Isaiah 44:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If it is indeed true (and undoubtedly so) that, as the Savior declared, there is joy in heaven among the holy angels for each sinner who repents (Luke 15:10, 7), how could one doubt that profound joy and victory exist in the spiritual realms when Christ leads the entire world to the truth, invites conversion, justifies through faith, and glorifies through sanctification? Thus, when the heavens rejoice because God shows mercy to Israel—not just in a physical sense, but also spiritually—then the pillars of the earth, represented by the priests of the Gospel revelations, proclaimed with a resounding voice, as if they were sacred trumpets, announcing the glory of the Savior and calling both the circumcised and those who worshipped creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25) to come to the knowledge of Christ. These foundations of the earth are termed thus because Christ, the unshakable foundation and sustainer of all, holds everything together, ensuring they are firmly established; in Him, all believers are built into a spiritual temple, joined together through the Holy Spirit into the holy church, His dwelling place (Ephesians 2:21, 22; cf. Ephesians 4:16), for He dwells in our hearts through faith. The Apostles and Evangelists, who are witnesses and servants of the Word (Luke 1:2), have a closer proximity to Him than we do; by adhering to their teachings, we preserve an upright faith in Christ. As the Lord said to His faithful disciple Peter, who boldly confessed his belief, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church (Matthew 16:16, 18), indicating that Peter’s steadfast faith serves as the rock. As the Psalmist noted, His foundations are on the mountains of the saints (Psalm 86:2); indeed, the holy Apostles and Evangelists are like these mountains, providing solid knowledge for generations, and preventing those who follow them from falling into unrighteousness regarding the faith. Thus, the foundations of the earth cry out (Exodus 4:10). The law was heard only by those who resided in Judah; on the contrary, you who fulfill the role of Christ's ambassadors will sound the trumpet, for your message will spread throughout the earth, and your words will reach the ends of the world (Psalm 18:5; Romans 10:18). He called the mountains to rejoice, referring to them again as the foundations of the earth; the Divine disciples are visible everywhere, radiating in word and deed, known throughout all regions. To them, the prophetic proclamation shouted, Go up to the high mountain, O you who bring good tidings to Zion, lift up your voice, O you who preach good tidings to Jerusalem (Isaiah 40:9). With this command, the mountains were called to rejoice. Therefore, we can observe both the power of the law and the greater supremacy of the gospel proclamation. For the law, which warned sinners of punishment and laid bare guilt for inevitable condemnation, called for mourning rather than joy. In contrast, the priests of the Gospel revelations and the ministers of the gifts bestowed by Christ bring gladness to the world, for wherever there is forgiveness of sins, justification by faith, communion of the Holy Spirit, the radiance of sonship, the kingdom of heaven, and the assured hope of unimaginable blessings, joy abounds. However, hills and the trees upon them symbolize those who are lesser than the mountains, reflecting a somewhat lower measure of righteousness, since, clearly, the holy Apostles and Evangelists stand in a higher position. Thus, the hills may represent those who are slightly subordinate to them in glory and less grand in virtue; nonetheless, they too rise above earthly concerns, aspiring to lofty thoughts of virtue as their inheritance. And under the trees that grow on the hills, we can understand those who have believed through them, rising as if incorporated into a perfect man, attaining the full measure of Christ's stature (Ephesians 4:13). These individuals serve as teachers to the nations and shepherds to the flocks, bringing others to Christ through their fruitful teaching. Hence, alongside the foundations of the earth, the hills and the trees upon them joyously proclaim, which is realized through Christ. They rejoice because God has delivered Jacob, and Israel shall be exalted; for not only has he been freed, cleansed from the corruption of sin and spared from destruction and punishment, but he has also been glorified, sharing in the inheritance with God (Ephesians 2:19), called His son, and receiving brotherhood with the one true Son, Christ.

They will be thoroughly cast down when My chosen one appears, and you will recognize clearly that just as clouds, darkness, and mist disperse with the sun's warmth or the wind's breath, so will I abolish your iniquities and all the sins by which you have offended Me. Turn to Me in repentance, for you must be redeemed by the precious blood. When you do this, know that at your salvation the heavens and earth will rejoice, and all creation will give you praise: whether it be the angels who dwell in heaven, or the other powers that sustain the foundations of the earth, or the apostles and prophets, of whom it is said also, ‘The apostles and prophets who were laid as the foundation will be called Nazarenes’ (Eph. 2:20). Furthermore, the mountains and forests or hills, ranked as first, middle, and last according to their merits, are instructed to rejoice and proclaim when they hear that the Lord has redeemed Jacob and rejoices at the conversion of Israel, or that Israel, having turned away from error, is made glorious.