Isaiah25
New American Standard
1Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
2For You have turned a city into a heap, A fortified city into a ruin; A palace of strangers is no longer a city, It will never be rebuilt.
3Therefore a strong people will glorify You; Cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
4For You have been a stronghold for the helpless, A stronghold for the poor in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.
5Like heat in a dry land, You subdue the uproar of foreigners; Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced.
6Now the Lord of armies will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.
7And on this mountain He will destroy the covering which is over all peoples, The veil which is stretched over all nations.
8He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.
9And it will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let’s rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
10For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain, And Moab will be trampled down in his place As straw is trampled down in the water of a manure pile.
11And he will spread out his hands in the middle of it As a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim, But the Lord will lay low his pride together with the trickery of his hands.
12The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down, Lay low, and throw to the ground, to the dust.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A song of praise. (1-5). A declaration of the gospel blessings. (6-8). The destruction of the enemies of Christ's church. (9-12).
vv1-5
However this might show the deliverance of the Jews out of captivity, it looked further, to the praises that should be offered up to God for Christ's victories over our spiritual enemies, and the comforts he has provided for all believers. True faith simply credits the Lord's testimony, and relies on his truth to perform his promises. As God weakens the strong who are proud and secure, so he strengthens the weak that are humble, and stay themselves upon him. God protects his people in all weathers. The Lord shelters those who trust in him from the insolence of oppressors. Their insolence is but the noise of strangers; it is like the heat of the sun scorching in the middle of the day; but where is it when the sun is set? The Lord ever was, and ever will be, the Refuge of distressed believers. Having provided them a shelter, he teaches them to flee unto it.
vv6-8
The kind reception of repentant sinners, is often in the New Testament likened to a feast. The guests invited are all people, Gentiles as well as Jews. There is that in the gospel which strengthens and makes glad the heart, and is fit for those who are under convictions of sin, and mourning for it. There is a veil spread over all nations, for all sat in darkness. But this veil the Lord will destroy, by the light of his gospel shining in the world, and the power of his Spirit opening men's eyes to receive it. He will raise those to spiritual life who were long dead in trespasses and sins. Christ will himself, in his resurrection, triumph over death. Grief shall be banished; there shall be perfect and endless joy. Those that mourn for sin shall be comforted. Those who suffer for Christ shall have consolations. But in the joys of heaven, and not short of them, will fully be brought to pass this saying, God shall wipe away all tears. The hope of this should now do away over-sorrow, all weeping that hinders sowing. Sometimes, in this world God takes away the reproach of his people from among men; however, it will be done fully at the great day. Let us patiently bear sorrow and shame now; both will be done away shortly.
vv9-12
With joy and praise will those entertain the glad tidings of the Redeemer, who looked for him; and with a triumphant song will glorified saints enter into the joy of their Lord. And it is not in vain to wait for him; for the mercy comes at last, with abundant recompence for the delay. The hands once stretched out upon the cross, to make way for our salvation, will at length be stretched forth to destroy all impenitent sinners. Moab is here put for all adversaries of God's people; they shall all be trodden down or threshed. God shall bring down the pride of the enemies by one humbling judgment after another. This destruction of Moab is typical of Christ's victory, and the pulling down of Satan's strong holds. Therefore, beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Key Words
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
רוּם: to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פֶּלֶא: a miracle
עֵצָה: advice; by implication, plan; also prudence
רָחוֹק: remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
אֱמוּנָה: literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity
Cross References
Isaiah 25Explicitly quoted by Paul to prove the ultimate resurrection and final victory over death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the veil of spiritual blindness over the heart, particularly of Israel.
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John depicts the ultimate fulfillment of God wiping away every tear and abolishing death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ describes the gospel feast as welcoming many from east and west.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The mountain feast of rich foods typifies the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Waiting for the manifestation of our God and Savior matches 'we have waited for him.'
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Identifies 'this mountain' as Mount Zion, established as the center of all nations.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains 'wines on the lees' as those settled and matured, gaining strength.
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Christ has abolished and swallowed up death, bringing life to light.
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Parallels God's 'counsels of old' as His eternal purposes that stand firm.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The ruined city of strangers typifies the fall of mystical Babylon.
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Parallels the imagery of God as a shadow from the heat and refuge.
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Christ as the 'Amen' embodies the Hebrew word for 'faithfulness and truth.'
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Illuminates 'strangers' as those alienated from the commonwealth and covenants of Israel.
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Connects 'fat things full of marrow' to God's rich spiritual table.
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Jacob's waiting for salvation echoes the corporate cry, 'we have waited.'
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