Isaiah 25:3 “Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. 4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.”
Isaiah again comforts us, telling us why “the strong people glorify” the LORD and “the city of the terrible nations shall fear” Him. He goes directly to the heart of the wicked; He tells us that “the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low”. In this context, the word “branch” is a Biblical colloquialism for the powerful rulers, those in high positions. In this case, it refers to the kings and governors and generals in “the city of the terrible nations”. Isaiah both encourages and comforts us, telling us that these hatefully wicked rulers “shall be brought low”; that is, removed from their high positions of power and authority; either by death or banishment or imprisonment. It is certain that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). But, David tells us that “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” (Psalms 147:6). These wicked rulers do enjoy dominion over the people for periods of time, but it is certain that “the LORD of host” will appear on the scenes of life and bring them “low” in a time and manner pleasing to Him. In the meantime, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalms 46:7); He is ever present to open His Almighty Arms to us, giving us a blessed “refuge” from “the blast of the terrible ones” that “is as a storm against the wall”!