Isaiah 25 Study Notes

25:1 The prophet Isaiah is the first-person speaker (I) who praises God for his plan that includes judgment. His judgment is an example of perfect faithfulness because his covenant promised that punishment would follow rebellion.

25:2 The city described in this and the following verses is the same as the “city of chaos” of 24:10. It is not a specific place but a city that represents human evil.

25:3 Because of God’s judgment of sin, even people who are violent will fear him.

25:4-5 The poor person and the needy are the antithesis of the powerful and proud inhabitants of the city that God has judged. God is their protection, not city walls or weapons. God’s protection of the humble poor is illustrated by the image of a refuge from storms and a shade from heat. Violent people are the rain and the heat from which God provides protection for the vulnerable.

25:6 Feasting follows victory, and the Lord prepares a fine feast for his people. The mountain refers to the mountain of God’s presence—Zion.

25:7-8 God not only conquers the evil nations, but death and sorrow (tears) and disgrace. The verb translated destroy is better rendered as “swallow.” Here there is likely an allusion to the Baal myth of Ugarit where death swallowed the god Baal. Here the Lord swallows death. Paul quotes v. 8 in 1Co 15:54.

25:9 On that day, see note at 24:21. Salvation indicates rescue from powerful, evil enemies.

25:10 The mountain is where God will make his presence known—Zion. Up to this point the nations have been referred to generically. Now Moab, a small nation east of the Dead Sea, becomes the subject of the pronouncement. Moab is a prime example of the sinful pride of the nations.

25:11 Continuing the image from the previous verse, Isaiah described Moab as swimming in dung.