Chapter 25
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1O 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.
2For 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.
3Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.
4For 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.
5Thou 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.
6And 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.
7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8He 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.
9And 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.
10For 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.
11And 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.
12And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
“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.”
Overview
Isaiah breaks into a song of praise for God's wonderful works — He has made a city into a heap and been a strength to the poor and needy. God will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples on His mountain and will swallow up death in victory. He will wipe away tears from all faces, and His people will say, 'Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him.' The proud fortress of Moab is brought low in contrast.
Key Themes
God's Faithfulness to His Ancient Purposes
The wonderful things God does are 'counsels of old, faithfulness and truth' — He has planned from eternity and now carries out His promises with perfect reliability.
The Great Feast and the Swallowing Up of Death
God will host a lavish feast for all peoples and destroy death itself, wiping tears from every face — the most comprehensive promise of redemption in the Old Testament.
The Joy of Those Who Wait for God
The redeemed will say with exultation, 'This is our God; we have waited for him' — patient trust in God is vindicated by His appearing.
Study Questions
What does the feast God prepares for all peoples (v. 6) reveal about His intentions for the nations?
How does the promise that God 'will swallow up death in victory' (v. 8) shape our understanding of ultimate redemption?
What does it mean that God will 'wipe away tears from off all faces' (v. 8)?
How does the declaration 'This is our God; we have waited for him' (v. 9) reward patient faith?
Why does the chapter contrast God's feast with the humiliation of Moab (vv. 10-12)?
Connection to Christ
Paul directly quotes Isaiah 25:8 in 1 Corinthians 15:54 — 'Death is swallowed up in victory' — declaring that Christ's resurrection fulfills this prophecy. The great feast anticipates the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), and the wiping away of tears is fulfilled in the new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:4).
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Isaiah 25. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?