Isaiah 25:1-5 – God is worthy of our praise

Despite the gloomy scene described in chapter 24, Isaiah saw something grander and greater here in Chapter 25. He encountered God in all His perfection. Notice how personally he addressed God. The term LORD refers to the covenant name of God. To Him, this LORD was not just a theological concept but a personal name of God. Whenever the word LORD appears in all capital letters, the Bible is referring to Yahweh, the God whom His covenanted people had a relationship with. When Isaiah thought of Him, he simply could not refrain the flow of adoration, gratitude, and thanksgiving. He also could not see God without realizing His work and perfect faithfulness. So in verses 2-5, Isaiah provided two reasons why he praised God and thanked Him.

Firstly, in verses 2-3, Isaiah acknowledged that God in His faithfulness had to deal with sin. That’s why He turned a city into a heap and a fortified city into a ruin. A faithful God could not allow sin to remain rampant. So that in His judgment, a people who had been dealt with could emerge to bring glory to Him. What God had done would also put ruthless men in their rightful place.  God’s goal in dealing with men is never just punitive but restorative. We get the sense here that God had to deal with evil for if He did not, evil would not be arrested, and righteousness would not be encouraged.

 

Secondly,  in verses 4-5 he praised God for His protection of the helpless, the distressed, and the needy. He became a refuge and a shelter for those who could not protect themselves.  Like Isaiah, we must realize that the God we worship and serve is worthy of praise. Not only must we praise Him, but we must also thank Him for His constant protection. We must not only praise Him in great times but also trust Him in difficult times. Yes, we must praise God regardless!