Isaiah 28:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as I say to children, so also will you spread out. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:11-14). Those who remain under the Mosaic law, burdened by its weight upon their minds and hearts, may be considered embittered. In this discourse, God addressed both the leaders and the populace. He also introduced the misguided expressions of the Jews, which arose from their folly and despair. It is essential to articulate what these words are. The God of all compassion, being patient and gracious, does not swiftly exact punishment on the wayward but instead incites His wrath through warning of consequences, occasionally bringing about repentance by foretelling impending hardships. Thus, we frequently find Him declaring through the holy prophets, "This is forthcoming, and: yet a little while, yet a little while, and soon." However, the arrogant and proud, despite the possibility of future generations correcting their wrongs, turned the Lord's mercy into an occasion for mockery. While they heard the prophets proclaim, "It is yet a little while, it is yet a little while, it is soon, it is soon," they remarked among themselves, "A long time will elapse between the prophets’ proclamations and their fulfillment; we will perish, and divine wrath will strike those who succeed us." Therefore, God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, saying, "Son of man, the children of your people say, 'The vision that this man sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times far off.’ For this reason, tell them, thus says the Lord God, 'None of my words will be deferred any longer; whatever I say will be done,' says the Lord Adonai" (Ezekiel 12:27, 28). Thus, He rebukes the Israelites for disregarding the prophets' messages, almost as if they were asserting, "Let us make a pact with the grave and a contract with death." What are these sentiments? The storm of weariness will soon pass us by; it will not reach us. Though they barely voiced it, their actions spoke volumes, declaring their covenant with hell. Even if a tempest or grave danger looms over us, it shall not impact us, for we will defy our hopes, wrapped in delusion. Imagining themselves invulnerable and claiming they would perish before misfortune could strike, were they not banking on a falsehood? They had no means to escape or preemptively avoid the calamities that threatened them; only the inexhaustible and incomprehensible power of the Divine was within reach.

These individuals are the scribes and Pharisees, leaders of the people of God in Jerusalem, referred to in the Septuagint as those who impose constraints and as leaders of Jerusalem's inhabitants. Their actions spoke volumes, suggesting that they, like other nations, had made a futile pact with death and the realm of the dead, resigning themselves to despair regarding salvation. They assumed that a time of captivity would come eventually, disregarding the prophets who advised patience. They convinced themselves that through death, they would escape the coming ordeal of captivity. Ultimately, they believed in a lie, placing their hope in vain promises rather than in God and His commandments, thereby shrouding themselves in falsehoods, believing that death would be their refuge from impending judgment. The Hebrew term sot (שוט) has been rendered as scourge by Aquila and Simmachus, while the LXX describes it as a storm; similarly, chasab (כזב) has been translated as lie, which the Jews placed their trust in, the same deceit that, as stated by John the Evangelist, originates from the devil.