Isaiah 25 - Introduction

The prophet praiseth God for his judgments, for his saving benefits, and for his victorious salvation.

Before Christ 715.

THE deliverance of the church, with God's terrible judgments on his enemies, having been exhibited to the prophet in vision, he assumes the person, as it were, of this delivered church, and so subjoins to his prophesy a triumphal song, or two-fold doxology, of similar argument, contained in this and the next chapter. In this first part he celebrates the great benefit conferred upon the church at this time, and extols no less the grace and power than the fidelity of God in fulfilling his promises. There are two members of this doxology; the former comprehended in Isaiah 25:1 the latter Isaiah 25:9. In the former we have, first, the proposition, with its general argument; Isaiah 25:1 namely, the purpose of celebrating the faith and truth of God, publicly shewn in avenging his church in its greatest calamity; secondly, a special declaration of that proposition, celebrating the benefits conferred upon the church at this time, with their consequences, whereof there are four gradations; the first, in Isaiah 25:2.; the second, Isaiah 25:3; Isaiah 25:5.; the third, Isaiah 25:6.; the fourth, Isaiah 25:7. The other member is constructed in the same manner. It contains a proposition, by which the church excites to the divine praise; Isaiah 25:9 and the arguments or reasons of that proposition, in two gradations; the first in Isaiah 25:10.; the second in Isaiah 25:12.