Isaiah 25:6 “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
In this passage Isaiah is prophesying of those magnificent things that would be accomplished when the Messiah, the Lord God Almighty, our Savior arrived on this “earth”. The Children of Israel were under a continuing state of “rebuke” for their grievous rebellion against God. As used here, to “rebuke” is to authoritatively point out sinful behavior and admonish to correction and to repentance. It is the merciful “goodness of God” that “leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4). It is true that the people were under “rebuke” from the Roman authorities and their own corrupt leaders; but, “God” had permitted this “rebuke” as part of their chastisement for rebellion against Him and for their adulterous idolatry. But, our Most Beloved Lord And Savior came to this “earth” to “destroy” “the covering cast over the people”, to “swallow up death in victory”, to “wipe away tears from off all faces”, and to “take away” our “rebuke”. Not only the “rebuke” that was upon the nation of Israel (II Kings 25; II Chronicles 36), but the “rebuke” for the sinful condition that was upon all the Children of God. This “rebuke” first appeared in Genesis Chapter Three when the Lord rebuked Adam and Eve for their disobedience of His Commandment. In fear of God’s “rebuke” for his own sin, king David prayed, “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” (Psalms 6:1; 38:1). Also, Hosea prophesied, “Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.” (Hosea 5:9). The Good News to the Children of God, is that when our Lord was hanging on the cross, He loudly declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In that instant, He cast off our “rebuke”; and “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6), “made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” (Colossians 1:12), and “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Revelation 1:6). Therefore, one most blessed and holy day, in our resurrected (changed) bodies, we will hear His glorious voice Command, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34); then, He will take us to His Heavenly Home and we shall see Him for ourselves and gaze upon His Majesty and Glory forever and ever! Oh, “What A Day That Will Be” (Jim Hill)!