August 23rd 2026 Isaiah 25
After the threatening’s of wrath in chapter 24 we have here,
I. Thankful praises for what God had done, which Isaiah, in the name of the church, offers up to God, and teaches us to offer similar, ver. 1-5.
II. Precious promises of what God would yet further do for his church, especially in the grace of the gospel, ver. 6-8.
III. The church's triumph in God over her enemies thereupon, ver. 9-12.
This chapter looks as pleasantly upon the church as previously itlooked dreadfully upon the world.
the prophet here speaks of the glorious majesty of His kingdom (Ps. 45 v 12), and gives him the glory of it; and, however this prophecy might have an accomplishment in the destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity there, it seems to look further, to the praises that should be offered up to God by the gospel church for Christ's victories over our spiritual enemies and the comforts He has provided for all believers.
I. The prophet determines to praise God himself; for those that would stir up others should in the first place stir up themselves to praise God (v. 1):
II. He pleases himself with the thought that others also shall be brought to praise God, v. 3.
1. Of those people that have been strong and terrible against God shall either be converted, and glorify God by joining with his people in His service, or at least convinced, so as to accept themselves conquered
2. Of those that shall be now made strong and terrible for God and by Him, though before they were weak and trampled upon.
God shall so visibly appear for and with those that fear him and glorify Him that all shall acknowledge them a strong people and shall stand in awe of them
V 1. He has done wonders, according to the counsel of his own will, v. 1.
We exalt God by admiring what He has done as truly wonderful, wonderful proofs of His power beyond what any creature could perform, and wonderful proofs of His goodness beyond what such sinful people as we are could expect.
V 2. He has in particular humbled the pride, and broken the power, of the mighty ones of the earth This has been the case of many cities in different parts of the world, and in our own nation particularly; cities that flourished once have gone to decay and are lost, and it is scarcely known (except by urns or coins digged up out of the earth) where they stood.
V 4 He is a strength to the needy in his distress, when he needs strength, and when his distress drives him to God. And, as Godstrengthens them against their inward decays, so He shelters them from outward assaults. He is a refuge from the storm of rain or hail, and a shadow from the scorching heat of the sun in summer. God is a sufficient protection to his people in all weathers, hot and cold, wet and dry.
The Blessings of the Gospel. V6 – 8
Death is swallowed up in victory, 1 Cor. xv. 54. This is a key to the rest of the promises here connected together. And so, we have here a prophecy of the salvation and the grace brought unto us by Jesus Christ, into which the prophets enquired and searched diligently, 1 Pet. 1 v 10.
The grace of the gospel should be a royal feast for all people; becausethis is intended to gratify the guests, whereas all there was before wasshow, all here now is for substance.
The preparations made in the gospel for the kind reception of penitents and seekers with God are often in the New Testament set forth by the similitude of a feast, as Matt. 22 v 1, , which seems to be borrowed from this prophecy.
1. God himself is the Master of the feast, and we may be sure he prepares like himself, as becomes him to give, rather than as becomes us to receive. The Lord of hosts makes this feast. 2.The guests invited are all people, Gentiles as well as Jews.
Go preach the gospel to every creature.
There is enough for all, and whoever will may come, and partake freely, even those that are gathered out of the highways and the hedges.
3. The place is Mount Zion. Then the preaching of the gospel takes rise: the preachers must begin at Jerusalem.
The gospel church is the Jerusalem that is above; there this feast is made, and to it all the invited guests must go.
4. The provision is very rich, and everything is of the best.
It is a feast, which presumes abundance and variety; it is a continual feast to believers, it is their own fault if it be not.
It is a feast of fat things and full of marrow; so relishing, so nourishing, are the comforts of the gospel to all those that feast upon them and digest them.
It is a feast of wines on the lees, the strongest-bodied wines, that have been kept long upon the lees, and then are well refined from them, so that they are clear and fine.
There is a veil spread over all nations, for they all sit in darkness; and no marvel, when the Jews themselves, among whom God was known, had a veil upon their hearts, 2 Cor. 3 v 15.
But this veil the Lord will destroy, by the light of his gospel shining in the world, and the power of his Spirit opening men's eyes to receive it.
He will raise those to spiritual life that have long been dead in trespasses and sins.
News from the Church
New dates
2nd September..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
15th September …. Knit and Natter group, all welcome, bring your own project or come to learn a
new one. Starts at 1 pm, come along any time after that
ANSWERS TO 16th August QUESTIONS
1) Jonathans crippled son 2) The man who touched the Ark to stop it falling 3) The husband of Bathsheba 4) Committing adultery with Bathsheba 5) A Prophet who confronted David with his sin
6) A rich man stole a sheep from a poor man 7) I have sinned 8) I shall go to him but he shall never return to me 9) The servants of Absalom 10) He cursed David 11) He was found hanging from an oak tree, but killed by Joab 12) O my son Absalom, would God that Ihad died for thee 13) The well of Bethlehem his home town 14) He molested his half sister 15) In a battle at Davids command
16) All the personal lands of his grandfather King Saul
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is about 1 Kings
1 Who Succeeded David as king?
2 What other talents did David have beside being King?
3 Who anointed Solomon as king?
4 Who said “ Be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man”?
5 How long did David rein as king?
6 Who was Adonijah?
7 What is Solomon best remembered for?
8 Which king helped Solomon in building the Temple?
9 Why was David not allowed to build the Temple?
10 Where did they get the ceder trees from to build the Temple?
11 How many people were employed to build the Temple?
12 Did the stones of the Temple fit perfectly?
13 What covered the Temple?
14 How long did it take to build the Temple?
15 What were the names of the 2 pillars in the front of the Temple?
16 What Queen visited Solomon ?
God Bless