Isaiah 25 PRAISE TO GOD – JOY IN THE CITY As he looks ahead to the fulfillment of the prophecies God gave him, Isaiah is the spokesman for God’s people in praise to the Lord for His grace to all, His righteousness in dealing in justice with the ungodly, and His kindness to His people over all the centuries. He praises and honors God for fulfilling His promises to His people. He begins with adoration for the Lord’s dealing with men by enforcing the laws and justly bringing an end to the subversion of those who have no faith in God. Not only does He enforce the law on those who break it, but He preserves and defends those who are faithful and obedient to Him.
God’s goodness and faithfulness should never be doubted. His provision and security for the poor is assured. There have been, and will yet be, trials, testing and misfortunes that come on the people of God, but Mt. Zion will be preserved. The faithfulness of God and His truth remains unchanged, and always will. When our Lord returns and appears in His glory, those who rejected and despised Him will recognize Him for who He is – the Prince of Peace. Gentile believers will be included in the blessings that come from Him to “all people.”
The nations that defied God will be destroyed. The suffering of the Jews under Gentile domination and persecution will end. The Jews as a nation “received Him not,” but there have been many individuals of that people who have been saved by God’s grace when they “repented and believed the Gospel.” By the grace of God, Jews and Gentiles who have received Christ as their own personal Savior, are blessed and rejoice because “He made peace through the blood of His cross.”
In this prophecy/sermon of Isaiah, He praises God for who He is, and then praises Him for the fact that He is “my God.” That surely is a cause for gratitude and rejoicing on our part when we praise Him for what He has done for us and the close fellowship and relationship with Him into which we have been brought. To have the word of God and been given the provisions of God freely, moves our souls to praise Him. He has been victorious over our enemies and He protects us constantly as our Deliverer, Redeemer and Savior. No wonder we praise Him! God has given us peace and He reveals Himself to us in His word, in the circumstances of life, in answered prayers and in ways unexpected that are uniquely personal. As we look ahead to the final chapter of life here and then the victory and glory yet to be revealed in the future, it is most appropriate that we give Him “the sacrifice of praise; the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto His name.”
The feast Isaiah described is like a table spread with all spiritual blessings that will be there from which all believers will partake. Those “fat things,” and “wine upon the lees,” will be provided at that great feast. Perhaps it is, or at least is like, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jews and Gentiles will rejoice as one people. At Mt. Zion all believers will eat of the choice foods that come as benefits and blessings of the Gospel. They will bring delight and satisfaction to all who have come to Him by faith. We trusted in Him and He has saved us. What God says, He will do. He knows us and answers our prayers even today in ways which are appropriate to the need he knows we have. The cross-work of our Lord defeated all His foes, and ours – including death. The final victory of our Lord over those who turn against His people will happen at His appearing, and it will be complete.
Darkness and spiritual blindness of Jews and Gentiles alike, will be lifted and the millennial kingdom will be a time of unprecedented blessings. People will say with grateful hearts: “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.” Counterfeit religion; false peace because of religious pride will be done with. The Lord Himself will deal in both judgment and grace. Victory and the triumph of heaven will be forever. The vail of spiritual blindness will be removed and joy will resound in the city of God. He will dwell with His people in holy happy fellowship.
Hostile unbelievers will be brought down like mowed grass and will be powerless before the Lord. The pride and arrogance of those who oppose God will not prevail over the righteousness of a just and mighty King. How good it is for those who know the Lord today, and can look ahead into the future through these prophecies, to be able to be glad and rejoice in God’s salvation now. That leads us to be able to sing the song of joy that is in the next chapter.