Catholic Commentary on Isaiah 25

“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples; he will swallow up death forever.” (Isaiah 25:7-8)

A Hymn of Praise; Death Swallowed Up

Isaiah sings praise: LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things. You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress. Then the great banquet: on this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

The Catechism identifies he will swallow up death forever as one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies of the resurrection, fulfilled in Christ's victory over death (CCC 1040). Paul quotes this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:54.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, he will swallow up death forever and wipe away the tears from all faces. This is the destination of all Isaiah's visions: the banquet on the mountain, the shroud destroyed, death swallowed, tears wiped. The God who removes the shroud has already begun this work in the resurrection of his Son. Death has been swallowed. The tears will be wiped. Hold on.

Prayer

Lord God, you will swallow up death forever and wipe away the tears from all faces. We trust this. Let it sustain us until it arrives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

25
Praise to the Victorious God
(Jeremiah 51:15-19)
O LORD, You are my God!
 
I will exalt You;
I will praise Your name.
For You have worked wonders-
plans formed long ago-
in perfect faithfulness.
Indeed, You have made the city a heap of rubble,
the fortified town a ruin.
The fortress of strangers is a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore, a strong people will honor You.
The cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
 
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,
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.
 
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts
will prepare a banquet for all the peoples,
a feast of aged wine, of choice meat,
of finely aged wine.
On this mountain He will swallow up
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
He will swallow up death forever.* 25:8 Or He will swallow up death in victory; cited in 1 Corinthians 15:54
The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face 25:8 Cited in Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4
and remove the disgrace of His people
from the whole earth.
For the LORD has spoken.
And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God;
we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited.
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
 
10 For the hand of the LORD
will rest on this mountain.
But Moab will be trampled in his place
as straw is trodden into the dung pile.
11 He will spread out his hands within it,
as a swimmer spreads his arms to swim.
His pride will be brought low,
despite 25:11 Or along with the skill of his hands.
12 The high-walled fortress will be brought down,
cast to the ground, into the dust.

*25:8 25:8 Or He will swallow up death in victory; cited in 1 Corinthians 15:54

25:8 25:8 Cited in Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4

25:11 25:11 Or along with