Isaiah 25:5
like heat in a dry land. You subdue the uproar of foreigners. As the shade of a cloud cools the heat, so the song of the ruthless is silenced.
like heat in a dry land
This phrase evokes the intense and oppressive nature of heat in arid regions, which is a common experience in the Middle Eastern context where Isaiah was writing. The Hebrew word for "heat" here is "chom," which can also imply anger or wrath. The imagery suggests a situation that is overwhelming and potentially destructive, much like the relentless sun in a desert. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as the trials and tribulations that God's people face, which can feel as relentless as the desert sun.

You subdue the uproar of foreigners
The word "subdue" comes from the Hebrew "kana," meaning to humble or bring low. This indicates God's sovereign power to bring peace and order where there is chaos. The "uproar of foreigners" refers to the tumult and threats posed by nations that do not know God. Historically, Israel faced many such threats from surrounding nations. This phrase reassures believers of God's ability to protect and deliver them from external threats, emphasizing His role as a divine warrior who defends His people.

As the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day
The imagery of a cloud providing shade is a powerful metaphor for divine protection and relief. In the harsh climate of the ancient Near East, shade was a precious commodity, offering respite from the sun's scorching heat. The Hebrew word for "shade" is "tzel," which can also mean protection or defense. This suggests that just as a cloud offers physical relief, God's presence offers spiritual and emotional comfort and protection to His people.

so the song of the ruthless is silenced
The "song of the ruthless" symbolizes the pride and arrogance of those who oppose God and His people. The Hebrew word for "ruthless" is "ariyts," which can mean violent or tyrannical. The silencing of their song indicates the cessation of their power and influence. This is a prophetic assurance that God will ultimately triumph over evil and injustice. It serves as a reminder to believers that no matter how powerful or intimidating the forces of opposition may seem, they are no match for the sovereignty and justice of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah's ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah. He is known for his prophecies concerning both judgment and salvation.

2. Foreigners
In this context, "foreigners" likely refers to the enemies of Israel, those who are outside the covenant community and often seen as oppressors or threats.

3. The Ruthless
This term describes those who are oppressive and violent, often used to depict the enemies of God's people who act without mercy or justice.

4. The Shade of a Cloud
A metaphor for God's protection and relief, providing comfort and respite from the harshness of life, much like a cloud offers shade from the sun.

5. The Dry Land
Symbolic of desolation and hardship, often used in the Bible to represent spiritual barrenness or the challenges faced by God's people.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God has the power to subdue nations and silence the uproar of those who oppose Him. This reminds us of His ultimate control over world events and the futility of opposing His will.

Divine Protection and Comfort
Just as a cloud provides shade and relief from the heat, God offers protection and comfort to His people. We can find peace in His presence amidst life's challenges.

The Futility of Ruthlessness
The song of the ruthless is ultimately silenced by God. This teaches us that oppression and violence are temporary and will be judged by God.

Trust in God's Deliverance
In times of trouble, we can trust that God will deliver us from our enemies and provide the relief we need, just as He has done for His people throughout history.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of "heat in a dry land" and "the shade of a cloud" help us understand God's role in our lives during difficult times?

2. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty over nations and rulers in today's world, and how should this influence our prayers and actions?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's protection or comfort. How did this experience strengthen your faith?

4. How can we apply the lesson of the futility of ruthlessness in our personal lives and interactions with others?

5. What other biblical examples can you find where God subdued the uproar of foreigners or silenced the song of the ruthless? How do these examples encourage you in your current circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 91
This psalm speaks of God's protection and refuge, similar to the imagery of the shade of a cloud in Isaiah 25:5.

Isaiah 4:6
This verse also uses the imagery of a cloud providing shade, symbolizing God's protective presence over His people.

Exodus 14:24
The Lord's intervention against the Egyptians is an example of God subduing the uproar of foreigners, as mentioned in Isaiah 25:5.
Rejoicing in GodW. Clarkson Isaiah 25:1-5
Hymn of Praise to JehovahE. Johnson Isaiah 25:1-8
People
Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem, Moab
Topics
Bring, Cloud, Desert, Dreaded, Dry, Foreigners, Heat, Low, Noise, Ones, Reduced, Ruthless, Shade, Shadow, Silence, Song, Stilled, Strangers, Uproar
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 25:5

     4805   clouds
     5950   silence
     7960   singing
     8328   quietness

Isaiah 25:4-5

     4230   desert
     4855   weather, God's judgment
     5490   refuge
     5825   cruelty, God's attitude

Library
The Feast on the Sacrifice
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast.' ISAIAH xxv. 6. There is here a reference to Sinai, where a feast followed the vision of God. It was the sign of covenant, harmony, and relationship, and was furnished by a sacrifice. I. The General Ideas contained in this Image of a Feast. We meet it all through Scripture; it culminates in Christ's parables and in the 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb.' In the image are suggested:-- Free familiarity of access, fellowship, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Veil Over all Nations
'He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.'--ISAIAH xxv. 7. The previous chapter closes with a prediction of the reign of Jehovah in Mount Zion 'before His elders' in Glory. The allusion apparently is to the elders being summoned up to the Mount and seeing the Glory, 'as the body of heaven in its clearness.' The veil in this verse is probably a similar allusion to that which covered Moses' face. It will then be an
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'In this Mountain'
'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 veil that is spread over all nations. 8. He will swallow up death in victory.'--ISAIAH xxv. 6-8. A poet's imagination and a prophet's clear vision of the goal to which God will lead humanity are both at their highest in this
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Consolations against the Fear of Death.
If in the time of thy sickness thou findest thyself fearful to die, meditate-- 1. That it argueth a dastardly mind to fear that which is not; for in the church of Christ there is no death (Isa. xxv. 7, 8), and whosoever liveth and believeth in Christ, shall never die (John xi. 26). Let them fear death who live without Christ. Christians die not; but when they please God, they are like Enoch translated unto God (Gen. v. 24;) their pains are but Elijah's fiery chariot to carry them up to heaven (2
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Restoration of Israel is Only Made Possible by the Second Advent of Christ.
Under this head we shall seek to prove briefly three things--that Israel as a nation will be restored, that Israel's restoration occurs at the Return of Christ, that Israel's restoration will result in great blessing to the whole world. That Israel as a nation will be actually and literally restored is declared again and again in the Word of God. We quote now but two prophecies from among scores of similar ones:--"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
1. The design of God in afflicting his people. 1. To accustom us to despise the present life. Our infatuated love of it. Afflictions employed as the cure. 2. To lead us to aspire to heaven. 2. Excessive love of the present life prevents us from duly aspiring to the other. Hence the disadvantages of prosperity. Blindness of the human judgment. Our philosophizing on the vanity of life only of momentary influence. The necessity of the cross. 3. The present life an evidence of the divine favour to his
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Signs
There are indications that to some of those who took part in the crucifixion of Christ His death presented hardly anything to distinguish it from an ordinary execution; and there were others who were anxious to believe that it had no features which were extraordinary. But God did not leave His Son altogether without witness. The end of the Saviour's sufferings was accompanied by certain signs, which showed the interest excited by them in the world unseen. I. The first sign was the rending of the
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Return to Capernaum - Healing of the Centurion's Servant.
We are once again in Capernaum. It is remarkable how much, connected not only with the Ministry of Jesus, but with His innermost Life, gathers around that little fishing town. In all probability its prosperity was chiefly due to the neighbouring Tiberias, which Herod Antipas [2583] had built, about ten years previously. Noteworthy is it also, how many of the most attractive characters and incidents in the Gospel-history are connected with that Capernaum, which, as a city, rejected its own real glory,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Resurrection
'Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.' John 5:58, 29. Q-38: WHAT BENEFITS DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE FROM CHRIST AT THE RESURRECTION? A: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgement, and made perfectly blessed in the
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Death Swallowed up in victory
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory! D eath, simply considered, is no more than the cessation of life --that which was once living, lives no longer. But it has been the general, perhaps the universal custom of mankind, to personify it. Imagination gives death a formidable appearance, arms it with a dart, sting or scythe, and represents it as an active, inexorable and invincible reality. In this view death is a great devourer; with his iron tongue
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
The three divisions of this chapter,--I. The principal use of the cross is, that it in various ways accustoms us to despise the present, and excites us to aspire to the future life, sec. 1, 2. II. In withdrawing from the present life we must neither shun it nor feel hatred for it; but desiring the future life, gladly quit the present at the command of our sovereign Master, see. 3, 4. III. Our infirmity in dreading death described. The correction and safe remedy, sec. 6. 1. WHATEVER be the kind of
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
Let all the angels of God worship Him. M any of the Lord's true servants, have been in a situation so nearly similar to that of Elijah, that like him they have been tempted to think they were left to serve the Lord alone (I Kings 19:10) . But God had then a faithful people, and He has so in every age. The preaching of the Gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more exposed to the notice and observation of the world. But we hope
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Seven Sanctified Thoughts and Mournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready to Die.
Now, forasmuch as God of his infinite mercy doth so temper our pain and sickness, that we are not always oppressed with extremity, but gives us in the midst of our extremities some respite, to ease and refresh ourselves, thou must have an especial care, considering how short a time thou hast either for ever to lose or to obtain heaven, to make use of every breathing time which God affords thee; and during that little time of ease to gather strength against the fits of greater anguish. Therefore,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. F rom Mr. Handel's acknowledged abilities as a composer, and particularly from what I have heard of his great taste and success in adapting the style of his music to the subject, I judge, that this passage afforded him a fair occasion of displaying his genius and powers. Two ideas, vastly important in themselves, are here represented in the strongest light,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Healing the Centurion's Servant.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 1, 5-13; ^C Luke VII. 1-10. ^c 1 After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, ^a 1 And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ^c he entered into Capernaum. [Jesus proceeded from the mountain to Capernaum, which was now his home, or headquarters. The multitudes which are now mentioned for the third time were not wearied by his sermon, and so continued to follow him. Their presence showed the popularity of Jesus, and also
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm
(Revelation, Chapters vi.-viii.) "God Almighty! King of nations! earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne! Thine the greatness, power, and glory, Thine the kingdom, Lord, alone! Life and death are in Thy keeping, and Thy will ordaineth all: From the armies of Thy heavens to an unseen insect's fall. "Reigning, guiding, all-commanding, ruling myriad worlds of light; Now exalting, now abasing, none can stay Thy hand of might! Working all things by Thy power, by the counsel of Thy will. Thou art God!
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, that we May Get Our Case and Condition Cleared up to Us.
The believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case and condition, so as he cannot tell what to say of himself, or what judgment to pass on himself, and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition. Now, it is truth alone, and the Truth, that can satisfy them as to this. The question then is, how they shall make use of, and apply themselves to this truth, to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them. But first let us
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Questions.
LESSON I. 1. In what state was the Earth when first created? 2. To what trial was man subjected? 3. What punishment did the Fall bring on man? 4. How alone could his guilt be atoned for? A. By his punishment being borne by one who was innocent. 5. What was the first promise that there should be such an atonement?--Gen. iii. 15. 6. What were the sacrifices to foreshow? 7. Why was Abel's offering the more acceptable? 8. From which son of Adam was the Seed of the woman to spring? 9. How did Seth's
Charlotte Mary Yonge—The Chosen People

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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