Isaiah 25:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

NIV: You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall

NASB: For You have been a stronghold for the helpless, A stronghold for the poor in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.

CSB: For you have been a stronghold for the poor person, a stronghold for the needy in his distress, a refuge from storms and a shade from heat. When the breath of the violent is like a storm against a wall,

NLT: But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall,

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

This chapter started with a celebration of the Lord for His righteous acts of defeating those who oppose Him (Isaiah 25:1–3). Prideful people can become ruthless: willing to do whatever terrible things are required to defeat their enemies and take all the power for themselves. The clearest example of such people during Isaiah's time were the utterly merciless and cruel Assyrians.

When the Lord reveals His limitless strength and power against such people, they are either destroyed or humbled and learn to fear Him. The strong people, those who submit willingly to the Lord, continue to give God glory. The point is not just that God will put arrogant, violent nations in their place. It's that the Lord also acts to protect the poor and needy because of His great concern for them (Psalm 9:9; 62:6). The vulnerable can run to the Lord and find refuge from those who will take advantage of them out in the world.

Weather is used as a metaphor in this section. When the storm hits, the Lord is a shelter. When the heat blasts, as it often does in the desert regions around Israel, the Lord is a shade. The Lord is worthy of praise because He exists to protect His people from harm. Within his metaphor, Isaiah describes the ruthless warriors as the storm and the heat. The Lord stands between them and those who depend on Him.

Isaiah 25:1–5 follows a description judgment over the whole world for humanity's sinfulness (Isaiah 24:21–23). Here, Isaiah declares his praise for the Lord. He speaks of God's eternal plan. He celebrates God for defeating His earthly enemies. To do this, Isaiah uses variations of the term "foreigners," contrasting God's people of Israel with the nations who rejected the Lord.

Isaiah's description of the Lord's judgment on the earth is followed by celebration. This comes at the beginning of the Lord's reign over all the earth. The prophet declares his own praise for God's wonderful works and righteous plans. The Lord protects the needy from the ruthless. At the inaugural banquet, the Lord swallows up death forever and wipes away every tear. All the people declare that they were right to wait on their Lord to save them. The Lord judges unbelieving Moab by trampling them into their place.

In the previous chapter, the Lord of hosts is said to reign on Mount Zion following His judgment of the entire earth. Here, Isaiah declares His praise for the Lord who protects the poor and needy. At an inaugural banquet for His kingdom, the Lord swallows up death forever. He also takes away the shame of His people's sin while wiping away their tears. The people rejoice and are glad for waiting on the Lord's salvation. The Lord destroys Moab—symbolic of nations who reject God—in judgment for not trusting in Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).