Hear, you that are far off, what I have done, and you that are near know my strength.
שִׁמְע֥וּ רְחוֹקִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑יתִי וּדְע֥וּ קְרוֹבִ֖ים גְּבֻרָתִֽי׃
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They will come to know, and others will listen. He brought suffering upon the Jews at a time when many could witness their afflictions, and when the reasons for every virtue were openly displayed, ensuring that it was not concealed within any nation, but rather extended to the farthest corners of the earth, encompassing all areas of creation.
The distant will come to know the works I have accomplished, declares the Lord; they will approach my stronghold. Those in Zion will fall away, and the ungodly will tremble with fear. Our Lord Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father to seek the lost sheep of Israel, for they are the recipients of His promises, law, covenant, and forefathers. He consistently revealed Himself to the people of Judea through teachings that transcended the law and through divine wonders that defied human reason. However, this revelation proved ineffective for the Jews due to the heaviness of their hearts.
The Lord preached, yet the scribes and Pharisees, ridiculing those who followed Him, remarked, "He has a demon, and he rages: why do you listen to Him?" He commanded unclean spirits with authority as God and, in response to His incredible and truly inexpressible power, they disgracefully claimed that he was casting out demons only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Consequently, they were justly rejected and remained ignorant of faith in Him. In contrast, the Gentiles were favored with the mystery and received the message of salvation and good news. This is illustrated in the statement, They shall hear from afar what I have done. While Israel was close to God through the teaching of the law, the Gentiles had distant relations, serving created things rather than the Creator. Yet these Gentiles, as the scripture indicates, will hear of my works, while Israel refused to listen. Those who draw near will be taken from my stronghold; for Israel was not entirely forsaken; many of them did believe and, having received the law's instruction, recognized Christ's stronghold as they witnessed His divine acts. In the interim, as these individuals are led away, it is noted that they have turned away and fully distanced themselves from the confidence of the saints in Zion, the ungodly. However, even these wicked ones will be humbled, for the experience of the tribulations sent upon them will ultimately suffice to temper their arrogance.
They will hear from a distance about my deeds. It was by God’s sovereign will that a few of the nations collected by Sennacherib were preserved from the widespread destruction wrought by the Assyrian forces. Out of compassion, the Merciful One guided them through the cities they traversed, to declare the fate that befell the Assyrians at the city of God. The goodness of the Merciful One led them through those cities, enabling them to share the news of what had happened to the Assyrians at the city of God.
The pathways are now abandoned, with no travelers to be found, the covenant made with the Jewish people has been nullified, and God has laid waste to their cities, not counting them among humanity: you who are distant, take heed of my actions and draw near, so that you may perceive my strength.
Additionally, Scripture communicates how the Lord has both circumcised our ears and our hearts. The prophet declares, "By hearing they shall obey me" (Psalm 17:45). He further proclaims, "By hearing they shall hear from afar; they shall understand the works I have accomplished." Moreover, it is written: "Circumcise yourselves for the Lord, and remove the foreskin of your heart" (Jer. 4:4). Thus, the Lord has opened our ears so that we may listen to His word and come to faith.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS