Isaiah 13:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The messengers will be filled with anguish, akin to expectant mothers in childbirth; they will express their grief to one another, overwhelmed, and their faces will be transformed in fear. The term "messengers" likely refers to the priests of false gods, renowned for their sorcery, servants of the demonic. During this time of anticipated military conflict, as the forces of Midian alongside Cyrus and the Persians were drawing near, these priests predicted a favorable outcome and sought assistance from evil spirits, engaging in idolatrous rituals and offering unclean sacrifices, pledging to intercede for their nation. As these ministers of false worship realize that their plans have unraveled, they will be struck with terror and will mourn together, uttering lamentations. Their expressions will be altered, as if consumed by fire. Typically, those overwhelmed by fear display faces that grow pale, resembling ashes or remnants of a smoldering fire.

Thus, the Lord will bring about a spirit of humility for those who diminish what deserves to be destroyed, just as He vanquishes Satan under the feet of the faithful or quells discord. The Lord is the conqueror of strife; the Lord is His name (Ex. 15:3). He shatters the cedars of Lebanon (Psalms 28:5), representing the proud, the arrogant, and those who elevate themselves above the truth. Therefore, since humility comes from the Lord, we must first humble our proud hearts, making their humility a gift to God. Hence, all hands, once vigorous in the service of God and His works, will become feeble; thus the Prophet declares: ‘Strengthen yourselves, weakened hands and loosened knees’ (Isaiah 35:3). No one relies on their own strength to seek vengeance against those causing turmoil; no one trusts in their swiftness, believing they can evade the day of judgment, a day when all creation will be addressed. The day of the Lord has long been proclaimed as coming; all the Prophets affirm its imminence to prevent anyone from growing complacent in its delay and being caught unprepared. Zephaniah also warns, saying, "Fear ye the face of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near." Shortly thereafter, he adds: "The great day of the Lord is near, near and grievous; the voice of the day of the Lord is bitter and harsh." That day will be one of sorrow and anguish, a time of wretchedness and ruin, a day of darkness and despair, a day of gloom and shadows, a day of trumpet and shout (cf. Soph. 1:7, 14-16). Although the end of the world may be distant, each of us faces our personal day of departure soon; with this day in mind, we must heed Isaiah's words: "Weep, for the day of the Lord is near," and trust Him who says: "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4; Luke 6:21). Many, overwhelmed by life's trials, hasten to invite death; it would be wise for them to echo Amos: "Woe to those who long for the day of the Lord! Why would you want the day of the Lord? It will be darkness, not light; it will be as if one fled from a lion and met a bear, or went into the house and rested a hand on the wall, only to be bitten by a snake." Is not the day of the Lord darkness without light? (cf. Am. 5:18-20). Thus, if anyone has built their life not with wood, hay, or stubble (cf. 1 Cor. 3:12), let him long for the day of the Lord, when every deed will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13). And should no one be without sin, let them fear that day. For it is written: "Each one's work will stand as it is; he will receive his reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss; yet he himself will be saved, as through fire" (1 Cor. 3:14-15).

The devastation that descends from the Lord is rightly termed desolation, especially since prior references have been made to warriors. When the day of reckoning or peace arrives, all hands will falter, as these are the same whom it is written: "Strengthen the hands of those who are feeble." Their hands will fail as there will be no actions deserving of God's righteousness: "and whoever lives will not be justified before Him" (Psalms 142:2). Thus, the psalmist laments, "If iniquity is accounted iniquity, O Lord, who will stand?" (Psalms 129:3). Each heart and soul shall moan and tremble in recognition of sin. This is indeed a dreadful day, as Zephaniah warns: "Tremble in the presence of the Lord, for the day of the Lord is close" (Zephaniah 1:7), and again, "The great day of the Lord is approaching, it is near and overwhelms" (Zephaniah 1:14). Furthermore, Amos declares, "Woe to those who long for the day of the Lord! How can it be a day of the Lord for you? It is darkness, not light" (Amos 5:18). The Septuagint adds, "The envoys shall be troubled, and anguish shall seize them," which we may interpret as referring to those messengers sent against the one who departed to secure a kingdom. Consequently, He states in the Gospel, "Bring here those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them and slay them before me" (Luke 19:27). They will experience agony and suffering, akin to a woman in labor; each will be astonished at the plight of their neighbor, and their faces will burn with distress. When the soldiers of the Lord come from afar, and all hands grow slack and hearts tremble, there will be convulsions in their bellies, which we have rendered as pains in the belly, and they shall be overtaken by suffering, much like the pangs of childbirth. This illustrates the torment of their conscience and the anguish reflected in their faces, scorched by the fire they themselves have ignited, unable to declare, "The light of Your face shines upon us, O Lord" (Psalms 4:7), and "We all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Each will marvel at their neighbor, recognizing them in the same suffering they endure.

At that time, all hands will collapse, and everyone's heart will grow cold and shatter. Agonies and pains will seize them; they will suffer torment. Each will gaze in astonishment at their neighbor, their faces marked by fear. This speaks for itself, plainly illustrating that the calamities ahead are so profound that the strength of the Babylonian soldiers will fall away, their hearts weary with terror, tormented by inner pain akin to the labor pains of women, and each one, with a pale, fatigued visage, will search for assistance from another, for in times of great peril, it is human nature to perceive others as more insightful.