O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
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.
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.
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.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.
And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
Isaiah 25 offers a powerful glimpse into God's ultimate plan for salvation and judgment. Following the preceding chapter's portrayal of God's global judgment (Isaiah 24:21-23), this chapter shifts to a celebration of God's righteousness, His triumph over enemies, and His boundless grace in removing the sting of death for those who belong to Him. This chapter serves as a beacon of hope, revealing God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering commitment to His people. Let's delve deeper into the meaning and significance of Isaiah 25.
A Song of Praise and Thanksgiving (Isaiah 25:1-5)
The chapter opens with Isaiah expressing profound personal devotion and praise to God. This personal relationship is the foundation for all who truly belong to God. "O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithfully executed" (Isaiah 25:1). Isaiah commits to continuously praising God's name for the miraculous and powerful things He has done, including judging the earth for human sin. This verse underscores that God's judgment and salvation are not arbitrary acts, but rather the fulfillment of plans established long ago, executed with perfect faithfulness. Politicians may make promises they fail to keep, but our faithful God never breaks a promise.
Isaiah specifically praises God for His plan to destroy the palaces of "foreigners" (Isaiah 25:2). This signifies the collapse of political powers that oppose God and His people. In a broader sense, it represents all those who stand against God's purposes. Before God removes sin and shame from the entire world (Isaiah 25:8), these ruthless nations will learn to fear the Lord, and the strong people will honor Him (Isaiah 25:2-3). This is a powerful reminder that God's justice will ultimately prevail.
The Lord is not only a judge but also a protector. He "has been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4). Like Psalm 9:9 and Psalm 62:6, this passage highlights God's role as a refuge for those in need. He silences the battle cries of ruthless invaders, standing as a shield between them and His people. God brings a complete reversal of status for the poor and needy. While God levels the strongholds of the mighty nations that do not honor him, he himself will become a stronghold for the destitute and the oppressed. He will rescue them, as sure as the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day (Isaiah 25:5).
The Inaugural Banquet of the Kingdom (Isaiah 25:6-9)
Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a banquet held at the inauguration of the Lord as King over Israel and the whole world. This celebration takes place on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined" (Isaiah 25:6). This is not the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19), which occurs before the kingdom is established, but a millennial banquet celebrating Christ's victory over all the forces of earth. This promise emphasizes both God’s care for his people and the worldwide reach of Christ’s rule as the Lord of all the earth.
More significantly, "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). This is a direct reversal of the curse that has plagued humanity since the first sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-19). The Messiah will conquer death, wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4), and permanently remove the shame of sin. Those are promises you can bank on.
The redeemed will respond with joy and exclaim, "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 25:9). This declaration reflects the vindication of their hope and the fulfillment of God's Word. Those who trust him now will see the vindication of their hope and the fulfillment of God’s Word.
Judgment on Those Who Reject God (Isaiah 25:10-12)
In stark contrast to the celebration of the faithful, Isaiah depicts the fate of those who refuse to trust in the Lord. "For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dung heap" (Isaiah 25:10). Christ will rule on this mountain, referring to Jerusalem, where His throne will be established. Moab, a frequent enemy of Israel (Joshua 24:9), symbolizes all who reject God and refuse to wait on Him. The image of rebellious nations swimming in a dung pile could not be more graphic (Isaiah 25:10).
Moab is depicted as flailing in a dung-pit, struggling for survival but unable to escape the filth. This symbolizes the futility of resisting God's judgment. God will also deal with his enemies in the kingdom age. Those who, like Moab, proudly shake their fist at God will experience complete humiliation.
The Lord judges Moab and all who refuse to trust in Him for their pompous pride. Their belief that they didn't need to wait for the Lord God of Israel is their downfall. "And the high fortified city he will lay low, he will bring it down, bring it down to the ground, to the dust" (Isaiah 25:12). He will knock down the fortification of their human walls and defeat them in His judgment.
Isaiah 25 is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness, His ultimate victory over death and evil, and the glorious future that awaits those who trust in Him. It is a call to praise, to hope, and to patient endurance as we await the fulfillment of His promises. Let us rejoice and be glad!
O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
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.
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.
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.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.
And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
Isaiah 25 offers a powerful glimpse into God's ultimate plan for salvation and judgment. Following the preceding chapter's portrayal of God's global judgment (Isaiah 24:21-23), this chapter shifts to a celebration of God's righteousness, His triumph over enemies, and His boundless grace in removing the sting of death for those who belong to Him. This chapter serves as a beacon of hope, revealing God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering commitment to His people. Let's delve deeper into the meaning and significance of Isaiah 25.
A Song of Praise and Thanksgiving (Isaiah 25:1-5)
The chapter opens with Isaiah expressing profound personal devotion and praise to God. This personal relationship is the foundation for all who truly belong to God. "O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithfully executed" (Isaiah 25:1). Isaiah commits to continuously praising God's name for the miraculous and powerful things He has done, including judging the earth for human sin. This verse underscores that God's judgment and salvation are not arbitrary acts, but rather the fulfillment of plans established long ago, executed with perfect faithfulness. Politicians may make promises they fail to keep, but our faithful God never breaks a promise.
Isaiah specifically praises God for His plan to destroy the palaces of "foreigners" (Isaiah 25:2). This signifies the collapse of political powers that oppose God and His people. In a broader sense, it represents all those who stand against God's purposes. Before God removes sin and shame from the entire world (Isaiah 25:8), these ruthless nations will learn to fear the Lord, and the strong people will honor Him (Isaiah 25:2-3). This is a powerful reminder that God's justice will ultimately prevail.
The Lord is not only a judge but also a protector. He "has been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4). Like Psalm 9:9 and Psalm 62:6, this passage highlights God's role as a refuge for those in need. He silences the battle cries of ruthless invaders, standing as a shield between them and His people. God brings a complete reversal of status for the poor and needy. While God levels the strongholds of the mighty nations that do not honor him, he himself will become a stronghold for the destitute and the oppressed. He will rescue them, as sure as the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day (Isaiah 25:5).
The Inaugural Banquet of the Kingdom (Isaiah 25:6-9)
Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a banquet held at the inauguration of the Lord as King over Israel and the whole world. This celebration takes place on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined" (Isaiah 25:6). This is not the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19), which occurs before the kingdom is established, but a millennial banquet celebrating Christ's victory over all the forces of earth. This promise emphasizes both God’s care for his people and the worldwide reach of Christ’s rule as the Lord of all the earth.
More significantly, "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). This is a direct reversal of the curse that has plagued humanity since the first sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-19). The Messiah will conquer death, wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4), and permanently remove the shame of sin. Those are promises you can bank on.
The redeemed will respond with joy and exclaim, "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 25:9). This declaration reflects the vindication of their hope and the fulfillment of God's Word. Those who trust him now will see the vindication of their hope and the fulfillment of God’s Word.
Judgment on Those Who Reject God (Isaiah 25:10-12)
In stark contrast to the celebration of the faithful, Isaiah depicts the fate of those who refuse to trust in the Lord. "For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dung heap" (Isaiah 25:10). Christ will rule on this mountain, referring to Jerusalem, where His throne will be established. Moab, a frequent enemy of Israel (Joshua 24:9), symbolizes all who reject God and refuse to wait on Him. The image of rebellious nations swimming in a dung pile could not be more graphic (Isaiah 25:10).
Moab is depicted as flailing in a dung-pit, struggling for survival but unable to escape the filth. This symbolizes the futility of resisting God's judgment. God will also deal with his enemies in the kingdom age. Those who, like Moab, proudly shake their fist at God will experience complete humiliation.
The Lord judges Moab and all who refuse to trust in Him for their pompous pride. Their belief that they didn't need to wait for the Lord God of Israel is their downfall. "And the high fortified city he will lay low, he will bring it down, bring it down to the ground, to the dust" (Isaiah 25:12). He will knock down the fortification of their human walls and defeat them in His judgment.
Isaiah 25 is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness, His ultimate victory over death and evil, and the glorious future that awaits those who trust in Him. It is a call to praise, to hope, and to patient endurance as we await the fulfillment of His promises. Let us rejoice and be glad!