Isaiah 25:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the text we have concluded, the prophet extensively discussed the malevolence of the adversary, as well as the judgment and retribution that await him, along with the defeat of the evil forces. He also delivered a powerful message regarding the reign of Christ, proclaiming, 'The Lord shall reign in Zion and Jerusalem: and he shall be glorious before the elders' (Isaiah 24:23). This message filled the prophets with great joy, and the Creator of such wondrous deeds is exalted with profound praise. Thus, they declare, O Lord my God, I will give you thanks, I will sing to your name, ancient and true guidance, and marvelous works you have performed.

O Lord my God, I will exalt You for the downfall of the Assyrian forces, which was determined from the beginning, and for the salvation You promised Jerusalem, which has now been fulfilled.

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and acknowledge Your presence, for You have performed wondrous deeds, and the ancient decrees are true, Amen. This location can be interpreted in two ways. The Jewish perspective holds that this is the expression of the saints and the community of believers, when God will act against the entire world as stated above, fulfilling the prophecies of all the prophets.

The prophet petitions for the realization of the divine promise, heralding the advent of Christ, which serves as the cornerstone of all of God’s compassion and grace towards humanity. These mercies are longstanding, as the mystery surrounding them has been established by God from eternity, which is why Paul declares, ‘a mystery hidden from ages and ages, now revealed to His saints’ (Colossians 1:26), and Isaiah refers to it as the counsel of old, genuine and true.

The extraordinary aspect of Isaiah lies in the assurance given to the nations, rather than solely to Israel, regarding the blessing of fragrant offerings and tranquility, through which they are justly recognized as Christians. He also anticipates for the nations the cup of joy, referencing the sacrament of Christ’s new covenant, which is universally observed by all peoples from a designated time onward.

In this passage, the prophet extols the Lord for delivering those who revere Him from the bondage of the nations and proclaims the turning of the nations toward the genuine worship of God. The prophetic vision extends to a distant future when God's threats for the annihilation of the wicked and His promises for the forgiveness of the righteous will come to fruition. At that time, the dominion and victory of some will come to an end, along with the suffering of others under their tyranny. The prophet refers to these threats and promises as counsels, indicating divine determinations that are ancient and true, suggesting that the destinies of both the righteous and the wicked have been decreed from eternity through God's will, which remains unchangeable in its veracity.