Isaiah 25

Of the chapters xxv.-xxvii., Sir G. A. Smith says that they “stand in the front rank of evangelical prophecy. . . . Perhaps their most signal feature is their designation of the people of God. . . . God’s people are described by adjectives signifying their spiritual qualities.” He points out that the three Hebrew words translated by two in English “poor” and “needy” (xxv. 4 and xxvi. 6) in their root ideas of infirmity, need and positive affliction, cover among them every aspect of physical poverty and distress, and came to be the expression of the highest moral and evangelical virtues.

2 a city. Perhaps the original allusion was to Babylon. But the reference goes far beyond any single event of the kind, and contrasts the ideal world-city with the ideal Zion, the city of God.

4 against the wall. Raging ineffectually.

5 branch. Rather, “song” (R.V.); i.e., their song of triumph.

6 in this mountain. That is, in Mount Zion: see xxiv. 23. Jerusalem under Jehovah’s glorious reign shall be the centre of attraction, and the source of light, life, and joy to the whole world (“unto all peoples”). This beautifully predicts the blessings and glories of the kingdom of Christ.

wines on the lees. Wines which have been left “on the lees,” and are then filtered off, are said to possess a superior colour and flavour; “strong clear wines” (Delitzsch).

7. He will destroy, etc. God, by His Gospel, will remove that ignorance of and insensibility to Divine truth, which “covers” the intellects and hearts of men. (See remark at head of notes on this chapter.)

8 in victory. The R.V. reads “for ever,” which is the true sense of the Hebrew word here employed.

the rebuke of His people. That is, the reproach cast upon them. The predictions of this verse are applied in the New Testament to the glories of the redeemed in heaven: see 1 Cor. xv. 54; Rev. vii. 17; xxi. 4.

9. Lo, this is our God, etc. “A brief strain from the hymn of the redeemed."—Cheyne.

10 under him. Rather, “in his place” (R.V.); i.e., in his own land. There may have been some immediate reference in this prediction to events unrecorded. Moab, often actively mischievous against Judah, may be regarded as symbolising the enemies of God’s people in general.

for the dunghill. Lit., “water of the dunghill”; straw trodden down, and left to rot in the pool.

11 in the midst of them. Rather, “in the midst of it”; i.e., the pool, ver. 10. Moab may strive to extricate himself; but all the devices (not “spoils”) of his hands will be useless.