Isaiah 28:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the blessed prophet David rightly encourages the Israelites to earnestly seek grace through faith, declaring, Let us break their bonds and cast away their yoke from us (Psalms 2:3).

The Jewish leaders, indeed, imposed an unbearable burden upon their followers, subjecting them to a yoke formed by the commandments of the law, which constrained them like chains that could not be released. However, God has promised, through the Lord of hosts, that these bonds will be loosed over all the earth, as these matters are now resolved and brought to an end. What are these matters that have been resolved? They include the proclamation of the gospel, grace received through faith, justification in Christ, and sanctification through the Spirit. The law itself did not have an end or reduction in efficacy, for as noted, it accomplished nothing and its directives seemed to loop in endless cycles of written mandates. Conversely, the message of salvation follows a clear and direct path, leading through faith to both justification and sanctification.

Furthermore, the law was given only to the Israelites with the aid of Moses, while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17), extending not merely to the Israelites but to all of humanity across the heavenly realms. Divine Moses addressed the Israelites, saying, Hear, O Israel. Meanwhile, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the voice of the Psalmist, invites all nations, saying, Hear this, all you peoples; proclaim it to everyone inhabiting the earth (Psalm 48:2).

Since the rulers of mockery refused this cornerstone, similar to past confrontations against outsiders during David’s reign on the mountain of divisions, which is called Pharasim in Hebrew (פרצים), the Lord separated His foes, which gave the place its name. Likewise, in the valley of Gibeon, under Jesus’s guidance, who, with confidence in the indwelling God, commanded, "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Aijalon (Joshua 10:12)," and the sun halted for a day, leading to the downfall of many enemies: so shall the Lord express His anger towards the wicked and the mockers, to fulfill His purposes. Yet, to bring ruin upon those created by the Lord is not His intention; such an act aligns more closely with cruelty than with compassion. Once again, He emphasizes this notion: to enact His work is not to punish sinners, but rather to chastise the Saviour, which is an endeavor distinctly apart from Him. Thus, since the Lord will rise from His patience and will not hold back, just as He did not on Mount Perazim and in the valley of Gibeon, I implore you, those who mock, do not disdain My prophets, nor think lightly of their prophecies, lest by your derision the cords of your iniquities become tighter (for via the snare of your sins, each person becomes ensnared; Proverbs 5:22), or assume that the foretold events will not arise. For the matters the Lord has deferred—the bonds, the captivity, and the judgments—will all come to pass swiftly, and He will accomplish and destroy them in a brief season. As a prophet, I announce these truths which I have received from the Lord God Almighty, as they are realized throughout the world—proclaiming these to you that through repentance, you might be prepared for the impending wrath. According to the Septuagint, it is said that the Lord Himself will arise as a mountain against the wicked and will be in the valley of Gibeon, to perform His works, which are all one work of bitterness, that should not seem irreverent. For it is not stated that the Lord will embody the mountain of the wicked, but as if it were a mountain perceived as the most formidable by the wicked and those in torment, just as an indifferent son or ailing individual regards his father and physician as merciless when they restore him to health through painful measures. The Lord will arise and be present in Gibeon for those who, burdened by their sin, are lifted up in their pride, since Gibeon signifies hill, to execute His works, which become bitter when He is compelled to withdraw His favor and turns sweetness into gall. Those of you who have experienced this before should not rejoice in the same manner as the rich man at his banquet, clothed in luxurious garments, who scorned the poor man Lazarus—do not exult, lest your chains grow tighter. For all that the Lord will do and the determinations He will fulfill through His works, I have heard and made known to you all. In the phrase "over all the earth," understand in a historical sense as pertaining to Judea, while in an allegorical sense, it refers to the whole earth.

In the Old Covenant, transgressions were less accounted for, as it contained not the essence of truth but mere reflections of it. The New Covenant calls us to refrain from actions that were allowed under the former ordinances, which were merely shadows of the coming truth. Acts of indulgence and retribution were at times permitted and went unpunished in that age. Yet, under the New Covenant, engaging in such sins leads to severe consequence. To inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, it suffices for the faithful to understand the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, which encapsulate the entirety of Scripture.