Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 25:4

"For thou hast 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 terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." — Isaiah 25:4 (ASV)

For thou hast been a strength to the poor - You have sustained and upheld them in their trials and have delivered them. God is often spoken of as His people's strength. (Isaiah 26:4): In the Lord Yahweh is everlasting strength. (Psalms 27:1): The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 28:8; Psalms 29:11; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 46:1; Isaiah 45:24).

By the 'poor' and the 'needy' here are undoubtedly meant the captive Jews who had been stripped of their wealth, carried from their homes, and confined in Babylon.

A refuge - A place of safety, a retreat, a protection.

God is often spoken of as such a refuge: (Deuteronomy 33:27): The eternal God is thy refuge. (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 9:9; Psalms 14:6; Psalms 46:1, 7, 11; Psalms 57:1; Psalms 59:16).

From the storm - This word (זרם zerem) usually denotes a tempest of wind and rain. Here it is used for calamity and affliction. The figure is common in all languages.

A shadow from the heat - (See Isaiah 4:6, note; Isaiah 16:3, note).

When the blast of the terrible ones - Of the fierce, mighty, invading enemies. When they sweep down all before them as a furious tempest does.

Is as a storm against the wall - For 'wall' here (קיר qiyr), Lowth proposes to read קוּר qûr—from קרר qârar—to be cold or cool, and supposes that this means a winter's storm.

In this interpretation, Vitringa and Cappellus also coincide. But there is no need to suppose an error in the text.

The idea is probably that of a fierce, driving storm that would prostrate walls and houses. This means a violent tempest, intending to describe in a striking manner the severity of the calamities that had come upon the nation.