Isaiah 51:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is no trivial matter to pursue what is just and good, as He frequently admonishes against those who chase after greed and other sinful inclinations. Therefore, let us earnestly pursue justice and seek truth; in doing so, one can encounter God, for when a person actively seeks, they will ultimately find. The hearer, even if valiant and virtuous, still requires wisdom; for mere strength and resilience will not convince without the gift of wisdom. The Scriptures extol the wise listener, as seen in, ‘And the Lord opened her heart to heed what Paul said’ (Acts 15:14) and, ‘And they shall all be taught by God’ (John 6:45). Furthermore, in the current text, it is written, ‘Every morning He awakens, He awakens my ear to listen’ (Isaiah 50:4). The wise observes that ‘The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6). Reflect on the rock from which you were carved and the depth from which you were drawn. It is aptly stated that a rock symbolizes natural barrenness—much like Sarah’s empty and sterile womb—illustrating that our birth is a divine creation. It is not solely nature that is essential for this; God is the one who creates and shapes—not in the same manner as the first man, but still in a way that is not fundamentally different. Just as humanity was formed, now, despite emerging from the womb, one continues to create oneself. Here, we see not only barrenness but also advanced age. Sarah is likened to a deep pit; Aquila describes it as the bottom of a stream, while Simmachus refers to it as a cave and Theodotion as an opening. The pit remains unproductive as it does not flow like a spring but merely retains the collected water, lacking in abundance. Other interpreters suggest, ‘beaten with a key,’ thereby emphasizing that all things are ultimately under God’s control.

To these individuals, He speaks, saying, "Hearken unto me ye that persecute the truth, and seek the Lord." In this context, "truth" signifies justification, which is freely given by Christ—through faith in Him—who justifies the ungodly and cleanses the impure from all filthiness, sanctifying them in the Spirit, and bestowing the glorious praise of sonship. Those who persecute the truth do not merely reject it; rather, they pursue it in a quest for understanding and assimilation. The divine David captured this sentiment well: "Seek peace, and reap it also” (Ps. 33:15), thus indicating an understanding consistent with what one of the holy prophets articulated: "In what shall I comprehend the Lord? I will shine my God above" (Micah 6:6). Therefore, their pursuit of the truth is a journey toward discovery and joy in it. Those who seek the Lord, that is, Christ, do so and find Him through faith when called by God the Father. In this regard, Christ did not tell the Jewish people, "Do not murmur among yourselves: no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:43). It is important to note that God does not address everyone indiscriminately; He speaks to those who are seekers of the truth and who yearn for Him in the aforementioned manner. Thus, it is through faith that all are instructed by God, called in Christ to the knowledge of truth. We will do our best to explain what He aims to emphasize here, as well as the core of the message. Although the number of Jews was vast, only a small portion of them came to believe.

While those who have ignited their own flames and created a great blaze dwell in continual sorrow, you who seek righteousness and the Lord—like the Apostles and all who believe through them—reflect on Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, your mother. Remember that despite his advanced age and the barrenness of his wife, I blessed him with a multitude of offspring, like the stars in the sky, far surpassing any count. If from one man such countless descendants emerged, why should it be beyond My power to restore Zion and transform its arid lands into a paradise, a garden that God planted in Eden? This garden will be filled not with mere trees but with joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and praise.

The Jewish tradition connects this promise to the era of Zerubbabel, when Zion was rebuilt after Babylon’s ruin and the previous form of worship was reinstated. As it is stated regarding Zion, "They shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers” (Isaiah 49:22-23), and, “Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these shall come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim” (Isaiah 49:12)—when Zion cries out, "The place is too small for me: give me a place that I may dwell in" (Isaiah 49:20). This expresses the limitless nature of what is to come, which has not been fully realized concerning the earthly Jerusalem.

Thus, the Lord speaks to those who pursue righteousness, in accordance with the words, "Seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalms 34:14), and, "Distributing to the necessity of saints" (Romans 12:13). They seek the Lord, drawing from past experiences to understand the present: since the more challenging feats have already been accomplished, it is assured that the promises will be fulfilled. Furthermore, the Seventy translate it to say that those pursuing truth should turn to the solid rock they have chiseled and to the depths they have excavated, pointing to the Lord and Savior, of whom the Apostle affirms, “the rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). As it is further written, "Set my feet upon a rock" (Psalms 40:2) and “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit” (Psalms 40:2).

When His side was pierced, blood and water flowed forth, and His hands and feet were marred, in accordance with the Savior's own words, "My hands and My feet have been pierced; I may tell all My bones" (Psalm 22:17). The tomb of the Savior, hewn from stone, is where He lay, and from this resurrection came forth numerous children. He is termed Abraham, signifying the Father of many nations. Sarah, who was once barren, represents the Church, also known as Zion, which the Lord has consoled, transforming her barren lands into flourishing gardens, as many children are often more desolate than those with spouses (Isaiah 54:1).

The declaration, "I will make the place in the west a paradise of the Lord, or the garden of God," signifies that a sudden light shone upon those dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death. The term paradise we have understood as revelation, in the Hebrew, means Eden, referenced in the Genesis account. It is crucial to note that in Zion, likened to the garden of God, there should exist only joy and rejoicing, confession and the voice of praise, so that what the saints experience in heaven with the angels of God may also resonate on earth through the ceaseless worship of the Lord.