Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,
For You have been a refuge for the poor
The word "refuge" in Hebrew is "מָעוֹז" (ma'oz), which signifies a place of safety or protection. In the ancient Near Eastern context, cities often had fortified areas where people could seek shelter during attacks. Spiritually, this phrase emphasizes God's role as a protector and provider for those who are economically and socially disadvantaged. The "poor" here can be understood not only in terms of material poverty but also spiritual humility, reflecting the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

a stronghold for the needy in distress
The term "stronghold" is "מִשְׂגָּב" (misgab) in Hebrew, indicating a high, secure place. Historically, strongholds were crucial for defense against enemies. This phrase reassures believers that God is a reliable fortress for those who are "needy," a term that encompasses all forms of lack or vulnerability. "In distress" suggests times of trouble or adversity, reminding us of God's faithfulness during trials, akin to Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

a refuge from the storm
The imagery of a "storm" is often used in Scripture to symbolize chaos, danger, or divine judgment. The Hebrew word "סַעַר" (sa'ar) conveys a sense of violent weather. In ancient times, storms could devastate crops and homes, representing existential threats. This phrase assures believers that God provides shelter and peace amidst life's tumultuous challenges, echoing Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:39.

a shade from the heat
"Shade" in Hebrew is "צֵל" (tsel), which offers relief and protection from the oppressive "heat" or "חֹם" (chom). In the arid climate of the Middle East, shade is a precious commodity, symbolizing comfort and respite. This metaphor highlights God's provision of rest and refreshment, reminiscent of Psalm 121:5, "The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand."

For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall
The "breath" or "רוּחַ" (ruach) of the "ruthless" signifies their threatening presence or oppressive actions. The "ruthless" are those who act with cruelty or injustice, often oppressing the vulnerable. The comparison to "rain against a wall" suggests that while their actions may seem powerful, they are ultimately futile against God's protection. Walls in ancient cities were designed to withstand natural elements, symbolizing God's enduring strength against human malice. This imagery reassures believers of God's sovereignty and justice, as seen in Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

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 the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord.

2. The Poor and Needy
This refers to those who are economically disadvantaged or oppressed, often representing the faithful remnant of Israel who rely on God's protection and provision.

3. The Ruthless
These are the oppressors or enemies of God's people, often characterized by their harsh and unjust treatment of others.

4. Refuge and Stronghold
Metaphorical places of safety and protection provided by God for those who trust in Him.

5. Storm and Heat
Symbolic of trials, tribulations, and oppressive circumstances faced by the faithful.
Teaching Points
God as Our Refuge
God provides safety and protection for those who are vulnerable and oppressed. In times of distress, believers can find solace and security in His presence.

Dependence on God
The imagery of God as a shelter and shade emphasizes the importance of relying on Him rather than human strength or resources.

Facing Oppression with Faith
The breath of the ruthless may seem overwhelming, but God's protection is like a wall that withstands the storm. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's defense against injustice.

Spiritual Poverty and Humility
Recognizing our spiritual neediness draws us closer to God, who promises to be our refuge and strength.

Endurance Through Trials
Just as a wall stands firm against rain, believers are called to stand firm in faith, knowing that God is their protector amidst life's challenges.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as a refuge and stronghold impact your response to personal trials and challenges?

2. In what ways can you identify with the "poor" and "needy" described in Isaiah 25:4, and how does this shape your relationship with God?

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

4. How can the imagery of God as a shelter from the storm and shade from the heat encourage you in your current circumstances?

5. What practical steps can you take to rely more on God's strength and less on your own abilities when facing the "ruthless" challenges in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 46:1
This verse also speaks of God as a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, reinforcing the theme of divine protection.

Matthew 5:3
Jesus' teaching on the Beatitudes highlights the blessedness of the poor in spirit, connecting to the idea of God being a refuge for the humble and needy.

2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul's declaration that God's grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness echoes the theme of God being a stronghold for the needy.
A Refuge from the StormS. Martin.Isaiah 25:4
God Our ShadowR. Tuck Isaiah 25:4
Israel's Poverty of HeartProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 25:4
Poor and NeedyProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 25:4
Poverty in the EastProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 25:4
Rejoicing in GodW. Clarkson Isaiah 25:1-5
Hymn of Praise to JehovahE. Johnson Isaiah 25:1-8
People
Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem, Moab
Topics
Blast, Breath, Cruel, Crushed, Defense, Distress, Dreaded, Driving, Fortress, Hast, Heat, Helpless, Needy, Ones, Poor, Rain, Refuge, Ruthless, Safe, Shade, Shadow, Shelter, Spirit, Storm, Strength, Strong, Stronghold, Terrible, Trouble, Wall, Winter, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 25:4

     1330   God, the provider
     4851   storm
     4960   noon
     5292   defence, divine
     5310   exploitation
     5316   fortress
     5449   poverty, remedies
     5491   refugees
     5604   walls
     5698   guardian
     5888   inferiority
     7438   sanctuary

Isaiah 25:4-5

     4230   desert
     4829   heat
     4846   shadow
     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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