Isaiah 25:1 says, 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. Even though Isaiah was telling the people what God had said about their corrupt relationship with Him, he also said that God was his God, and he would exalt Him, praising His name for the wonderful things He had done. Even if all the rest of the world were to turn against God, as followers of Christ, we still need to proclaim that He is our God and exalt His name because of all that He has done. As Matthew Henry says, if we expect others to praise God, then we must first praise Him ourselves. Also, Isaiah didn’t do this to claim that his actions made him more worthy of God’s love, but that he was simply acknowledging the majesty of God. As Christians, when we praise God, it will always be as unworthy but forgiven sinners.
Verse two adds, 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. Isaiah praised God even though the city of Jerusalem was going to be left in ruins. We cannot allow times when things go badly in life for us, as individuals or as a nation, keep us from praising God for His greatness.
Verse three continues, Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. Isaiah said that because of God showing His power by leaving mighty cities in ruins that His people who had been trampled down would be made strong and come to praise Him while His enemies would fear Him. As followers of Christ, we were once trampled down by sin, but after we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we are given the spiritual strength to overcome all our enemies, if we remain obedient to God. Even if the people of the world never acknowledge Him before then, one day they will be sent away to everlasting punishment and will learn to truly fear the power of God. Still, it will be their choice.
Verse four states, 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. Isaiah said that God had always been there to help the weak and suffering if they only acknowledged Him. When everything in life seems to be beating us down, as Christians, if we remain true to God, He has already given us the victory. No matter how weak we may be seen as in the eyes of the world, we can never be defeated spiritually as long as we remain faithful to God.
Verse five adds, 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. Isaiah said that God would bring down His enemies, and even if this never happens in this lifetime, it will happen when Jesus Christ returns.
