Isaiah 25 - The Lord Will Swallow Up Death in Victory

We come to one of the most beautiful chapters in all of the Old Testament. This chapter lifts our eyes beyond judgment, beyond suffering, beyond the brokenness of this world, and points us toward the glorious victory of our God.

Isaiah 25 is not a chapter of warning; it is a chapter of worship.

It is not a chapter of judgment alone; it is a chapter of celebration.

It comes right in the middle of Isaiah chapters 24 through 27, often called “the Isaiah Apocalypse,” where God reveals His future judgment on the whole earth and His ultimate reign.

In chapter 24, we saw the devastation of sin upon the earth.

But here in chapter 25, we see what God will do after judgment is complete. He will restore. He will reign. He will redeem. And most importantly—He will remove death forever.

25:1–12 (KJV)

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 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.

We have met this image before (Isa. 24:10,12) and noted that "the city" is a generic term for all cities. Isaiah lived in an agricultural world of towns and villages, and the large cities (or city-states) were places of power and wealth. In times of war, the people fled to the walled cities for protection. But the great cities of the world will offer no protection when God pours His wrath on the nations. Rev 16:18-19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nation’s fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

So we see that the cities mentioned in verse 3 and 4 are first a city of nations, which we see in Revelation as Babylon. Speaking of it being a city of other nations that are answering to Babylon.

 The rebellious cities will be forced to acknowledge the greatness of God and give Him their homage.

I. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE PROUD (vv. 1–5)

Let’s begin in verse 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.”

Notice how this chapter begins, not with fear, but with praise. Isaiah says, “O LORD, thou art my God.” This is personal. This is not theology at a distance; this is a relationship.

He is not just “a God. “He is not just “the God. “He is “my God.”

This is the foundation of all true worship. You cannot truly praise God until you know Him personally.

And Isaiah says, “I will exalt thee… I will praise thy name.” Why? “For thou hast done wonderful things.” That word “wonderful” speaks of things that are beyond human explanation, things only God can do.

Then he says something powerful: “Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” In other words, everything God planned long ago, He is bringing to pass perfectly. Nothing has caught God off guard. Nothing in your life has surprised Him. Nothing in world history has disrupted His plan.

Numbers 23:19 tells us: “God is not a man, that he should lie…”

If God said it, He will do it. God Brings Down the Proud (vv. 2–3)

Look at verse 2: “For thou hast made of a city an heap…”

Isaiah speaks of a great city reduced to rubble. This likely refers to powerful, rebellious systems like Babylon, but it also represents every human system that exalts itself against God.

Throughout history, man has built cities, empires, and nations in pride.

But God brings them down. Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

You can trace every fall in Scripture, and in history, back to pride. Pharaoh—pride. Nebuchadnezzar—pride. The Tower of Babel—pride. And even today, our culture exalts itself against God.

But hear this clearly: No system built on rebellion will stand forever.

Verse 3 says: “Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee…” Even the strong will eventually acknowledge God. One day every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

God Defends the Needy, Verse 4: “For thou hast been a strength to the poor…” What a contrast. While God is bringing down the proud, He is lifting up the humble. He is a: Strength to the poor. Strength to the needy. Refuge in trouble. Shadow from the heat. Shelter from the storm.

Psalm 46:1 says: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Where do you run when trouble comes? The world runs to money. The world runs to power. The world runs to distractions. But the child of God runs to the Lord. And Isaiah says, He will never fail you.

Why does God oppose pride so strongly?

How have you experienced God as a refuge?

What “cities” (systems) today resemble rebellion against God?

II. GOD’S FEAST FOR THE REDEEMED (vv. 6–8)

Now we move into one of the most glorious sections of this chapter.

Verse 6 says: “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things…” This is not just a meal—it is a celebration.

In ancient times, a feast represented joy, victory, and fellowship. This is a picture of what we often call the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:9 says: “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Heaven is not a cold, empty place.

It is a place of joy. It is a place of fellowship. It is a place of abundance. God is preparing a feast for His people.

The Removal of the Veil: Verse 7 says: “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people…”

This “covering” or “veil” represents spiritual blindness.

2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us: “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…”

Right now, the world is blinded. They cannot see truth clearly. They reject God, not always because they lack evidence, but because they are spiritually blind. But one day, God will remove the veil. Truth will be fully revealed. There will be no deception. No confusion. No lies. Only truth.

The Defeat of Death (v. 8) “He will swallow up death in victory…”

Think about that phrase. Swallow up. Not just defeat. Not just resist. But completely consume. Death—the greatest enemy of mankind—will be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 15:26 says: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

And Paul quotes this very verse in 1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory."  Why? Because of Jesus Christ.

Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He conquered death.

And one day, death will be no more. Revelation 21:4 says: “And there shall be no more death.” No more funerals. No more hospitals. No more grief. No more goodbyes. Then the verse says:“…and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces…”Not only will God remove sorrow—He will personally comfort His people. What a Savior.

What does this “feast” tell us about God’s heart?

How does the promise of no more death change how we live now?

What “veil” exists in the world today?

III. GOD’S SALVATION REJOICED IN (vv. 9–12)

Now look at verse 9: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him.” Notice the phrase: “we have waited for him.”

The Christian life involves waiting for answers, waiting for justice, and waiting for Christ’s return. But you see: Waiting is not wasting.

Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage…”

And one day, we will say: “This is our God! “All the waiting will be worth it. The Joy of Salvation: “we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. “True salvation produces joy. If your salvation has not changed your heart, something is wrong.

Romans 5:11 says: “…we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

The Humbling of the Wicked (vv. 10–12)

Finally, we see judgment again. Moab is used as a picture of pride and rebellion. Verse 11 describes a man trying to swim, but unable to escape.

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.

It is a picture of helplessness under God’s judgment.

James 4:6 says: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

What does it mean to “wait for the Lord” today?

How should salvation affect our daily joy?

Why is pride so dangerous spiritually?

Four simple applications tonight:

1. Trust God’s Timing. Even when you don’t understand—God is working.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2. Reject Pride. Pride always leads to destruction.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 

3. Live with Eternal Hope. Death is not the end for the believer.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

4. Rejoice in Salvation Now. Don’t wait for heaven to start praising God.

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Isaiah 25 finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ:

He conquers death. Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

He prepares the feast. Luke 14:16-24 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,  17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'  18 But they all, with one accord, began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'  19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'  20 Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'  21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master.

Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.'  22 And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'  23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'"

There will be no excuse accepted before God when He judges those who have rejected His Son Jesus.

He removes blindness. John 9:25. He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

Only God’s Holy Spirit can open anyone's eyes to the truth.

Isaiah 25 ultimately points us to Jesus Christ. He is the One who: Conquered death, Prepares the feast, Removes spiritual blindness.