Isaiah 40:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet proclaimed remarkable truths and supplemented them with affirmations to bolster faith, proclaiming, "For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things." When the Lord Himself communicates, disbelief is impossible, for His word is the origin of creation and the architect of new existence. Therefore, do not question Him regarding any claims. As I previously noted about certain expressions from pagan philosophers, I reiterate: when God speaks, further inquiry is unnecessary. Servants, upon hearing their masters' commands, do not ask further questions or offer responses, but simply fulfill their duties. In the same manner, when you hear the words of God, refrain from further testing.

Christ, the Sun of righteousness and true light, stands in contrast to the blessed Baptist, who is likened to a lamp; for even a mind illuminated with wisdom pales against the infinite radiance of the divine light.

What, then, does it mean to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight”? This is clarified by the prophet, who adds that every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill made low, and all rough places will be made smooth. The paths, whether wide or narrow, are often rugged and stony, requiring one to ascend some peaks or descend into deep crevices. Imagine a scenario where all heights have been leveled and all depressions filled; thus, the twisted paths become straight and even. When did this transformation occur? It was achieved through the spiritual authority of our Savior. In ancient times, the noble life seemed unreachable, the pathway of life aligned with the Gospel impassable, as all hearts were ensnared by worldly desires and carnal passions. However, when He took on human flesh, according to the Scriptures, and crucified sin within the flesh, obliterating the powers and principalities of this present age, He rendered the way to holiness accessible, making it completely smooth without any hindrances; all crooked paths became straight.

Moreover, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, as He proclaims, and all humanity shall witness the salvation of our God. The manner in which this glory will manifest is noteworthy. He is the only begotten Word of God, eternally generated in the divine splendor, exalted above all dominion, authority, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. He is Himself the Lord of glory, and we have come to recognize His magnificence, unlike in former times. By assuming human form as ordained by God, He revealed His power, majesty, and glory equal to that of God the Father, sustaining all things by the might of His voice, effortlessly performing miracles, commanding creation, raising the dead, and executing wondrous deeds without effort. Consequently, the glory of the Lord was unveiled, and all flesh beheld the salvation of God the Father, who sent the Son from heaven to be our Savior and Redeemer.

When the law proved utterly powerless and the sacrifices of generations were futile in the eradication of sins, we found completeness in Christ, liberated from all impurities and blessed with adoption through the Spirit. In Him, the grace essential for the fulfillment of salvation was poured out upon all humanity. When the term ‘all flesh’ is mentioned, it refers to mankind. However, should some individuals remain outside this salvation, the prophet’s assertion would still hold true, as he declares the intention of the One who honored and desired to save us, rather than casting judgment on those who were called but did not respond. It is important to note that he adds, as the Lord has declared, so that none might suggest he speaks falsely, from his own thoughts, or merely shares personal opinions; instead, he conveys divine intent, foretelling what will undoubtedly and completely come to pass.

It is important to emphasize that the straight pathways of the Lord, the filling of valleys, the lowering of mountains and hills, the straightening of what is crooked, and the leveling of rough terrain, along with the glory of the Lord and the salvation of our God, are proclaimed not in Jerusalem but in the wilderness of the Church and amidst the Gentiles, as illustrated by the passage: "Rejoice, O barren wilderness; let the wilderness delight and bloom like a lily." For this wilderness was stripped of the knowledge of God, consumed by idols and marked by lowly confessions and high pride, wild and unyielding. However, when the glory of the Lord was revealed and all humanity beheld the salvation of God, a transformation occurred; thus, the way of the Lord was readied as His glory manifested in the wilderness when He was baptized in the Jordan. The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and remained on Him, and the voice of the Father proclaimed from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." All humanity witnessed the salvation of God, specially referred to as flesh, which previously lacked the Holy Spirit. The Lord spoke of this situation, declaring, "My Spirit shall not strive with mankind, for they are flesh." Yet, concerning that flesh, He prophesied through Joel, "I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and they shall see the salvation of God."

This cry was not only voiced by John, the precursor to the Word of God, who is aptly termed the voice, but it continues today, echoed by teachers in the wilderness of the Gentiles. They urge us to prepare our hearts with straight paths for God, to be filled with virtues, and to practice humility, transforming the crooked into the straight and the harsh into the gentle, that we may be made worthy to witness the glory of the Lord and the salvation of God.