Isaiah 18:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, He promises grace and security to those in distress, bestowed by Me like the dewy cloud that refreshes the fields before the harvest. To clarify, it is customary for harvesters to collect the ears of grain before using their sickles, as the dew softens the stalks for easier cutting. Thus, the bestowal of dew from God is highly sought after by them. This assurance was of paramount importance to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, especially as the dew falls before the harvest.

In that time, a tribute will be presented to the Lord of Hosts from a defeated and devastated people, from a formidable nation, unique in its calamity, from people who hope in vain, whose lands are disrupted by rivers, offered at the place named for the Lord of Hosts, Mount Zion. God observes and remains vigilant from His position, or, as Aquila interprets, from the firmament, which symbolizes the Church, of which the Apostle Paul remarks as the pillar and foundation of truth. The Lord watches over the happenings within the Church, illuminating everything as clearly as the noon light, a theme echoed in the eighteenth Psalm speaking of the Sun of righteousness, where none can escape its warmth. Just as dew provides coolness and relief during the summer harvest, the Lord, under whose care all life thrives, brings comfort to those who abide within His Church. Before the fullness of time unfolds, while we perceive only in part and prophesy in part, many will come to maturity, as the Apostle writes, “If we are mature, let us be governed by this” (Philippians 3:15). However, the useless branches will be severed with blades in accordance with the Savior's words in the Gospel: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2). What is cut off will be left for the mountain birds and the earthly beasts—the former representing those who trample the seed sown along the pathways, and the latter embodying souls estranged from God. Those cast away, rejected by the Lord, and separated from His body, namely the Church, will become a habitat for birds and beasts, both in joy and in sorrow. Just as the unfruitful members of the Church are pruned to prevent the whole from being leavened with corruption, it may also occur that those ensnared by heretical deceit and brought low by the Lord, terrorized by blasphemy while clinging to that which deceives, who have suffered under demonic influences and been scattered by torrents, will, upon remembering their God and rejecting falsehood, present a gift to the Lord of Hosts—not elsewhere, but on Mount Zion, symbolizing the Church. We shall condense our discussion, as extensive interpretations have previously been articulated in historical texts.

At that moment, a gift will be offered to the Lord of Hosts by a people who have been overthrown and devastated, from a nation unprecedented in its horrors, from a people characterized by waiting and disappointment, whose rivers have ravaged their lands, brought to the eminent place of the Lord of Hosts, to Mount Zion. Following Egypt's destruction and nullification of its power, Israel will no longer depend on the deceitful shadows of falsehood but will turn to the Lord and bring their offerings to Mount Zion, which signifies God’s temple, seeking help only from Him, whose aid is genuine and everlasting. This has been historically fulfilled during the times of Zerubbabel, Jesus, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The Septuagint, instead of “waiting, waiting,” has rendered it as “not hoping,” leading Eusebius to interpret this as referring primarily to the Gentiles, who lack hope, the covenant, and prophets, suggesting they will present gifts to the exalted Church and offer spiritual sacrifices.