Isaiah 40:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Our response is this: having recalled the final conquest of the land of Judah and Jerusalem, the prophetic voice offers reassurance through divine consolation following such tribulations.

I will now provide a concise yet precise elucidation of our point. Jerusalem faced numerous attacks, with Judea repeatedly devastated by the Assyrians and various neighboring nations. However, it was Nebuchadnezzar who ultimately subdued the region during Jechoniah’s reign, leading to the captivity of Israel among those mentioned. Under Cyrus, the people were released from bondage, returning to rebuild the temple and dwell in unity until the arrival of our Savior. Therefore, after emphasizing the last captivity, when all that was stored in the treasuries of Judah fell into Babylonian hands, it became essential to prophesy the comforting grace that was manifest through Christ for those who spread the divine gospel. The Lord commands, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” The heralding of Christ and His message was primarily a call to salvation directed toward the Israelites, as He states, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Accordingly, He instructs His priests, the ministers of the new covenant, to convey a message of consolation that resonates with the listeners.

The law proved burdensome for all, only teaching through shadows and symbols. It failed to instill the vital truths within the hearts and minds of the people, offering merely an external understanding of the letters. In contrast, the redemptive and evangelical proclamation is delivered through the Holy Spirit, who reveals the depth of every thought, guides spiritual insights, embeds the words of the saints, and illuminates the most profound recesses of the mind. This is reflected in the words of the blessed David, who proclaimed, “In my heart I have hidden thy words, lest I sin against thee” (Psalm 118:11). Furthermore, our Savior urged the holy apostles to retain in their hearts the clearly spoken and salvific words. The gospel preaching is presented by those entrusted with holy mysteries to the understanding and hearts of the people, aided by the Holy Spirit, who accomplishes all things—this assurance can be discerned from the Holy Scriptures. For God, through one of His holy prophets, declared: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not according to the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt: for they did not abide in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:31-33). The blessed Paul also writes, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Some may feel the prophetic words are directed not at the ministers of divine preaching, but rather at the priests, referred to as holy angels, who possess a unique capability to resonate with the hearts of the people. Thus, offer them comfort as well, proclaiming that the God of all humanity has set aside His wrath against them.

The foundation of this comfort lies in the forgiveness of sins, which itself is made possible because the Lord has granted double punishment for all wrongdoing. Those who understand their Lord's will yet continue to sin will face grave consequences (Luke 12:47).

Moreover, those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, promised by the Savior to the apostles, are reassured with the words, 'I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever, the Spirit of truth' (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is characterized as the Comforter who teaches and brings to remembrance all that Jesus has said (John 14:26) and, upon His coming, will bear witness of Him (John 15:26). Jesus also stated, 'If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you' (John 16:7). The Comforter is already tasked with providing solace to the people of God.

Therefore, the Apostle Paul conveys to believers that 'the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, comforts us in all our tribulations, so that we may comfort those who are in any trouble' (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). He further affirms, 'Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers of our sufferings, so you also will partake of our comfort' (2 Corinthians 1:7).

Who are those who, through the apostles and church leaders, do not comfort Israel, as referenced by James and Jude, but rather the people of God? The prophet Zechariah confirms this by proclaiming, 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you... for He will dwell in your midst' (Zechariah 2:10-11). This declaration clearly indicates that numerous nations will come to be counted among the people of God, all made possible by the Lord’s intervention, whose name is the Almighty.

It is crucial to recognize that our sins are not forgiven until we have acknowledged them as coming from the Lord’s hand. There is a distinction to be made between having sins forgiven and having them remitted. When one experiences remission, there is no need for further forgiveness, as spoken in the Gospel, 'Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven' (Matthew 9:2). The remission of sins implies purification through discipline. Historically, Jerusalem has faced the consequences of its iniquity at the hands of the Babylonians and, later, the Romans. This truth is underscored in the account of the seventy priests marked before with an obelisk.”

Welcome those who genuinely seek to repent, rejoice in their return, and approach those who sin with kindness and mercy. For if you were to push a person by the river's edge, causing them to lose their balance, and instead of helping them, you cast them into the water, you would have harmed your brother. Much more should you extend your hand to one who falters, so that they do not perish, allowing the community to turn back, and ensuring that the wayward does not face total ruin.

Among those in Babylon will be the true ministers of faith—prophets and priests—whom the Lord will instruct: "Comfort My people, saith the Lord." Even in the trials of captivity, the people of Judah will remain His chosen, for the Lord will not forsake them, provided they do not forget Him while living among the nations. He will fulfill their purpose. The hope of divine favor serves as the reassurance that the prophets and priests ought to bring. "Speak to the heart of Jerusalem; comfort her," refers to all the citizens of Jerusalem, not only the many who have been taken to Babylon, but also the few who have stayed amidst the city's ruins. The priests should encourage both groups with heartfelt words, resonating with their spirits (Genesis 34:3; Genesis 50:21). They are not to burden their hearts with condemnation but instead instill joy through the assurance of God’s mercy. Although the plight of the Jews in Babylon is severe, it is temporary. Those offering comfort should declare: "Her humiliation is complete, the period of her suffering (Jerusalem) has ended, and deliverance is near. Her iniquities are pardoned." God had allowed His people to be taken by the Babylonians as retribution for their transgressions; however, these sins have now been forgiven, as the Jews have already endured the consequences of their actions (Jeremiah 16:17), suffering not only through enslavement but also through their separation from the promised land.