Isaiah 51:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God did not intend for our nature to be tainted by sorrow; at creation, He bestowed the greatest gifts upon it. If you doubt this, heed the words of Scripture: I found that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

Consider how Adam was in the beginning: devoid of sorrow or worry, which later became the consequences of wrongdoing; he was to avoid evils that had not previously crossed his mind. Similarly, when it is declared, You shall eat with sorrow (Gen. 3:17), it is evident that humanity was once filled with joy. Furthermore, when it states, In the sweat of your brow (Gen. 3:19), it indicates that he previously lived without toil or effort; and when it asserts, In the day that you eat from it you shall surely die (Gen. 2:17), it follows that Adam once enjoyed immortality. Thus, Christ, desiring to demonstrate that He has restored us to our original condition, first addressed the women who were mourning after His resurrection with a greeting contrary to sorrow, instructing them to Rejoice (Matthew 28:9); for if sorrow came through your fault, joy now arrives because of Me. Similarly, Paul frequently urged, Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). The old has passed away (2 Cor. 5:17). If death has lost its sting, then sorrow has lost its power as well. Consequently, if the sting of death is abolished, the ramifications of sin are also nullified, for sorrow accompanies the soul alongside sin. Therefore, the text declares: sorrows, griefs, and sighs shall vanish; to vanish means simply to depart.

"They shall return," he proclaims, "by the Lord, and come to Zion," meaning the spiritual realm, which is the church, filled with joy and gladness, for they will be adorned with praise and happiness, and joy will be their portion. The Savior of all, honored by them, serves as a string instrument that enriches the souls of the faithful, filling them with complete joy and celebration. In places where there is an appeal for repentance, transformation, and the purification of sins through faith—clearly in Christ—along with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the grace of adoption, the blessing of boundless gifts, and the hope of eternal life, joy continually resides, while sickness, sorrow, and lament vanish. Truly, what room could there be for sorrow where there is no basis for grief, but where instead, the expectation of joy, gladness, endless delight, and happiness prevails?

The Lord encouraged those who trust in Him, saying, Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be dismayed by their slander, and assured them of His salvation and eternal righteousness for their aid, which is none other than Christ, the glorious arm of the Lord, of whom it is said, And on My arm shall the tribes rely. Therefore, the people call upon the Lord’s arm, praying for its arrival and seeking the promised assistance, saying, Awaken, awaken, clothe Yourself in strength, O arm of the Lord. Arise, as in ancient days, and demonstrate Your full power, that You, who have rescued Your saints from peril throughout the ages, may also shield us by Your might. For You have struck down the mountains and defeated the dragon, specifically Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who is referred to by Ezekiel as the great dragon. You dried up the Red Sea, allowing Your people to pass through the tumultuous waters and escape from the pursuing Egyptians. Therefore, You who have accomplished this, restore those redeemed by Your blood to Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem, or to the Church, which You have sanctified through Your sacrifice. In this place, they will rejoice with everlasting joy, proclaiming, Lord, You have crowned us with favor as with a shield. For they will be filled with joy and gladness as sorrow and sighing are removed. This aligns with the Hebrew text. Yet, in the translation by the Seventy, Jerusalem, symbolizing the wayward soul, is called to regain her strength and remember her former deeds, as she existed before the fall, living in daylight and purity. For it is said that you have traversed the expansive path leading to death and have vanquished the dragon, that twisting serpent, of whom the Psalms declare: You have crushed the heads of serpents in the waters. Recall your former strength, when you walked over the sea of this world, rendering it desolate and creating a path through the waves. Thus, the Apostle Peter also crossed the sea of this age to reach the Lord, and while he walked in faith, he began to falter in disbelief if not for the sustaining hand of the Lord. As past victories were achieved through the Lord’s assistance, so too to those who repent and heed the words, He who stumbles shall not sing, says the Lord, and Return, O children of God who repent, and I will mend your brokenness, He extends His hand and leads them back to Zion and the heights of virtue, filling them with joy and eternal gladness, placing praise upon their heads. For the wise behold with clarity, and they will wear this crown and adorn themselves with this diadem, rejoicing and praising the Lord continually, for sorrow, grief, and sighing have been supplanted by joy.

In essence: you have assisted your foes and served their designs, trembling before them, while you have neglected Me, the Creator of all, who has granted you countless assurances of strength. You have feared the fragile and perishable human, disregarding your own dignity and failing to seek My aid.