Isaiah 48:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

With a joyful voice, proclaim and announce this message, spreading it to the farthest corners of the earth—that is, share the fulfilled promises everywhere across creation. He intended to demonstrate either that He had liberated them from their enemies through His might, or that He had brought them back safely. Therefore, He states, ‘The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob,’ and He did not allow them to suffer thirst in the wilderness through which He guided them: He provided water from the rock; He struck the rock, and streams poured forth. These words illustrate the simplicity of deliverance, so that if anyone doubts His ability to achieve liberation from Babylon, let him reflect on what transpired in the wilderness. The will of humanity is far more stubborn than that of other beings: those creatures lack soul or sentiment, while humans, gifted with reason, can choose to obey or, if they wish, remain obstinate.

Pharaoh served as a means for this revelation, positioned like a vessel, challenging Moses's words, ultimately leading God to showcase His glory and the vastness of His power. As it is written, "For this very thing have I stirred thee up, that I may show my strength upon thee, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth" (Ex. 9:16). This was true for the ancients and is realized in our teachings, as the culmination of the ages has been achieved (1 Cor. 10:11).

The liberation of Israel from Babylon, thus, merits more than silence; it should be proclaimed widely. Therefore, He instructs, "Proclaim the voice of joy." This voice of joy signifies the celebration one would offer in song for such magnificent works. It embodies true joy—a sound fitting the righteous, whose nature it is to offer praise. In this spirit, the divine David declares, "The voice of joy and salvation in the villages of the righteous" (Psalm 117:15). He longs for a narrative that recounts Israel's deliverance, reminiscent of the psalms. It is articulated thus: “Thou hast favored, O Lord, Thy land; Thou hast restored the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast pardoned the iniquities of Thy people; Thou hast covered all their sins” (Psalms 84:2, 3). Although these words point to spiritual realities, they also hold value in a historical context. God assures that if His people experience thirst in the wilderness, He will provide water from the rock, proclaiming that the rock shall be opened and waters will flow for His people to drink.

These declarations affirm that it was the same God who delivered Israel from the Egyptians' oppression, guided them through the sea, nourished them in the desert, and brought forth water from the rock; He remains unchanged and capable of miracles just as He did in ancient times. Had they wandered through the wilderness thirsting, the same miraculous sign of water from the rock would have been presented to them. However, there is no record of this occurring during the Israelites' return from Babylon to Judah. Thus, we see stated that they may recognize that the God of the past still reigns, possesses the same power, performs equal wonders, and unwaveringly declares a universal truth: "Let not the wicked rejoice, saith the Lord." This statement rings true. The countenance of the wicked is often somber, for their hearts are burdened with sorrow, troubled by their conscience; they anticipate not crowns or glory, but rather punishment and fire, rightly reserved for sinners.

Conversely, this proclamation may also pertain to the Babylonians, who rejoiced upon subjugating God’s people, mistakenly believing they had thwarted His might over Judah. Yet they overlooked the reality that some were culpable, losing His protection, while others, devoid of compassion, brought upon themselves just retribution, suffering the loss of joy, reflected in their troubled faces and tormented souls. They ought to have mourned the destruction of the righteous rather than reveled in their temporary triumph over the Israelites, for the devastation they caused led them to experience deep sorrows.

Even though they cannot provide historical evidence for the fulfillment of the following declaration: They were not thirsty in the wilderness when He brought them out; He drew water out of the rock, splitting it so that the waters flowed— this event being chronicled during the exodus from Egypt— they maintain that it was fulfilled hyperbolically, similar to their previous prosperity, as they traversed the nations' wilderness and were liberated from captivity. They assert that to clarify, this prophecy is not concerning Christ but rather Cyrus; the addition of “There is no peace for the wicked, says the Lord,” suggests that only in Christ will there be complete joy, destined for the final days. Furthermore, those who are more righteous and closer to the truth relate this prophecy to the arrival of the Savior, of whom it is stated, ‘To preach good tidings to the poor I have been sent, to proclaim liberty to the captives’ (Is. 61:1; Luke 4:18). This is an encouragement for those who will preach the Gospel of the Lord Savior Himself, urging us to depart from Babylon, the confusion of this world, and to flee from the Chaldeans. The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob with His precious blood, leading him through the ages' wilderness and bringing forth water from the rock, of which the Apostle affirms: But the rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). The Divine message is fragmented and divided into parts so that we may grasp it incrementally. But to prevent anyone from assuming that this address pertains to the entire seed of James rather than just those who will believe through the Apostles, it is stated: ‘There is no peace for the wicked, says the Lord,’ referring to those who remain in their former misbelief and are unworthy to partake from the rock, from which, pierced by a spear, flowed water and blood (John 19), pointing us to baptism and martyrdom.

Announce, "The Lord rescues His servant Jacob." The prophet envisions the future liberation of the Israelites from Babylonian bondage and, filled with joy over this forthcoming event, not only announces the conclusion of their captivity but also invites them to joyfully spread the news of God's mercy far and wide, sharing it with one another to the farthest reaches of their diaspora throughout the extensive Babylonian empire. Let all know, "The Lord rescues His servant Jacob," referring to the descendants of Jacob or Israel. However, this release from temporal distress serves merely as a foreshadowing of the ultimate salvation of all humanity from the grips of sin and the adversary.