GOD has always intended to bless HIS people. HIS word is full of promises to that very end. There are some bible scholars who believe that the prophecy that Isaiah is speaking about here is for a future time. Indeed when Isaiah wrote it, he did so looking ahead to something the LORD would do at a future time or age. Now while we do understand that there are aspects of this prophecy which will have a fuller development at a later date; we are certain that the substance of this prophetic utterance, as well as all other prophecies of it’s type, have had their complete fulfillment in the revelation of JESUS CHRIST as the LORD of lords, and KING of kings. The kingdom of our LORD is already begun. There are but two "times" (or ages) which the scripture spells out as far as the unfolding of GOD’s purpose as it relates to the present life of man is concerned. These being the "former times" and "the latter days".(see Acts 14:16,17:26, Eph.1:10, I Tim.4:1, II Tim.3:1, Heb.1:1-3, I Peter 1:10,20) Our purpose in looking at this text today is not to get involved in the details of "eschatology"(i.e. the study of the end time), but rather to look at the unfolding of this prophecy in our lives at the present time.
There are many details about the future that we cannot know but that does not mean we cannot know about our future. The basis of all we believe about the future is found in what has been revealed to us now about the present. We know that CHRIST will reign in the future because HE reigns at the present time. We know that we will escape eternal damnation because we have been given eternal life now. We know that we will be seated with HIM in glory because we are seated there now. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:4-7) The ages to come are but an extension of this glorious life which has already been given to us. As Rolfe Barnard said, "there’s a lot of heaven on the road to heaven". The LORD JESUS said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Sometimes it seems that the foods which we love to eat (i.e.; desserts, snack foods, fat and juicy steaks, etc.) are the very foods we have to avoid for fear of ruining our dainty waistlines. Yet the LORD has said that HE has spread for us a banquet that contains all of those things which are a delight to us. HE will withhold nothing from us that is "spiritually" fattening. Rather HE invites us to come and dine. HE wants us to be filled with the delights from HIS table. HE has saved for us the best food and the best wine.
HE has fed us with peace. The LORD JESUS said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Jn.14:27) The peace that the world gives is temporary. It is conditional. It requires strength in the flesh to maintain it. His peace is real, lasting, and is bestowed upon us when we are least able to act in peace or feel peaceful. It is not the result of "positive thinking" or listening to soothing sounds but it is the gift of GOD to us that "passeth understanding" (Phil.4:7). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isa.26:3) The gift of peace is the cause of, rather than the effect of, trusting in the LORD.
He has fed us with joy. We are not weaklings in the kingdom of GOD "for the joy of the LORD is your strength."(Neh.8:10) HE has not left us to devise a means whereby we can rejoice. HE has given us food to eat that the world knows not of.(see Jn.4:32) "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."(Psalms 63:3-7) We have joy unspeakable without having to discover something to rejoice in for HE is our joy. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."(Jer.15:16).
HE has fed us with truth. The LORD said "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (Jn.8:32) HE identified HIMSELF as the TRUTH (see Jn.14:6) We are not still searching for something or someone to believe in. We have already found HIM. Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:68) Truth cannot be found in the words of some "guru" or self proclaimed "prophet" but only in the person of JESUS CHRIST. There always have been and always will be those men who are revealers of "secret things"(i.e. witch-doctors) using their "supernatural" talents to gain control over the minds and hearts of the ignorant. We don"t need men to unfold mysteries to us, foretell our future, or reveal to us our past, because "grace and truth came by JESUS CHRIST" (Jn.1:17) The message of a man can be judged as to its veracity by the regard that is given to the LORD. Those who relegate CHRIST to any position other than that of a singular REDEEMER who has procured HIS people’s salvation cannot enlighten us or aid us in our journey.
Finally HE has fed us with hope. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Cor 15:19) Our expectation of life extends beyond this present world in which we dwell at the present time. We are not among those who only know sorrow at the graves of true believers(see I Thes. 4:3), nor do we recoil in terror at the prospect of our own mortality. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."(1 Peter 1:3-5) Eat all you want.
mam