1 In that day you will say,O Jehovah, you are my God;I will extol you by praising your name.For with perfect faithfulnessyou have performed wonders,things planned of old.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
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2 You have made the city a heap of rubble,fortified towns a ruin—heathen mansions shall no more form cities,nor ever be rebuilt!
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
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3 For this will powerful peoples revere you,a community of tyrannous nations fear you.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
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4 You were a refuge for the poor,a shelter for the needy in distress,a covert from the downpourand shade from the heat.When the blasts of tyrants beat downlike torrents against a wall,
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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5 or like scorching heat in the desert,you quelled the onslaughts of the heathen:as burning heat by the shade of a cloud,you subdued the power of tyrants.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
6 In this mountain will Jehovah of Hosts preparea sumptuous feast for all peoples,a feast of leavened cakes, succulent and delectable,of matured wines well refined.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
7 In this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,the shroud that shrouds all nations,
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
8 by abolishing Death forever.
My Lord Jehovah will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
he will remove the reproach of his people
from throughout the earth.
Jehovah has spoken it.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos and angel of death, who destroys a wicked world in Jehovah's Day of Judgment but who perishes when he has served Jehovah's purpose.
red
9 In that day youa will say, This is our God,whom we expected would save us.This is Jehovah for whom we have waited;let us joyfully celebrate his salvation!
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos and angel of death, who destroys a wicked world in Jehovah's Day of Judgment but who perishes when he has served Jehovah's purpose.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his people who look to him for deliverance him when their enemies seek to destroy them in his Day of Judgment.
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10 For in this mountain rests the hand of Jehovah,and under him Moab shall be trampled downas straw is trampled in a dung pit.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos and angel of death, who destroys a wicked world in Jehovah's Day of Judgment but who perishes when he has served Jehovah's purpose.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his people who look to him for deliverance him when their enemies seek to destroy them in his Day of Judgment.
green
A pseudonym of (1) the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who destroys Greater Babylon, a multinational entity that includes Moab; and (2) Jehovah's end-time servant, who delivers Jehovah's people.
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11 For when he stretches his handsinto the midst of it,as a swimmer spreads his hands to swim,he will pull down his pride in the attempt.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos and angel of death, who destroys a wicked world in Jehovah's Day of Judgment but who perishes when he has served Jehovah's purpose.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his people who look to him for deliverance him when their enemies seek to destroy them in his Day of Judgment.
green
A pseudonym of (1) the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who destroys Greater Babylon, a multinational entity that includes Moab; and (2) Jehovah's end-time servant, who delivers Jehovah's people.
purple
12 Your highly walled fortificationshe will lay low by razing them to the ground,even with the dust.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who exemplifies faithfulness in fulfilling his covenants and promises to his people and who saves them from destruction in his Day of Judgment.
green
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that pours a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust on an evil world and its inhabitants.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who burns up Jehovah's apostate people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, whom Jehovah empowers to burn up the evildoers of his people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos and angel of death, who destroys a wicked world in Jehovah's Day of Judgment but who perishes when he has served Jehovah's purpose.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his people who look to him for deliverance him when their enemies seek to destroy them in his Day of Judgment.
green
A pseudonym of (1) the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who destroys Greater Babylon, a multinational entity that includes Moab; and (2) Jehovah's end-time servant, who delivers Jehovah's people.
purple
Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 25
After the calamities of Jehovah’s Day of Judgment are over, the righteous survivors of his people sing Songs of Salvation. In this instance using the personal pronouns “I” and “my,” their psalm is individualized, signifying that through the coming times of trial only individuals remain loyal to Jehovah. The “wonder/s” Jehovah planned of old (Isaiah 12:5; 29:14) consist of his purpose to exalt the earth and its inhabitants (Isaiah 4:2; 62:1-3), meaning that at some point its wicked inhabitants—after being given the chance to participate in Jehovah’s plan—must depart this sphere (Isaiah 13:9; 37:26-27).
The “city” and “town/s” (Isaiah 24:10, 12; 26:5-6; 27:10) that nuance Isaiah’s concept of a Greater Babylon here again epitomize the wicked of the world, who are identified as “heathen” or “aliens” (zarim). After being reduced to rubble and ruin—to chaos—their cities can’t be rebuilt as their operation and architecture were out of harmony with Jehovah’s heavenly design. The Assyrian alliance—the “powerful peoples” and “tyrannous nations” who destroyed others—will “revere” and “fear” Jehovah when they see their mighty power dwarfed by his and their evil institutions utterly razed (Isaiah 17:12-14).
The terms “refuge,” “shelter,” “covert,” and “shade” typify Jehovah’s deliverance of his people (Isaiah 1:8; 32:2; 51:16), who here again appear as the “poor” and “needy” (Isaiah 10:2; 14:30; 41:17). In his Day of Judgment, Jehovah shelters them from enemy assaults “by the shade of a cloud”—his cloud of glory—which protects them from the fiery “downpour” and burning “heat” (Isaiah 4:3-6; 49:10). Secondarily, the downpour and heat designate the king of Assyria/Babylon, that tyrant of tyrants who launches the fiery holocaust upon a corrupt and wicked world (Isaiah 28:2, 17-19; 33:11-14; 42:25).
Jehovah’s sumptuous feast for all peoples or nations alludes to the confirmation of Jehovah’s covenant with those who prove faithful through the evil time—as when an emperor formally adopts a vassal and the vassal’s conditional covenant becomes unconditional. New Testament parallels consist of the king who prepares a marriage feast for his son, of which those who are invited prove unworthy (Matthew 22:2-14); of the marriage to which ten virgins are invited but for which only five are prepared (Matthew 25:1-13); and of the millennial “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9).
The repeated terms “in this mountain” infer that “death” or “mortality” (mawet) is done away starting at the feast itself. Also called a “veil” (lot) or “shroud” (masseka), mortality acts as a mask that hides people’s righteousness or wickedness so that physically people may appear similar. Once the veil is removed, the righteousness of the righteous shines brightly in the sight of all, while the wickedness of the wicked appears plainly evident. The term “mountain” identifies the location of the feast as Mount Zion, the place and nation in which Jehovah dwells (Isaiah 2:2-3; 4:5; 8:18; 24:23; 30:29).
Secondarily, Jehovah’s “abolishing Death forever” alludes to his vanquishing the king of Assyria/Babylon, the angel of death who stalked the earth committing genocide of entire nations (Isaiah 10:7; 28:18-22; 33:12; 34:2): “When my Lord has fully accomplished his work in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he will punish the king of Assyria for his notorious boasting and infamous conceit” (Isaiah 10:12); “I will break Assyria in my own land, trample them underfoot on my mountains” (Isaiah 14:25; “Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man; a sword not of mortals shall devour them” (Isaiah 31:8).
A Song of Salvation marks Jehovah’s deliverance of his people who acknowledge him as “our God”—their covenant Lord. The motif of “expecting” or “waiting” (qiwweh) for Jehovah’s coming to deliver them defines the time of trial of his people’s faith that precedes his millennial reign (Isaiah 8:17; 26:2-4; 30:18; 33:2, 6; 35:3-4; 49:23; 64:4). Jehovah’s coming as salvation constitutes salvation itself: “Jehovah has made proclamation to the end of the earth: ‘Tell the Daughter of Zion, “See, your Salvation comes, his reward with him, his work preceding him”’” (Isaiah 62:11; emphasis added).
Two “hands” of Jehovah qualify to fulfill this prediction: (1) Jehovah’s right hand—his servant—who “rests” (tanuah) in this mountain or nation upon receiving his inheritance of rest (Isaiah 11:10); and (2) Jehovah’s left hand—the king of Assyria/Babylon—who “alights” (tanuah) in this mountain or nation to trample Moab (cf. Isaiah 10:5-6). As a prideful kindred people (Isaiah 15-16), Moab is trodden as “straw” and its institutions are razed to the “dust.” Moab thus meets the same fate as the wicked “city”—Greater Babylon—that is razed to the dust and trodden underfoot (Isaiah 26:5-6; 47:1).