Isaiah 51:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He uses the vast, visible sea as an illustration. He declares, I am the one who stirs the sea and causes its waves to roar; the LORD of hosts is my name. Just assometimes a wave rises up and, propelled by fierce winds, violently crashes upon the shore only to be followed swiftly by calmness and tranquility, so He says, with a wave of my hand, I can turn dreadful, unbearable calamities into serene conditions; for after calming all disorder, I lead those who are determined to strive for godliness to ultimate joy. This is aptly reflected in the words of the Psalmist: the storms ceased and he became still, and his waves were hushed (Psalm 106:29). To ensure they firmly grasp the hope that His promises will undoubtedly be fulfilled and recognize that His anticipated help is always certain, He states, The LORD of hosts is my name; for if He is the Lord of strength, how could He ever be unable to save anyone? What work would be too hard or impossible for His mighty hand? Furthermore, He conveys an additional assurance of His support, demonstrating that His wrath against them has ceased, that the harmful consequences of their rejection have come to an end, and that they are now under His care, receiving the mercy and love owed to those who recognize His presence. He promises, I will place my words in your mouth. The divine David similarly affirms this when he sings, ‘But to the sinner, God says, Why do you recite my statutes and take my covenant in your mouth? (Psalm 49:16). For praise is not fitting on the lips of the wicked (Sir 15:9), as it is written. Therefore, God's thoughts drive away all that is unclean and sinful and continually remind us of His words, as it is said, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). Is it not clear to all that those with an evil heart cannot utter good words? However, it is entirely fitting for the saints to have the law of God within their minds and to express it through their speech. Thus, the God of all creation promises, as if to those already deemed righteous and sanctified in faith, who bear the glory of divine nobility, to impart His words to their mouths, enabling them to continually remember His divine law and discern the path of salvation that is right for them. Hence it is written of every righteous person: the law of his God is in his heart, and his feet will not slip (Psalm 36:31), and again: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 118:11). For the law of God aids us in remaining steadfast in goodness and cultivating a mindset conducive to every virtuous endeavor; it protects us from falling into sin and significantly diverts us from the temptation to act wrongly. Since, as previously noted, He speaks as if addressing His daughters, He promises something further: I will shelter you, He says, under the shadow of my hand. This assurance is a worthy gift and an excellent blessing, sufficient for the salvation of those who have accepted it; for the hand of God the Father signifies none other than the Son born of Him, our Lord Jesus Christ; and to those who yield to Him, nothing can harm them that is typically harmful. Rather, they shall be strong and courageous, overcoming every confusion and temptation, becoming invincible against Satan, especially in the face of both spiritual and bodily lusts. That the mighty hand of the Father will empower them thus is underscored by the declaration, by which I have established the heavens and founded the earth; for if the heavens were established by the Word of the Lord, as it is written, and the earth was made to be unshakeable, surely it possesses sufficient power to ensure the salvation of all who value being under His protection? Then, Zion declares: You are my God. Here, it is evident that a confession of faith in Christ is unmistakably presented. It is true that due to their great wickedness, they once claimed they did not recognize Christ, who performed various miracles and was glorified through the extraordinary splendor of His signs; they truly did not know Him, but dishonored Him, for in their utter irrationality and God-hating nature, they dared to assert, We know that God spoke to Moses; but we do not know this man, from whence he comes (John 9:29). Nevertheless, He implies that those who previously rejected Him and fell into such iniquity, by speaking His words from their mouths and seeking refuge under the protection of His right hand, will recognize the Redeemer, confessing Him with the declaration, My God, you are. Thus, the essence of salvation lies in faith, and the pathway to eternal life is the acknowledgment of the power of Christ.

If the remembrance of Me had been ever-present in your hearts, you would not have feared mere mortals who are destined to return to dust. Whom have you forgotten? The God who established the heavens with strength and founded the earth upon a solid foundation. Your fear of your foes has persisted, which may be partially excused, but it has been unceasing, overshadowing the light of your faith with the dark cloud of fear, convincing you of your impending destruction. So, I ask, where is the arrogance of those who persecute you? Where is the worldly authority with which they have fiercely opposed you? My Son is coming swiftly, trampling down your enemies, paving the path for your victory, not to destroy those in hell, but to seek the salvation of those who turn to Him. His bread—which signifies the teachings of the gospel—is never to be lacking, always available for those who seek nourishment. At the same time, He addresses His Son, promising His imminent arrival, and speaks of His perpetually abundant bread, as He is, in the essence of His incarnate nature, the Lord God who stirs up the sea and lifts its waves, allowing the pride of the oppressors to rise against His servants, only to quell it with His assistance. He declares that He has placed His words into the mouth of the Son, as all His utterances are those of the Father, and that He shielded Him with the shadow of His hand. This was done so that He might establish new heavens and a renewed earth and proclaim to Zion, the Church, that You are My people. Thus, Zion represents the assembly of God’s people. Simmachus translates the passage we have referred to as stating that Hell will soon be opened and shall not perish, signifying Christ, who in Psalm 15 affirms, You will not abandon my soul to hell, nor permit Your Holy One to see corruption (Psalm 15:10). In accordance with the Hebrew text and the translation of Akilah, when it says, I have placed My words into Your mouth and covered You with the shadow of My hand, it adds that You have established the heavens and founded the earth, affirming to Zion, You are My people. This message addresses every believer, for having been created in God’s image, they often fail to recognize their dignity, fearing mere mortals who, while capable of killing the body, do not grasp their own immortality. They did not proclaim with the psalmist, The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I dread (Psalm 26:1)? Likewise, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid of what man can do to me; The Lord is my helper, and I will look triumphantly upon my foes (Psalm 117:6-7). The nature of humanity is illustrated in another verse: I have trusted in God; I will not fear what flesh can do to me (Psalm 55:5). Thus, it is fitting to point out that you feared a mortal man, a son of man, who withers away, as all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field (Isaiah 40:6). In fearing earthly judges, you overlooked your true Patron, He who created heaven and earth and all visible elements, including those heavens that reflect the divine and the earth that abundantly yields the Lord’s seed. The preceding declaration, that it shall not face decay and His bread shall never fail, is supported by Theodotion’s edition from the Hebrew text. He stirs the sea and causes its waves to roar; it is sung in the Psalms, You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them (Psalms 88:10). In Jeremiah, it is written: Will you not tremble before Me, says the Lord, or will you not be ashamed of My presence, who set a limit for the sands of the sea, an everlasting decree that it cannot pass (Jeremiah 5:22)? The seas were stirred when the Lord’s net caught a multitude of fish (Matthew 13:47). The Lord places His words in the mouth of the believer, shielding him with the shadow of His hand. In the Gospel, He instructs, When you are brought before judges, do not be anxious about what to say; you will be provided with words in the hour you speak, for it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Matthew 10:19-20). He also reassures the righteous, Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Furthermore, Open your mouth for the word of God, for He will empower those who proclaim the Gospel (Psalm 67:12). Thus, to Jeremiah, the Lord touched his mouth and said, Behold, I have placed My words in your mouth (Jer. 1:9). He could echo the Psalmist’s declaration: Put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God (Ps. 39:4). Who has accomplished all this but the Lord and Savior, creator of heaven and earth, who proclaims to Zion, You are My people, making a promise in Hosea to the faithful, saying, I will not say, You are My people, and they will respond, You are our God (Hosea 2:23).