Isaiah 12:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He has saved the forgotten, vanquished the seemingly invincible forces of the devil and demons, liberated the deceived, and set free those held in bondage. He has restored sight to the blind through preaching, justified those by faith, and sanctified them by the Spirit, making known as children of God those who were once fugitives and lived lives of disgrace and condemnation. Through His miraculous acts, He demonstrated that He is indeed God in essence: He raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, healed the weak with His touch, calmed the winds, and hushed the stormy sea. Therefore, let the nations proclaim His glorious deeds, frequently reminding others that His name is elevated: Great is He who has accomplished these wonders. Truly, beyond the power of man or any miracle is the greatness of His works. So let those who dwell in Zion, that is, those with unwavering faith in the church, rejoice and be glad; for the Holy One of Israel is present among you. Though the Holy One of Israel took on human form and humbled Himself by coming to earth for our sake, He has ascended in glory due to the brilliance of His perfect deeds. And we have come to know who He is by His true nature.

Christ permitted Himself to be buried among stones, allowing His lifeless body to be wounded. However, those wounds do not emit the stench of despair but rather emanate the sweet aroma of mercy. Unlike the decay of death found in other men, from His wounds flows a source of eternal life, as Scripture proclaims, “And water shall flow with joy out of the springs of salvation.” Thus, from His wounds shall spring forth the water of salvation for us to partake in. All sinners will drink from this well and be liberated from their transgressions, though each must be considered on an individual basis. Christ suffered through affliction to bring joy to those entrenched in sorrow. Let none declare that a righteous person is forlorn, for He Himself said, “Let no one make you miserable.” He endured suffering that we might find healing; He was burdened so that we might experience joy, as noted in the Scriptures, “For if I grieve you, who shall make me glad but he that grieves me?” (2 Cor. 2:2). Therefore, the one who is saddened because of the Lord Jesus Christ finds joy in Him, and Christ rejoices in him. This understanding frees us from the need for formal excuses. Let us humbly bow down, not only placing our faith in Christ but also holding firm during our trials, thus rejoicing in them, just as Christ rejoiced in His Passion. The sufferings He bore for His servants, we too will bear for our Lord.

Even if I find myself lacking in ability, I will not cease to draw strength from the reading of Holy Scriptures, as the apostle affirmed, “The Lord Jesus, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that ye might be enriched by His poverty” (2 Cor. 8:9). What sort of poverty is it that brings forth riches? Let us reflect on this and consider the sacred ordinance itself. What could be more pure or simpler? Unlike the Gentile sacrifices—where blood is sprinkled—true cleansing does not come from the blood of animals, for only the flesh is washed while sin remains. Yet it is proclaimed that water shall flow with joy from the springs of salvation, and a heavenly feast shall be prepared in our presence; how beautiful is the full cup (Psalms 22:5)! This embodies the richness of hospitality that constitutes Christ’s precious poverty. Moreover, poverty is beneficial for our moral character; thus, the Lord declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3)—and in the Psalms, we find that the Lord saves those who are humble in spirit (Ps. 33:19). Poverty may thrive in limited means if it is accompanied by abundant faith. Therefore, the apostle reminds us, “And their deep poverty aboundeth in the riches of their gladness” (2 Cor. 8:2).

There exists a vast chasm between the rich man and the poor man, for after death, the outcome cannot be altered; thus, the rich man is depicted as seeking solace from the poor man in the afterlife. Water serves as nourishment for the soul in distress, and concerning such water, Isaiah states: “And in joy you shall draw water from the springs of salvation.” But why does the rich man endure suffering before the final judgment? For those accustomed to a life of luxury, the ultimate punishment is the absence of pleasures. Hence, the Lord proclaims, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:28). However, the rich man learned too late, transforming into a teacher when the time had come to learn, not to instruct.

On that day, everyone will proclaim: Praise the Lord, sing to His name; let us worship Him in hymns; declare His magnificent works among the nations; let us openly confess His glory to all peoples, revealing the marvelous deeds of His mercy towards us; remember that His name is exalted; let us remind each other of how the Lord has glorified His name, the one true God, as He led us to Christ through numerous hardships during our dispersion among the nations; lift up the name of the Lord, for He has elevated it; let us honor Him for raising us from the depths of humiliation to the heights of glory, for what could be more glorious than to be called and to be children of God by His grace; proclaim these truths across all the earth; may everyone dwell upon the goodness of our Lord towards us.