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Isaiah 25:1 - Death swallowed up forever - Day 144

I have become accustomed to electronic versions of commentaries.   They are much easier to carry around and they don't require alot of shelf space.  Here is an example from 22 volumes of Calvin's commentary.

Calvin's commentary 

It is therefore as if he had said, "Thou wilt not only strike and afflict, O Lord, but wilt cause the chastisements to be not without effect; for by them thou wilt subdue the fierceness of men, so that those who were formerly estranged from thee shall bend their neck to thee." This passage should lead us to observe how much we need chastisements, which train us to obedience to God; for we are carried away by prosperity to such an extent, that we think that we have a right to do anything, and we even grow wanton and insolent when God treats us with gentleness. 

Isaiah is given the long view of history.  Plans formed of old.  All cultures have been under His control.  Progress in civilizations is driven by His correction.  One civilization conquering another produces gradual progress.  This is not a "survival of the fittest" impersonal process.  God is in control of the flow of all history, not just redemptive history.

Despite the violent attacks against the righteous, the Lord subdues the wicked.  The theme of this chapter is God swallowing up death forever.  His plan will ultimately be fulfilled despite the apparent challenges.  Will I live this way?  The language of Revelation and 2 Corinthians 5

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