame and pain will be gone. “The Lord has spoken.” It will happen.
Isaiah 25:6 tells us, at the end of time, there will be a feast on the mountain of God. How do we prepare for that great feast while we wait?
1. Don’t hold grudges.
Rest in God’s coming judgment. Too many of us waste energy carrying bitterness. But God sees. Justice will come—in this life or the next. Let it go and rest in His timing.
2. Sing in the rain.
Even when clouds gather, sing the upside-down song of faith. Let joy in suffering mark you as one who belongs to another kingdom. Tell the world, “He is my God.”
3. Don’t miss the mountain.
The feast is guaranteed. Don’t get so worried about politics, health, or money that you forget where history is headed. Jesus is coming back. Dinner will be served on the mountain.
Christian, let’s be a people who don’t hold grudges, who sing in the rain, and who look with joy toward the mountain—where death will be swallowed and tears will be no more.
************************************************************
Devotional Reading Plan:
- Day One: Isaiah 13-18
- Day Two: Isaiah 19-23
- Day Three: Isaiah 24
- Day Four: Isaiah 25
