Isaiah 10:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This truth is readily evident in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel. He recounts witnessing certain Israelites adoring the sun, while God proclaimed, “Have you seen, son of man, that the house of Judah eateth little, to do the iniquities which ye have done here? For iniquity has filled the land, and they have turned to anger Me” (Ezekiel 8:17). He then describes a man adorned with a girdle, to whom the Sovereign of all commanded, “Go through the midst of the city of Jerusalem, and give signs in the faces of the men who groan and mourn for all the iniquities that are in their midst” (Ezekiel 9:3). He instructed them, “Hearken unto me, Go into the city in his footsteps, and cut them off, and spare not your eyes, and have no mercy. Elder, and youth, and maiden, and babes, and wives shall be consumed: and all that have a sign upon them shall not be touched” (Ezekiel 9:6). Observe how God marks the righteous with His grace, and how He is angered and saddened when others dare to offend Him. Thus, He declares, although Israel may be countless, akin to grains of sand on the seashore, a remnant shall be saved. This was realized in the days of Hezekiah. Just as I noted, Samaria was destroyed and many cities of Judah were captured; it also occurred in the latter days of the age when the Only Begotten One appeared to us in the flesh. In that time, God, in His righteousness, succinctly communicated His word throughout all creation. The law delivered through Moses has a lengthy and roundabout path to its destination and offers an inadequate explanation of what is beneficial, subtly hinting at what is advantageous; yet the Gospel, which grants us salvation, is concise and reveals the truth, illuminating the path of righteous living that is simple to follow, void of ambiguity within its commandments. As previously stated, the essence of truth is straightforward. The remnant of Israel, those who honored His advent through faith, will be saved, while a significant number will turn away from Him. For those who have opposed the Savior of all and the Lord, who previously slain the prophets and stoned those sent to them, what variety of wickedness have they ultimately committed?

One should not be swayed by the abundance of those deemed pious, for many bear the name of Christ, yet not all have this designation substantiated by their actions. Though the people of Israel may be as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, they shall attain salvation. It is stated concerning a chosen people that salvation is not found in the multitude, but in the remnant selected by the grace of election (Rom. 11:5).

Ahaz had taken gold and silver from the treasures of the house of the Lord and from the royal palace to send as tribute to the king of Assyria, who heeded the plea, marched upon Damascus, conquered it, and executed Racine. However, once delivered from this very Assyrian oppressor—who was initially an ally but later turned adversary—they shall place their confidence in the Lord of Hosts, not in a deceitful manner as they previously did under earlier kings, but in sincerity. It is recorded that during Hezekiah’s reign, the people abandoned idols and devoted themselves to the service of God (4 Kings 18:1-5).

Having stated that the remnant will be delivered, he then transitions to prophesying future events regarding full salvation in Christ. The Apostle Paul also echoes this understanding in his letter to the Romans, where he cites Isaiah, saying, “But if the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. And as Isaiah said, ‘If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a seed, we would have been as Sodom and Gomorrah’” (Rom. 9:28-29). Thus, when the authority of such a great husbandman is recognized, all other interpretations must submit to his will. Indeed, if we consult Josephus (chap. 10:2) and consider the extensive population of Jerusalem and Judea at the time of the Lord’s Passion, we understand that only a small number of Jews were saved, embodied in the apostles and those associated with them.

The Gospel presents a concise and perfect message, supplanting the intricate rites of the law with a singular commandment of love and faith, urging us not to treat others in ways we do not wish to be treated ourselves. This is why the Lord states in the Gospel, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Some interpret this passage as relating to the period when, under Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jesus son of Jozadak, along with Ezra and Nehemiah, certain members of the people returned to Judah. However, we contend that this interpretation does not align with historical context, particularly since the subsequent verses do not address the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar, but rather Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.