Isaiah 41:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Their tongues are parched with thirst: I, the Lord, will respond to them; I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them. I will unveil rivers in the mountains, and springs in the valleys; I will transform the wilderness into a lake, and the parched ground into a fountain of water; I will plant the cedar in the desert, along with the acacia, myrtle, and olive tree; I will sow the cypress, the fir, and the beech together in the steppe, so they may see, understand, and recognize that the hand of the Lord has accomplished these things, and the Holy One of Israel has executed them (Isaiah 41:17-20). Do you not perceive God's care, who not only grants blessings but also makes known that He is the source, ensuring that these gifts are not attributed to chance or human effort, but are recognized as blessings from divine providence? Human nature often faces chastisement and hardship before receiving kindness, while God understands the reasons behind both.

Yet, as He promises, from times of old I will provide rivers on the mountains for those who thirst, representing holy individuals enriched by the divine and lofty Word, who share streams of life with the thirsty. Thus, the once barren land, transformed, becomes a vibrant landscape filled with water and groves, while the dry ground overflows with streams. Watercourses symbolize those who, across different times and places, act as hidden guides and teachers in the Church, drawing from the living waters of the divinely inspired Scriptures, taking the Word into their minds and hearts, and sharing it with others like water carriers nourishing flourishing gardens. How the desert will be transformed into a vibrant habitat rich in trees is illustrated when He states, I will plant cedar, acacia, myrrh, cypress, and poplar in the parched land. All these trees are fragrant and incorruptible, embodying a spiritual aroma due to their pure lives; they are not subject to decay, weighed down by worldly desires, but are firm and sustained because God strengthens them, for the Lord upholds the righteous, as it is written in Psalm 36:17. There will be rivers, springs, and streams on the mountains and in the fields, and indeed everywhere; the wilderness will become meadows of water so that those who are faithful may see with their own eyes, understand through sound reasoning, and learn from the transformation of creation. They will recognize that such magnificent and wondrous occurrences do not arise spontaneously, but rather are brought about by the mighty hand of the Lord, demonstrating the power and authority of the divine revelation. It was not the false deities, nor the elements of this world, nor the fleeting god of this age, but the Holy One of Israel who has fashioned these marvels.

The nations, troubled and weak, lacking the knowledge of the truth, search for refreshing waters through various instructors and philosophical teachings, yet find none, leaving their mouths parched without law or prophets. According to the Gospel's narrative, someone squandered all his wealth on healers (Luke 8), unable to liberate himself from the bloodshed of idolatry and of sacrificial victims. Thus, the Lord God of Israel did not abandon them entirely nor permit them to perish forever, but instead opened rivers upon the hills and springs among the valleys. These rivers find their source in the stream spoken of in the Psalms: "The river doth make glad the city of God" (Psalms 40:5) and elsewhere, "The river of God is filled with waters" (Psalms 64:10). These waters and springs originate from the fountain indicated in Jeremiah, which proclaims, "Forsake me, forsake me, the spring of living waters." Furthermore, the same prophet states: "They shall drink from the waters of the fountain of the Saviour," while in the Psalms, it is sung: "Bless the Lord God from the fountain of Israel" (Psalm 67:27).

And he declared, he has turned the wilderness into a reservoir of waters and the arid land into flowing streams. Regarding these waters, the Saviour spoke in enigmatic terms in the Gospel: "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst again; but the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). He also invited, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, rivers of living water shall flow from his belly." This, the Evangelist clarifies, pertains to the Holy Spirit, which those who believe in His name are eager to receive (John 7:37-39).

Thus, the members of the once-desolate church, having been nourished by the waters of life, now flourish with cedar, beech, myrtle, cypress, and poplar, in accordance with the Seventy’s translation; while the Hebrew and other translators enumerate cedar, shittim, myrtle, olive, cypress, elm, and beech. This assortment of trees symbolizes various spiritual gifts. While all their natures are evident, we will focus on the Hebrew word setta, which Theodotion rendered as thorns. This tree grows in the wilderness, resembling white thorn and is used for all the wooden elements of the ark and tabernacle, known as sittim (Ex. 37). This wood, which is light yet does not decay, surpasses other trees in strength and beauty. Cedar, cypress, and myrtle emit delightful fragrances and do not rot, while elm and poplar, or beech, are suitable for trellising vines or producing various products.

All these are planted together in the wilderness so that not one string on the Lord’s lyre or a single virtue from the gifts of the church may be absent, enabling all to recognize that the hand of the Lord has orchestrated these marvels. Through this, rivers of virtues can be discovered in the wilderness of the nations and the earth itself, where cedar, cypress, and other trees flourish amidst the desolation, their heights reaching toward heaven, illuminated by the olive tree that offers sustenance for light and respite for laborers.

The olive tree is included so that one who recognizes the acts of mercy from others may be inspired to extend compassion to their neighbor in need. The spruce tree is positioned to encourage those who have grasped its contemplative power to rise to the meditation on Eternal Rewards. The elm tree serves as a reminder that one who witnesses an individual unable to bear the fruits of spiritual virtues still supports those abundant in spiritual gifts, contributing generously to the lives of the Saints and through their imitation, brings forth Heavenly Bounty, which cannot give physical birth. The beech tree is included to remind those who reflect on how many, even in their youth, flourish with authentic faith, making them ashamed to doubt. Therefore, it is said to these well-described trees that they may see, understand, contemplate, and reason. It is further noted that this is to be done equally, as the moral fabric within the Holy Church may vary and the levels of understanding may differ, necessitating that all learn together, as individuals of varying qualities, ages, and stages are unified for the purpose of emulation.

This represents the great river that nourishes the Lord's planting, composed of multiple springs initiated by the Lord upon the hills and dry lands; it saturates the earth and transforms arid deserts into flourishing lakes where life thrives and trees blossom. As noted by Isaiah 61, those whom the Lord comforts are called "the planting of the Lord for His glory." This reflects the essence of verse 19 of this chapter, indicating the core of Christ's churches and the individuals that form the kingdom of our God; they are the Lord's vineyard—once dormant—until the arrival of the Heir, who was slain by the vinedressers of the Old Testament but triumphed over death and rose again "to have authority over the living and the dead" (Rom. 14:9). "The Holy One of Israel has accomplished these things" (v. 20). The following verses direct the prophecy not only to Israel but to all nations. The voice of God calls to the Gentiles as well, affirming our previous observations about verses 2-4, for we trust that the prophet's words reached minds beyond Palestine. The greatest thinkers among the Gentiles drew their insights from these prophecies, which also inspired ancient works such as the Sibylline Oracles. Figures such as Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato are all heirs to the wisdom that flows from Revelation.