By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 25

ZION PRAISES JEHOVAH FOR SALVATION AND
COMFORT

   0 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.

    1. Here is a song of praise from the hearts of those who have been divinely preserved through fearful judgments.
    2. The object of adoration is Jehovah Himself with whom they claim a personal relationship, (vs, 1; Ex. 15:2; Psa. 48:14; Isa. 7:13; 49:4-5; 61:10).
      a. They exalt and praise His name, (Psa. 28:6-7).
      b. They rejoice in His wonderful works, (Psa. 40:5; 98:1); in faithfulness and truth He has fulfilled His covenants (purposes) of old, (42:9; 46:10; comp. Rev. 3:14) their "wonderful Counselor", (9:6).
    3. The cause for praise (as here stated) is threefold:
      a. For the destruction of the strong, defenced and terrible "city" (representative of no particular city, but of a world-system of humanistic wisdom, power and strategy - under demonic influence - in opposition to, and defiance of the will, Word and way of God) in such a way as to compel the fear of all nations, (vs. 3; 13:11).
      b. For the deliverance of Zion - being a refuge for the poor and needy in the time of their great distress, (vs. 4-5; 14:32; Psa. 28:8; Isa. 11:4; 32:1-2; 4:5-6).
      c. And for the destruction of Moab - their enemy.

   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.

    1. "Mountain" (vs. 6a) symbolizes the kingdom (or ruling authority) of Messiah, (comp. Dan. 2:35; Ezek. 17:23; Isa. 41:15); Mt. Zion, of course, is the location from which He will exercise that authority over the whole earth, (24:23; Mic. 4:7; comp. Psa. 102:21; Isa. 31:9; Joel 2:31; 3:16-17).
    2. In connection with the enthronement of Messiah in Jerusalem, there will be a festal celebration - the finest of delicacies provided for the enjoyment of the redeemed covenant-community who, taken from all ages, have been noted for their walk of faith before the Lord, (vs. 6; 1:19; 30:29; 55:1-2; 62:8-9; 66:10-13).
    3. The veil of fear and ignorance which, through satanic delusions, have long blinded Israel and the nations, will be removed forever, (vs. 7; 2 Cor. 3:15-16; Eph. 4:18; Heb. 2:14-15).
    4. Resurrection-life will triumph over death, (vs. 8a; Hos. 13:14; I Cor. 15:54) - the saints of all ages being raised to share in the life of the Messianic Kingdom.
    5. All tears will be banished (vs. 8b; 30:19-21; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19; Rev. 7:17; 21:4), and the shame of Israel will be removed, (51:7-8; 54:4; Psa. 69:9; Matt. 5:11; I Pet. 4:14).
    6. And, in verse 9, there is a glad celebration of God's fidelity by those who have patiently "waited for Him" - joyful now, in the indescribable riches of His full, free and glorious salvation, (40:9-10; 52:10; 30:18; 33:2, 22; 35:4; 49:25-26; 60:16; Psa. 20:5-7).

   Vs. 10-12: 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.

        1) Here it will be noted that the hand (power) of Jehovah's governing authority is manifested "from Mt. Zion" where He will then dwell, (vs. 10; 2:2-4; 27:13; Joel 3:16-17).
        2) He will spoil this corrupter of morals, and bring down her pride (Num. 22-24; Vs. 11; Zeph. 2:9-10).
        3) The fortress of her high walls, wherein she trusted, will be laid low - even to the dust, (vs. 12).