Isaiah 22:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When wickedness reaches its peak, the individual becomes loathsome, as noted in the scriptures. This was evident in the actions of the Israelites. Faced with looming disasters and the ruthlessness of the Assyrians, they should have mourned their negligence and sought to appease God by shaving their heads and donning sackcloth, as the situation demanded. Instead, they did the exact opposite. They became numb to their plight, choosing instead to indulge in pleasure, slaughtering livestock, drinking, and succumbing to their basest instincts, comforted by their despair and hardened hearts. They proclaimed to one another, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die," convinced that their cries would go unheard by God.

We proclaim to the wicked that they must be brought low, not solely due to their enslavement to sin, lacking the life of the Lord in their mortal frames like the holy ones, but also because they entomb their very souls in transgressions, retreating into death and nourishing themselves with lifeless sustenance, akin to the young of predatory birds that swoop down upon the remains of those who are truly deceased. The law has already cautioned against consuming carrion, delivering a directive meant for instruction: not only the predatory bird and all who partake in carrion but also anyone who ingests any form of dead flesh shall be considered unclean (Deuteronomy 14:21). In their indulgence, they endanger their souls, proclaiming nothing less than: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!

However, these brought forth joy and happiness, which is what the Lord aimed to use to lead them to repentance, instead led to their despair. They exclaimed, "Let us consume and indulge, for in the morning we shall face death."

And the Lord of Hosts will summon the hosts to weeping and mourning, to shaving their heads, and to donning sackcloth. They proclaim joy and merriment in slaughtering oxen, sacrificing rams, indulging in fine food, and drinking wine: let us feast and drink, for tomorrow we perish. The word of the Lord of Hosts has been made clear in my ears: this iniquity will not be removed from you, declares the Lord of Hosts. When exile arrived and Jerusalem faced siege, as weapons, famine, and thirst weakened the city, Jeremiah urged the people toward repentance, yet the kings, leaders, and the downtrodden indulged in feasting despite their dire circumstances, caught in despair.

One should exercise moderation concerning food and drink. Isaiah reminds us: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ This transgression will not be pardoned until your passing (Isaiah 22:13-14). Similarly, in the Book of Exodus, we read: And the people sat down to eat and drink, and then rose up to revel (Exodus 32:6). In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, it states: Food does not bring us closer to God; for whether we eat, we gain nothing; and if we do not eat, we lose nothing (1 Cor. 8:8). When you come together for the meal, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your gathering may not result in judgment (1 Cor. 11:33-34).