Isaiah25
New King James Version
1O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
2For You have made a city a ruin, A fortified city a ruin, A palace of foreigners to be a city no more; It will never be rebuilt.
3Therefore the strong people will glorify You; The city of the terrible nations will fear You.
4For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
5You will reduce the noise of aliens, As heat in a dry place; As heat in the shadow of a cloud, The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.
6And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees.
7And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations.
8He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.
9And it will be said in that day: “Behold, 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.”
10For on this mountain the hand of the Lord will rest, And Moab shall be trampled down under Him, As straw is trampled down for the refuse heap.
11And He will spread out His hands in their midst As a swimmer reaches out to swim, And He will bring down their pride Together with the trickery of their hands.
12The fortress of the high fort of your walls He will bring down, lay low, And bring to the ground, down 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.
Supported by JFB
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.'
Supported by JFB
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.
Supported by JFB
Christ has abolished and swallowed up death, bringing life to light.
Supported by JFB
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.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the imagery of God as a shadow from the heat and refuge.
Supported by JFB
Christ as the 'Amen' embodies the Hebrew word for 'faithfulness and truth.'
Supported by JFB
Illuminates 'strangers' as those alienated from the commonwealth and covenants of Israel.
Supported by JFB
Connects 'fat things full of marrow' to God's rich spiritual table.
Supported by JFB
Jacob's waiting for salvation echoes the corporate cry, 'we have waited.'
Supported by JFB