Isaiah Chapter 25
Isaiah 25, The Song of Joy from the Midst of Tribulation
Isaiah 25 follows the worldwide judgment described in Isaiah 24. After the earth is shaken, the proud are brought low, the host on high is punished, and the Lord reigns gloriously in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, Isaiah records a song of praise. This chapter shows the heart of the redeemed in the midst of judgment and beyond judgment. God’s people praise Him for His wonderful works, His faithful counsels, His righteous judgment, His strength to the needy, His coming kingdom feast, His destruction of the veil over the nations, His victory over death, and His final humbling of every proud enemy. The notes provided cover Isaiah 25:1-12, including praise from the midst of Tribulation, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the destruction of death, the wiping away of tears, the testimony of those who waited for the Lord, and the final trampling down of Moab as a picture of proud opposition to Messiah’s rule.
Isaiah 25:1
Isaiah 25:1, KJV, “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.”
Isaiah begins with personal confession, “O LORD, thou art my God.” This is the language of covenant faith and personal trust. The redeemed do not merely acknowledge that God exists. They confess Him as their God. This is the difference between religious awareness and saving faith. A man may believe there is a God and still not belong to Him. Isaiah speaks as one who knows the Lord personally, reverently, and covenantally.
This confession is especially powerful because it follows Isaiah 24, a chapter filled with worldwide judgment. In the midst of judgment, the faithful still say, “thou art my God.” Their worship is not dependent upon ease, comfort, or favorable circumstances. They praise God because He is God, because He is faithful, and because His purposes stand.
The words “I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name” show deliberate worship. Praise is not treated as a passing feeling. Isaiah says, “I will.” Worship involves the mind, the will, the affections, and the whole person. There are times when the believer feels joy immediately, and there are times when he must command his soul to bless the Lord. Biblical worship is not emotional manipulation. It is truth driven adoration.
Psalm 103:1-2, KJV, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
David spoke to his own soul and commanded it to bless the Lord. Isaiah does the same in spirit. He chooses praise because the Lord is worthy.
The reason for praise is stated clearly, “for thou hast done wonderful things.” God’s works are wonderful because they reveal His wisdom, power, holiness, mercy, justice, and faithfulness. He creates, sustains, judges, saves, keeps covenant, humbles the proud, protects the weak, and brings history to His appointed end.
The phrase “thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” shows that God’s plans are ancient, settled, reliable, and true. God is not improvising. He is not reacting in panic to world events. His counsels are from old. What He purposed before the foundation of the world will be accomplished in time. His plans are not speculation, possibility, or political hope. They are “faithfulness and truth.”
Ephesians 1:11, KJV, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to purpose of him who worketh all things after counsel of his own will.”
God works all things after the counsel of His own will. This is why His people can praise Him even in dark times. The world may look unstable, but God’s counsel is not unstable. Nations rise and fall, but His truth stands.
Isaiah 25:2-3
Isaiah 25:2-3, KJV, “For thou hast made of city an heap, of defenced city ruin: palace of strangers to be no city, it shall never be built. Therefore shall strong people glorify thee, city of terrible nations shall fear thee.”
Isaiah now praises God for righteous judgment. The Lord has made a city into a heap and a fortified city into a ruin. The specific city is not named, and that matters. It may represent any proud city of man, the organized world system in rebellion against God. In Isaiah’s prophecies, many cities have already appeared under judgment, Babylon, Damascus, Jerusalem in its rebellion, Tyre, and others. Here the city seems to represent human civilization organized in pride against the Lord.
The phrase “defenced city” emphasizes human security. Men build walls, towers, palaces, governments, economies, armies, and systems to protect their glory. But when God judges, a defended city becomes a ruin. A palace of strangers becomes no city. Human permanence is exposed as temporary.
This does not mean cities are evil in themselves. The issue is the proud city, the city of man, the city built on rebellion, luxury, oppression, idolatry, and self glory. Scripture often contrasts man’s proud city with God’s holy city. Babylon represents man’s organized rebellion. Jerusalem, when purified and ruled by Messiah, represents God’s kingdom order.
Hebrews 11:10, KJV, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham looked for a city built by God, not a city built for human pride. Isaiah 25 praises the Lord because He will bring the proud city down.
Verse 3 gives two effects of divine judgment. “Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee.” Some who see the Lord’s judgment will glorify Him. They will recognize that God is righteous, sovereign, and worthy of honor. Judgment can produce reverence among those who receive truth.
The second effect is fear, “the city of terrible nations shall fear thee.” The wicked may not love God, but they will fear Him when His judgment is revealed. Terrible nations, violent powers, and cruel peoples will learn that they are not ultimate. The Lord is above them.
Revelation 15:3-4, KJV, “And they sing song of Moses servant of God, and song of Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest.”
Revelation shows the same truth. God’s judgments reveal His holiness, and the nations are brought to fear and worship before Him. The redeemed do not praise judgment because they love destruction. They praise judgment because God’s justice is righteous and necessary.
Isaiah 25:4-5
Isaiah 25:4-5, KJV, “For thou hast been strength to poor, strength to needy in his distress, refuge from storm, shadow from heat, when blast of terrible ones is as storm against wall. Thou shalt bring down noise of strangers, as heat in dry place, even heat with shadow of cloud: branch of terrible ones shall brought low.”
Isaiah now praises God for His goodness to the weak. The Lord is “strength to the poor” and “strength to the needy in his distress.” God’s greatness is not only seen in bringing down proud cities. It is also seen in protecting those who have no strength in themselves. The world often honors the powerful, wealthy, connected, and self sufficient. The Lord shows special care toward the poor, needy, afflicted, and distressed who trust in Him.
This is not teaching that poverty automatically saves a person. A poor man can be proud and rebellious. Rather, the passage emphasizes that God is a refuge to those who are low, needy, and dependent upon Him. The poor and needy have no false fortress left. They know they need strength outside themselves.
Psalm 46:1, KJV, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
The Lord is not merely a distant help. He is “a very present help.” Isaiah uses similar language, “a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.” The storm and heat picture affliction, persecution, oppression, danger, and judgment. A storm can beat violently against a wall. Heat in a dry place can exhaust and destroy. God is refuge and shade to His people.
This is especially meaningful in a Tribulation context. Those who come to faith during that terrible period will face the rage of the Antichrist, the hatred of the world, and the upheaval of divine judgments upon the earth. Yet the Lord will be their strength, refuge, and shade.
Revelation 7:15-17, KJV, “Therefore are they before throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall sun light on them, nor any heat. For Lamb which is in midst of throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
The same themes appear, no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat, the Lamb feeding them, and God wiping away tears. Isaiah and Revelation harmonize beautifully.
Isaiah also says the Lord will bring down “the noise of strangers.” The terrible ones may boast, threaten, rage, and sing their songs of conquest, but God will quiet them. Their noise will be reduced like heat subdued by the shadow of a cloud. Their power and pride will be brought low.
This is a practical comfort. The wicked are loud. Proud men are loud. God haters are loud. Oppressors are loud. But they are not permanent. God can silence the noise of the terrible ones.
Isaiah 25:6
Isaiah 25:6, KJV, “And in this mountain shall LORD of hosts make unto all people feast of fat things, feast of wines on lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on lees well refined.”
The phrase “in this mountain” points to Mount Zion. Isaiah has already declared that the Lord of hosts will reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem gloriously. Now, on this mountain, the Lord prepares a feast. This is kingdom imagery. After judgment, there is celebration. After warfare, there is banquet. After the proud are humbled, the redeemed rejoice before the Lord.
The feast is made by “the LORD of hosts.” God Himself is the host. This is not a man made religious gathering. It is the Lord’s own appointed celebration. The language is rich, “fat things,” “wines on the lees,” “fat things full of marrow,” “wines on the lees well refined.” These expressions describe abundance, richness, satisfaction, and joy.
This feast connects with the broader biblical theme of the kingdom banquet and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:7-9, KJV, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for marriage of Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her granted that she should arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for fine linen is righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed they which are called unto marriage supper of Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true sayings of God.”
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a great celebration of Christ and His redeemed. Isaiah 25 suggests that this kingdom feast has an earthly dimension connected with Mount Zion and the reign of the Lord. This fits the premillennial expectation that Christ will return, judge His enemies, establish His kingdom, and reign from Jerusalem.
Jesus Himself looked forward to this kingdom fulfillment at the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:29, KJV, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
Christ was not speaking sentimentally. He was pointing forward to a real kingdom expectation. The same Jesus who suffered and died will drink anew with His people in His Father’s kingdom. Isaiah 25:6 gives prophetic color to that hope.
The phrase “unto all people” shows the nations included in blessing. This does not erase Israel’s distinct place in God’s program. Rather, it shows that through Israel’s Messiah and the reign from Zion, blessing extends to the nations. The Abrahamic promise is fulfilled, all families of the earth are blessed through Abraham’s seed.
Genesis 12:3, KJV, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of earth be blessed.”
The feast on Mount Zion is therefore not merely Israel’s restoration, though it includes that. It is also the overflow of God’s kingdom blessing to all peoples under Messiah’s rule.
Isaiah 25:7-8
Isaiah 25:7-8, KJV, “And he will destroy in this mountain face of covering cast over all people, and vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory, and Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces, and rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all earth: for LORD hath spoken it.”
The Lord will not only prepare a feast. He will destroy the covering cast over all people and the veil spread over all nations. This veil represents spiritual blindness, ignorance, deception, and separation from the knowledge of God. The nations have lived under darkness, idolatry, false religion, demonic deception, and moral blindness. In the kingdom, the Lord removes that veil.
Isaiah 60:2-3, KJV, “For, behold, darkness shall cover earth, and gross darkness people: but LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall seen upon thee. And Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to brightness of thy rising.”
The nations are in darkness until the Lord’s light shines. Isaiah 25 promises the removal of the covering so that the nations may see.
Paul uses veil language concerning Israel.
2 Corinthians 3:15-16, KJV, “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to Lord, vail shall taken away.”
In Isaiah’s day, the nations were obviously veiled in idolatry. In Paul’s day, Israel’s unbelief in Messiah was especially evident. The remedy is the same for both Jew and Gentile, turning to the Lord. When one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Then comes one of the greatest promises in Scripture, “He will swallow up death in victory.” Death entered the world because of sin. It was not part of the original good creation as man’s friend. It is an enemy.
Genesis 2:16-17, KJV, “And LORD God commanded man, saying, Of every tree of garden thou mayest freely eat: But of tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Romans 5:12, KJV, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Death came through Adam’s rebellion. But God promised from the beginning that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent.
Genesis 3:15, KJV, “And I will put enmity between thee and woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Christ fulfilled that promise through His death and resurrection. Paul directly draws from Isaiah 25 when he proclaims the resurrection victory.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57, KJV, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall brought to pass saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where thy sting? O grave, where thy victory? Sting of death is sin; and strength of sin is law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The final defeat of death is guaranteed because Christ has risen. A resurrected body is not a repaired corpse. It is a glorified body, incorruptible, immortal, and beyond death’s reach. Death will not merely be managed. It will be swallowed up.
Isaiah also says, “the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” This is one of the tenderest promises in Scripture. God does not merely remove sorrow at a distance. He personally wipes away tears. The image is intimate, fatherly, compassionate, and final. The causes of grief will be removed, and the Lord Himself will comfort His people.
Revelation repeats this promise.
Revelation 21:4, KJV, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for former things are passed away.”
This is the final answer to human suffering. The Lord will end death, sorrow, crying, and pain. No philosophy can do that. No government can do that. No therapy can do that. No technology can do that. Only God can do that.
Isaiah says, “the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth.” In this present age, God rebukes, corrects, disciplines, and sanctifies His people. That correction is necessary because sin remains in us. But the day is coming when His people will no longer need rebuke because sin will be gone. The reproach carried by God’s people will also be removed. Israel’s reproach among the nations will be lifted. The shame endured by the faithful will be turned to glory.
The certainty is sealed by the phrase, “for the LORD hath spoken it.” Death will be swallowed up. Tears will be wiped away. The veil will be destroyed. The rebuke will be removed. These things are certain because God has spoken.
Isaiah 25:9
Isaiah 25:9, KJV, “And it shall said in that day, Lo, this our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this LORD, we have waited for him, we will glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
This is the testimony of God’s people in the day of fulfillment. “Lo, this is our God.” The redeemed publicly confess the Lord. They are not ashamed of Him. They know Him. They waited for Him. They trusted Him. Now they see His salvation.
There is a future fulfillment in view, but this confession should also characterize believers now. Those who will say “this is our God” in the kingdom should not be silent about Him now. Christ taught that confession before men matters.
Luke 12:8, KJV, “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall Son of man also confess before angels of God.”
The faithful confess Christ now, and they will rejoice when He openly vindicates His people.
The phrase “we have waited for him” is repeated twice. Waiting on the Lord is one of the hardest disciplines of faith. God’s timing often tests His people. He may appear delayed, but He is never late. Waiting is not passive unbelief. Biblical waiting is active trust, faithful endurance, and patient confidence in God’s promise.
Isaiah 40:31, KJV, “But they that wait upon LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Those who wait for the Lord are not fools. They will be vindicated. Isaiah says, “and he will save us.” Salvation belongs to the Lord. It is not self made, man made, earned, purchased by human merit, or secured by religious performance. It is His salvation.
Jonah 2:9, KJV, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of LORD.”
Because salvation is of the Lord, the response is joy, “we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” If salvation were our own accomplishment, it would be uncertain and worthless. Because it is His salvation, it is sure and glorious. The redeemed rejoice not in their strength, but in His saving work.
This is the heart of biblical worship. The believer says, “This is our God.” He says, “We have waited for him.” He says, “He will save us.” He says, “We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” That is praise built on faith, patience, and fulfilled promise.
Isaiah 25:10-12
Isaiah 25:10-12, KJV, “For in this mountain shall hand of LORD rest, and Moab shall trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for dunghill. And he shall spread forth his hands in midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with spoils of their hands. And fortress of high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to ground, even to dust.”
The chapter closes by returning to Mount Zion and judgment upon pride. “For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest.” The hand of the Lord represents His presence, power, favor, authority, and settled rule. In Isaiah 24, the Lord reigns in Mount Zion and Jerusalem gloriously. In Isaiah 25, His hand rests there. This is the center of His kingdom administration.
The hand of the Lord resting on Mount Zion contrasts with His feet trampling Moab. The same Lord who comforts His people judges His enemies. Grace and judgment are not contradictions in God. He is perfectly holy, perfectly just, and perfectly merciful.
Moab is specifically named, “and Moab shall be trodden down under him.” Moab had already been addressed in Isaiah 15 and 16. Moab represents pride, hostility, and human arrogance. Here, Moab is trampled like straw for the dunghill. The image is intentionally humiliating. What is proud before God becomes refuse under His judgment.
The Lord spreads forth His hands “as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim.” This pictures complete control and active judgment. As a swimmer spreads his hands through the water, the Lord moves through the midst of His enemies and brings them down. Their pride and the spoils of their hands cannot save them.
Pride is specifically named, “he shall bring down their pride.” This has been a repeated theme in Isaiah’s burdens. Babylon is proud. Moab is proud. Tyre is proud. Jerusalem is proud. Egypt is proud. The nations are proud. The Lord is against pride because pride is the heart posture of rebellion against God.
Proverbs 16:18, KJV, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before fall.”
Moab’s fortress, high walls, and defenses will be brought down, laid low, and brought to the dust. This shows the complete humiliation of human opposition. Walls may look high to men, but before God they are dust. Fortresses may look secure, but they cannot stand when the Lord moves.
This connects with the reign of Messiah over the nations.
Psalm 2:8-12, KJV, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee heathen for thine inheritance, and uttermost parts of earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of earth. Serve LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss Son, lest he angry, and ye perish from way, when his wrath kindled but little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
The Son will rule the nations. Those who submit are blessed. Those who rebel are broken. Isaiah 25 ends with that same reality. The hand of the Lord rests on Zion in blessing, but proud Moab is trodden down in judgment.
The choice is plain. A man may come under the Lord’s saving hand, or he may be brought under His judging feet. He may wait for the Lord and rejoice in His salvation, or he may cling to pride and be brought down to dust.
