WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 11, 2016
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THE END OF OPPRESSION
(GOD’s victory over oppression and death)
(Isaiah 25)
In Isaiah 25 the prophet
shows us a snapshot of what the “End Times” will be like for those who will
receive salvation, and, for those who won’t. Here, this biblical picture of the
End Times is given to encourage believers, and not to make us afraid, or, cause
us to withdraw from being a blessing to the “unsaved world” with the sharing
the Good News about CHRIST.
Understandably,
it is difficult for us not to wonder or imagine if what is being revealed here
will occur in our own lifetimes, however, what we really should be concerned
about is looking beyond this world, to GOD. JESUS cautioned us in Matthew 24:36
that, no one except the FATHER knows when the end will come, not even HE
HIMSELF knew, and, taking that into account, we should be more concerned about
how we are living our lives, than we are with how our lives will end.
This
chapter of the book of Isaiah is quite literally a “praise song”, a psalm that
praises GOD for both, HIS judgment, and, HIS salvation through JESUS CHRIST our
LORD. Here Isaiah describes a scenario which will exist when the coming “Millennial
Kingdom” is established here on earth by CHRIST JESUS at the time of HIS second
coming. He also describes the praise and worship that will be bestowed upon
CHRIST for HIS great work of salvation. Also, here in this passage, Isaiah
speaks in the first person, which is a sign of his confidence that he himself
will be there to partake in this great celebration.
Isaiah
says that when CHRIST returns in HIS judgment, HE will turn mighty cities into
heaps of rubble, and beautiful palaces
will disappear, never to be rebuilt again. Mighty nations will bow down before
CHRIST JESUS and declare HIS glory, and revere HIM forever (Vs.2-3). He also
speaks of how the LORD will be a refuge for the poor and needy that may be
oppressed, and, are in distress in those days. They will be protected from the
onslaught of ruthless people who have become accustomed to preying on them for
their own livelihood and entertainment (Vs.4-5).
In
verse 6 Isaiah describes a magnificent feast in Jerusalem for everyone, Jews
and Gentiles, from around the world to attend. On that day the LORD will remove
the “veil” from the eyes of the whole world, that shadow of death that now
hangs over the whole earth, so that they will be able to see at last, exactly WHO
HE is. In fact, HE will swallow up death altogether, forever, and HE will wipe
away tears, and remove all insults and mockeries against HIS people
(Believers), both Jews and Gentiles (Vs.6-8).
In
this passage (Vs.11-12) the city of Moab represents the enemy of GOD’s people.
Isaiah says that upon the LORD’s return, all of HIS enemies will be trampled
underfoot like straw and left to rot. HE will put an end to HIS enemy’s rebellious
pride, and destroy all of their evil works. They will no longer be able to hide
behind their walls (evil works) of arrogance, which will be torn down and
ground into powder.
The
end of all things is near for each of us, personally. In fact, that is the most
important warning in the messages of all the Old Testament prophets, and, the
New Testament writers and thinkers. It has always been, and will always be the “Will
of GOD” that man, not know what his time, place, or method of demise will be. In
fact, it is no man’s duty to even speculate on what GOD’s secrets may be, but
rather, it is our duty to prepare ourselves for HIS coming, and then wait on mercy
from JESUS CHRIST to usher us into eternal life.
And
so, from these verses of Isaiah 25, we will do good to remember to never become
so engrossed in “time” that we forget about “eternity”. We can never let our
concern for worldly affairs completely distract us from remembering that there
is a GOD, and, that the issues of life and death are in HIS hands. And whenever
HIS call for our departure comes, morning, noon, or night, we will be found
ready and prepared to go into HIS glorious presence, because our own history and
lifestyle, that exemplified faith in CHRIST, will judge us to be worthy to
share in the Kingdom of GOD, for all eternity.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
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