I will exalt You;
Exalting God involves lifting Him up in praise and acknowledging His supreme authority and majesty. This act of worship is a response to God's character and deeds, aligning with the call to glorify God found in Psalm 34:3. Exaltation is both a personal and corporate act, reflecting the worship practices of ancient Israel, where God was praised in both individual and communal settings.

I will praise Your name.
Praising God's name involves recognizing His attributes and deeds. In biblical times, a name represented one's character and reputation. Thus, praising God's name is an acknowledgment of His holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness. This phrase connects to the frequent biblical exhortation to praise God, as seen in Psalm 113:1-3, and underscores the importance of worship in the life of believers.

For You have worked wonders—
This refers to the miraculous acts of God throughout history, such as the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 15:11). These wonders are evidence of God's power and involvement in the world. The phrase highlights God's ability to intervene in human affairs, fulfilling His promises and demonstrating His sovereignty over creation.

plans formed long ago—
God's plans are eternal and unchanging, reflecting His omniscience and sovereignty. This phrase suggests that God's purposes are established from eternity, as seen in Isaiah 46:10, where God declares the end from the beginning. It reassures believers of God's control over history and His ability to bring His plans to fruition.

in perfect faithfulness.
God's faithfulness is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing His reliability and trustworthiness. This phrase assures believers that God's promises are sure and His character is unchanging, as seen in Lamentations 3:22-23. It provides comfort and hope, knowing that God's actions are consistent with His nature and His covenantal promises.

Isaiah begins with God’s covenant name, signaling intimacy and reverence. Similar openings appear in Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 8:1, where believers respond to God’s deliverance by declaring His personal, revealed name. Here, Isaiah models how worship starts: by consciously addressing the One who truly is.

The confession moves from “the God” to “my God,” expressing personal allegiance and ownership.

• Exodus 15:2 – “The LORD is my strength and my song… this is my God, and I will praise Him.”

• Psalm 63:1 – “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You.”

This phrase shows covenant relationship—God has bound Himself to His people, and they respond with loyalty.

Exalting means lifting God high in heart and words. Isaiah pledges to give God visible honor.

• Psalm 34:3 – “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.”

• Philippians 2:9–11 echoes the certainty that every tongue will one day exalt Jesus.

Exalting God is not passive; it is an act of the will, a deliberate choice in public and private life.

Praise zeroes in on God’s revealed character and deeds. In Scripture, “name” encompasses identity and reputation.

• Psalm 9:10 – “Those who know Your name trust in You.”

• Revelation 15:3–4 – the redeemed sing “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty… for Your righteous acts have been revealed!”

Isaiah links praise to knowing who God is, not merely what He gives.

The prophet grounds worship in God’s historic acts. “Wonders” recalls miraculous interventions like the Exodus (Exodus 14:31) and foreshadows ultimate victory over death (Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54). Biblical faith celebrates concrete deeds, not abstract ideas.

God’s wonders are no last-minute fixes; they arise from eternal counsel.

• Isaiah 14:24 – “The LORD of Hosts has sworn: ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be.’”

• Ephesians 1:4–5 – He chose us in Christ “before the foundation of the world.”

Knowing God’s ancient purpose breeds confidence when present circumstances look chaotic.

Every plan God conceived is carried out without flaw.

• Lamentations 3:22–23 – “Great is Your faithfulness.”

• Hebrews 10:23 – “He who promised is faithful.”

Believers can rest because God’s record is spotless; He never abandons His promises (Numbers 23:19).

Isaiah 25:1 invites us to personal, wholehearted worship rooted in who God is and what He has done. We address Him by name, claim Him as our own, deliberately exalt and praise Him, and ground our confidence in His historic wonders, eternally crafted plans, and flawless faithfulness. Such a response transforms praise from a feeling into a conscious, covenant-shaped commitment.

(1) O Lord, thou art my God.--The burst of praise follows, like St. Paul's in Romans 11:33-36, upon the contemplation of the glory of the heavenly city.

Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.--It is better to omit the words in italics, and to treat the words as standing in the objective case, in apposition with "wonderful things." The "counsels of old" are the eternal purposes of God made known to His prophets. The absence of a conjunction in the Hebrew, emphasises the enumeration.

(1) vers. 1-5, a thanksgiving for deliverance;

(2) vers. 6-8, a commemoration of blessings granted; and

(3) vers. 9-12, exultation in the security obtained. Verse 1. - Thou art my God; I will exalt thee (comp. Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 118:28). To Isaiah the "Song of Moses" seems to have been a pattern thanksgiving, from which he delighted to draw his phrases when he was bent on formally singing praise to God. Compare the following: Exodus 15:2 with Isaiah 12:2, "He is become my salvation;" the same with Isaiah 25:1, "He is my God; I will exalt him;" Exodus 15:6 with Isaiah 13:16, "Hath dashed in pieces;" Exodus 15:7 with Isaiah 47:14, "Consumed them as stubble;" Exodus 15:11 with Isaiah 46:5, "Who is like," etc.? the same with Isaiah 25:1, "Doing wonders;" Exodus 15:16 with Isaiah 8:13, "Fear and dread;" Exodus 15:18 with Isaiah 24:23, "The Lord shall reign." Wonderful things; thy counsels of old are, etc.; rather, thou hast wrought wonders, counsels of old, faithfulness and truth. The wonders for which God is praised were decreed in his counsels from all eternity; their accomplishment shows forth God's "faithfulness" and "truth."

Parallel Commentaries ...