Isaiah 25:1

Commentary on Isaiah 25:1

1. The Text (King James Version)

Isaiah 25:1
“O 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.”

2. Literary and Historical Context

Isaiah 25[i] sits within a section of Isaiah (chapters 24–27) often called the “Isaiah Apocalypse.” These chapters look beyond immediate historical events to God’s ultimate triumph over evil, the renewal of creation, and the salvation of His people. Isaiah 24 describes the judgment of the whole earth; Isaiah 25 responds with praise for God’s deliverance and the promise of a future feast for all nations.

Isaiah 25 is a song of thanksgiving. It celebrates God’s character, His sovereign plans, and His future victory. The chapter moves from personal praise (verse 1) to communal hope (verses 6–9) and global restoration.

3. Exegetical Commentary on Isaiah 25:1

“O LORD, thou art my God”

Isaiah begins with a personal confession of faith. The covenant name “LORD” (YHWH) is paired with the intimate declaration “my God.” This is not abstract theology; it is personal trust. Isaiah stands as a representative believer, acknowledging God’s covenant faithfulness.

“I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name”

Praise is the natural response to knowing God. “Exalt” means to lift high, to honour above all others. “Name” in Scripture refers to God’s revealed character. Isaiah praises God not for vague spirituality but for who God has shown Himself to be.

“For thou hast done wonderful things”

The “wonderful things” are God’s mighty acts of salvation and judgment. In Isaiah 25, these include:

• The overthrow of ruthless nations (Isaiah 25:2: “For thou hast made of a city an heap…”).
• The protection of the poor and needy (Isaiah 25:4: “For thou hast been a strength to the poor…”).
• The promise of the great feast on God’s holy mountain (Isaiah 25:6: “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things…”).
• The swallowing up of death (Isaiah 25:8: “He will swallow up death in victory…”).

These “wonderful things” are both past and future. God’s acts in history guarantee His acts in the future.

“Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth”

“Counsels of old” refers to God’s eternal purposes. God’s plans are not reactive; they are ancient, deliberate, and sovereign. They are marked by:

• Faithfulness — God keeps His promises.
• Truth — God’s plans are reliable, trustworthy, and consistent with His character.

Isaiah is declaring that God’s eternal decrees stand firm, and His actions in history reveal His unchanging nature.

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4. Theological Themes

1. The Personal Nature of Faith

Isaiah’s “my God” reflects covenant relationship. Christian theology emphasises that salvation is not merely corporate but deeply personal. God calls individuals to trust Him.

2. God’s Sovereign Plans

God’s “counsels of old” reflect His eternal decree. Nothing surprises Him. His purposes unfold in perfect wisdom.

3. God’s Faithfulness in Salvation and Judgment

Isaiah praises God for both deliverance and justice. God’s salvation is meaningful because He judges evil.

4. The Already and the Not Yet

Isaiah 25 celebrates past acts of God while anticipating future fulfilment. This aligns with the New Testament’s teaching that God’s kingdom has come in Christ but awaits consummation.

5. Christological Fulfilment

Isaiah 25:8 (“He will swallow up death in victory”) is quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:54:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The apostle Paul applies this directly to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thus, Isaiah 25:1 ultimately points us to praise God for His saving work in Christ.

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5. Meditation Guide

A. Reflect on God’s Personal Covenant Love
“O 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.”

Meditate on the words: “O LORD, thou art my God.”
Ask yourself:

• Do I speak of God personally?
• Do I trust Him as my God, not merely the God?

B. Cultivate a Life of Praise

Isaiah responds to God’s character with praise. Consider:

• What aspects of God’s character lead me to praise?
• How can I build rhythms of praise into my daily life?

C. Remember God’s “Wonderful Things”

List the ways God has shown His faithfulness in your life.
Reflect on His works in Scripture, especially the cross and resurrection.

D. Rest in God’s Eternal Purposes

Meditate on the phrase: “Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
This is a powerful antidote to anxiety.
God’s plans are not fragile. They are ancient, wise, and unshakeable.

• Faithfulness — God keeps His promises.
• Truth — God’s plans are reliable, trustworthy, and consistent with His character.

E. Look Forward to the Feast of the Kingdom

Read Isaiah 25:6–9 slowly.
⁶ And 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.
⁷ And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
⁸ 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.
⁹ And 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.
Imagine the day when God wipes away all tears.
Let this future hope shape your present endurance.

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6. Application to Modern Christian Living

1. Praise as a Counter to Fear and Cynicism

In a world marked by uncertainty, Isaiah models a posture of praise grounded in God’s character, not circumstances.

2. Confidence in God’s Sovereignty

Christians today can rest in the truth that God’s purposes are not thwarted by political turmoil, personal suffering, or global instability.

3. Hope in the Resurrection

Isaiah 25 points us to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of believers. This hope sustains us in grief and strengthens us in trials.

4. A Call to Humble Trust

Isaiah’s praise is rooted in humility. We acknowledge that God’s plans are wiser than ours and that His timing is perfect.

5. A Vision for the Nations

Isaiah 25 anticipates a feast “unto all people.”
This fuels mission, hospitality, and a global vision for the gospel.

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[i] Isaiah 25

King James Version

25 O 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.

2 For 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.

3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

4 For 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.

5 Thou 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.

6 And 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.

7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

8 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.

9 And 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.

10 For 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.

11 And 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.

12 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.