Isaiah 25 - Salvation and Judgment

Chapter 25 of Isaiah is a proclamation of God's people about His victory and their redemption; His victory over the world. 

Isaiah 25:1 (HCSB) "Yahweh, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, plans ⌊formed⌋ long ago, with perfect faithfulness." Here the remnant exalt YHWH, calling them "my God" whose name they will praise for the wonders of the plans He set out long ago. Who other than God can make a plan with absolute assurance it will be accomplished?

Isaiah 25:2 (HCSB) "For You have turned the city into a pile of rocks, a fortified city, into ruins; the fortress of barbarians is no longer a city; it will never be rebuilt." This fortified city is symbolic of the world, as with the city of chaos in 24:10. It's defeat is YHWH's victory over the world - when He returns a new earth will be raised up and the city of this world will never be rebuilt.

Isaiah 25:3 (HCSB) "Therefore, a strong people will honor You. The cities of violent nations will fear You." Those who honor God have His strength; those who depend on their own strength are violent men who will greatly fear Him when they discover they have no refuge.

Isaiah 25:4-5 (HCSB) "For You have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the needy person in his distress, a refuge from the rain, a shade from the heat. When the breath of the violent is like rain ⌊against⌋ a wall, like heat in a dry land, You subdue the uproar of barbarians. As the shade of a cloud ⌊cools⌋ the heat of the day, ⌊so⌋ He silences the song of the violent. "

His people testify of His provision for the poor and needy (blessed are the poor in spirit!), His refuge from the rain and a shade from the heat. Do you recall Jonah, the reluctant prophet? Disappointed in God's mercy on repentant Ninevites, Jonah pouted and sat down to see what would happen. Jonah 4:6 (HCSB) "Then the LORD God appointed a plant, and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort. Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant." YHWH provided shade for Jonah just as He had for the remnant in Isaiah's vision. He subdued the barbarians and shuts the mouths of the violent.

Isaiah 25:6-8 (HCSB) "The LORD of Hosts will prepare a feast for all the peoples on this mountain— a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine. On this mountain ⌊He⌋ will destroy the ⌊burial⌋ shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations; He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the LORD has spoken."

Does this not bring to your mind the wedding feast of the Lamb? The peace with God found on Mt Zion? The promise of the new earth where He will wipe every tear and clothe us with His righteousness completely? So much of John's Apocalypse is taken from Old Testament passages, we should not be surprised to find his source material here.

Isaiah 25:9-10a (HCSB) "On that day it will be said, “Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” For the LORD’s power will rest on this mountain." Verse 10 is another place where ya got to wonder what where thinking, including the second sentence here rather than in verse 11. On THAT day, when Christ Jesus comes to judge the nations He will also bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him (Heb 9:28).  This salvation is not justification, but the final salvation that free us from the presence of sin.

Isaiah 25:10b-12 (HCSB) "For the LORD’s power will rest on this mountain. But Moab will be trampled in his place as straw is trampled in a dung pile. He will spread out his arms in the middle of it, as a swimmer spreads out ⌊his arms⌋ to swim. His pride will be brought low, along with the trickery of his hands. The high-walled fortress will be brought down, thrown to the ground, to the dust."

Then end of this chapter is the sad record of the judgment on Moab - symbolic of the pride of life that dominates the city of this age. Swimming in dung - how's that for a word picture? No pride left, no tricks, no wealth - all undone when the Creator and Judge of all things returns.

Are you the joyful remnant praising God for His victory? Or are you still full of pride and self-sufficiency? Time is running out and none of us knows when He will return. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.