Isaiah 35:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There is no desolation more profound than that of unproductive, untended hearts, which have become a habitat for wild creatures; just as wild beasts reside in wastelands and thorns proliferate, so too do such conditions exist within the hearts of men.

For the water will dry up in the wilderness, and in the thirsty land, streams shall appear. In the barren regions, a lake will emerge, and a fountain of water shall spring forth, bringing joy to the birds and establishing a habitat of willows and reeds. He instructed us to rejoice in the dry wilderness and promptly provided the reason for such joy: for the water shall run dry within it. This reflects the abundance of charity, illustrating the rich blessings that will flow in lieu of the once barren lands. When this transformation occurs, the areas that were previously without water will turn into lakes, and there shall arise a fountain of water, which is the Holy Jordan, that is, our Savior Christ, the Source of life (Psalm 35:10) and the reservoir of living water (Genesis 21:19). Alongside these lakes and the spring, there shall be a gathering of birds and joy. These birds symbolize those who elevate themselves above earthly concerns, soaring high through virtue, their minds set on heavenly matters. They find joy, like a spring, in Christ, who turned the wasteland into a place of reeds and meadows, as lush, water-rich lands are often adorned with flourishing greenery. The Church of the Gentiles, nourished by heavenly streams, blessed with divine gifts, and enriched by the teachings of the saints, becomes a source of meadows and reeds, signifying those who have thrived in Christ, attaining eternal life through sanctification.

Furthermore, had Scripture mentioned the healing of a leper or the resuscitation of a dead man belonging to the widow, it is certain that if the lame were to walk and the blind to see, the narrative would not have been silent about it. The lack of mention indicates that such events have never transpired before. When did this prophecy find its fulfillment? Was it not realized when the Word took on flesh? When did it come to pass? Was it not at the moment when the lame walked, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, and those born blind received their sight?

He gave clarity to the speech of the mute and restored hearing to the deaf, addressing both physical and mental afflictions. The Gentiles, who were previously ignorant of God, began to see the light of divine truth and heard the life-giving call of the Gospel. This is akin to the waters in the desert being calmed. This signifies the deliverance of the Israelites and the peace that ensued after the fall of the Assyrians; however, its true fulfillment was realized with the arrival of the Lord. It was as if He descended from heaven like living water into this parched world, becoming a fountain of hope amidst the desolate wilderness.

Previously, Christ had prophesied about a similar individual, through whom He unveiled and concealed truths illuminated by the prophetic word. The Psalms resonate beautifully and are truly enriching when life is lived in faith, the body aligns with the soul, and the will harmonizes with virtue. It serves as the most exquisite instrument where the principles of life resonate in harmony, thus fulfilling the scripture: The tongue of the mute shall be unbound (Isaiah 35:6).

At that time, the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will hear. David also affirmed this by the Holy Spirit, proclaiming: The Lord raises up the brokenhearted, the Lord saves the shackled, the Lord enlightens the blind.

The Lord Himself declared through the prophet the conversion of five thousand righteous men: Behold I and the children whom God has given me. They shall serve as a sign in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion (Isaiah 8:18). The same prophet articulated what these signs would signify: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear, and the lame shall leap like a deer. We can identify this prophecy in the account of the man who was lame from birth (Acts 3:1-10). Upon reflection, we can also see in the figure of the lame man a profound prophecy. This man was healed when Peter and John encountered him sitting by the Beautiful Gate. Before we came to the understanding of Christ, we too were figuratively lame—not in our physical ability to walk but in our moral conduct. For one who is estranged from the righteous and virtuous life, despite having sound legs, is still impaired, as he is lame in heart and soul. The journey of faith does not advance toward truth through physical steps but through the movement of the spirit.

What do we make of the symbols in Isaiah, the representations in the writings of David, or the parables shared by Jeremiah? Even the miracles performed by Christ were not delineated through symbols. Did the blind not have their sight restored? Did the mute not gain the ability to speak? Were not the withered hands made whole and the feeble legs strengthened? Did not the lame leap like a deer? While it is common to interpret these events spiritually, referring to the internal ailments healed by the Lord, their fulfillment in a bodily manner indicates that the prophets anticipated both physical and spiritual realities. It is evident that they possessed numerous straightforward prophecies that were clear and devoid of allegorical interpretation.

Therefore, it is reasonable to interpret that the prophet, through vivid imagery, illustrates the spiritual condition of the Gentiles before and after embracing the Christian faith. Prior to their acceptance of Christianity, they were spiritually blind, engulfed in the darkness of error; they were spiritually deaf, unable to hear Divine revelations; they were spiritually lame, as they could not progress towards the true light without Divine assistance; they were ignorant, lacking the knowledge of the true God and thus unsure of how to worship Him. However, with the proclamation of the gospel, they gained sight, having perceived the light of truth; they gained hearing, as faith entered their hearts through the word of God; they joyfully walked the path of salvation, and their mouths were filled with praise for the Lord, even from the lips of infants who struggled to articulate. How could such a transformative salvation occur among the Gentiles? What enabled the gospel's preaching to effect this change? The answer lies solely in the grace of the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit flows like water from a rock, drawn from the spiritual Rock—Christ (1 Cor. 10:4)—to nourish the desert with life-giving waters and to refresh the hearts yearning for truth and redemption. Christ referred to the grace of the Holy Spirit, bestowed upon believers in His name, as rivers of living water (John 7:38-39).