Isaiah Chapter 25
1 The LORD, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth.
2 For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It will never be built.
3 Therefore a strong people will glorify you. A city of awesome nations will fear you.
4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.
5 As the heat in a dry place you will bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the dreaded ones will be brought low.
6 In this mountain, the LORD of Armies will make all peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast of choice wines, of choice meat full of marrow, of well refined choice wines.
7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for the LORD has spoken it.
9 It shall 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!"
10 For the LORD's hand will rest in this mountain. Moab will be trodden down in his place, even like straw is trodden down in the water of the dunghill.
11 He will spread out his hands in the middle of it, like one who swims spreads out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of his hands.
12 He has brought the high fortress of your walls down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust.
Footnotes
- Verse 6 (choice meat)
- literally, fat things
Version: World English Bible
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Isaiah Chapter 25 Guide
Immediately following this terrible description is a prophecy which, in the form of praise, declares the activity of Jehovah. The song first offers praise for judgment both in its procedure, as it destroys the false city, and in its results, as by such action God manifests Himself as the Succorer and Helper of the afflicted.
The result of this activity will be spreading the feast in the mountain of the Lord, and His illumination of all the nations, followed by the ending of sorrow and the wiping away of tears.
At last Jehovah's own afflicted people will break forth into a song of praise as they come to know Him; and their enemies, comprehensively spoken of as Moab, will finally be overcome and cast out.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Isaiah Chapter 25 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- 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)
Verses 1-5
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.
Verses 6-8
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.
Verses 9-12
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.