Isaiah 25:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth. 2For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It will never be built. 3Therefore a strong people will glorify you. A city of awesome nations will fear you. 4For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall. 5As the heat in a dry place you will bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the dreaded ones will be brought low.

Amid this song of praise, Isaiah names what God has been to the poor and needy in their distress: a stronghold, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. You have been a stronghold to the poor, Isaiah sings, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. God is pictured here as shelter for those in distress: a stronghold where the poor and needy are safe, a refuge where they are kept from the storm, a shade where they are protected from the burning heat. To the poor and needy, to those in distress with no strength of their own, God has been exactly this kind of shelter. This shows God as a shelter from the storm and shade from the heat for the needy in distress. God is a refuge from the storm and shade from the heat. To the poor and needy in distress, God is a stronghold and shelter. Take shelter in God from the storms and heat of distress. God shelters those who have no strength of their own.

Notice the pictures Isaiah uses for what God is to the needy. God is a stronghold: a place of safety and strength where the poor and needy find refuge. He is a refuge from the storm: a shelter where those battered by the storms of trouble are kept safe. He is a shade from the heat: a covering where those scorched by the burning heat of distress find relief. And Isaiah names to whom God is this shelter: to the poor, to the needy in his distress, to those with no strength of their own to withstand the storm and the heat. These are pictures of comfort for us in our distress. When we are battered by the storms of trouble, scorched by the heat of affliction, weak and needy with no strength of our own to withstand them, God is a shelter we can take refuge in: a stronghold where we are safe, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. We do not have to endure the storms and heat of distress exposed and unsheltered; we can take shelter in God, who has been exactly this kind of refuge to the poor and needy in their distress. We do well to take shelter in God when the storms and heat of distress come, finding in him a stronghold, a refuge, and a shade. Take shelter in God, a refuge from the storm and shade from the heat. God is a stronghold to the needy in their distress. When trouble storms or affliction scorches, take refuge in God. Do not endure distress exposed; shelter in the God who is your refuge.

That is worth resting in, for God is a shelter for the poor and needy in their distress, a stronghold, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, and we can take refuge in him, as Isaiah sang. We can endure the storms and heat of distress exposed and unsheltered, weak and needy; but God has been a stronghold to the poor, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. Take shelter in him. When trouble storms or affliction scorches you, do not endure it exposed; take refuge in God, a stronghold to the needy in distress. Rest in the truth that God is a shelter for the poor and needy in their distress, a stronghold, a refuge from the storm, and a shade from the heat, so that you can take refuge in him, as amid this song of praise Isaiah named what God had been to the poor and needy, singing that God was a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, and a shade from the heat; for God is pictured here as shelter for those in distress, a stronghold where the poor and needy are safe, a refuge where they are kept from the storm, and a shade where they are protected from the burning heat, and to those in distress with no strength of their own God has been exactly this kind of shelter, which are pictures of comfort for us in our distress, since when we are battered by the storms of trouble, scorched by the heat of affliction, weak and needy with no strength of our own to withstand them, God is a shelter we can take refuge in, a stronghold where we are safe, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, so that we do not have to endure the storms and heat of distress exposed and unsheltered but can take shelter in God who has been this refuge to the poor and needy in their distress, and we do well to take shelter in him when the storms and heat of distress come.

Lord, amid this song of praise, Isaiah names what you have been to the poor and needy in their distress: a stronghold, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. You have been a stronghold to the poor, Isaiah sings, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. You are pictured here as shelter for those in distress: a stronghold where the poor and needy are safe, a refuge where they are kept from the storm, a shade where they are protected from the burning heat. To the poor and needy, to those in distress with no strength of their own, you have been exactly this kind of shelter. Show me the pictures Isaiah uses for what you are to the needy. You are a stronghold: a place of safety and strength where the poor and needy find refuge. You are a refuge from the storm: a shelter where those battered by the storms of trouble are kept safe. You are a shade from the heat: a covering where those scorched by the burning heat of distress find relief. And Isaiah names to whom you are this shelter: to the poor, to the needy in his distress, to those with no strength of their own. These are pictures of comfort for me in my distress. When I am battered by the storms of trouble, scorched by the heat of affliction, weak and needy with no strength of my own, you are a shelter I can take refuge in: a stronghold where I am safe, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. I do not have to endure the storms and heat of distress exposed and unsheltered. Take that to my heart, for you are a shelter to the needy in their distress. When trouble storms or affliction scorches me, keep me from enduring it exposed; help me take refuge in you, Lord, a stronghold, a refuge from the storm, and a shade from the heat to the needy in distress, sheltering in you who have no equal.