And the children of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister to thee: for in my wrath have I struck thee, and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon thee.
וּבָנ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־נֵכָר֙ חֹמֹתַ֔יִךְ וּמַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם יְשָׁרְת֑וּנֶךְ כִּ֤י בְקִצְפִּי֙ הִכִּיתִ֔יךְ וּבִרְצוֹנִ֖י רִֽחַמְתִּֽיךְ׃
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In My anger, I struck you, meaning you were a prisoner not due to any lack of power on My part. Therefore, if this is the situation, He is able to set you free, just as He promised. Yet, it is in My kindness that I will show you mercy, not because of your own righteousness. You have faced discipline for your transgressions, and this grace has not arisen from your merit.
And the children of the nations will construct your walls, and their rulers will stand before you. This is truly remarkable and is a demonstration of divine might. The walls that safeguard the children of the Church represent righteous and blameless faith, as well as the purity of deeds, encompassing the beauty of all virtues. The leaders (their rulers will be before you) of doctrinal and moral understanding, along with those who proclaim divine truths, include all ministers divinely appointed to this task. The origin of this sacred proclamation began with the holy disciples, followed by many who succeeded them in teaching, not only from the Jewish people but also from among the Greeks.
Those versed in worldly wisdom and skilled in rhetoric became exemplary educators, solidly constructing an unwavering doctrine in the hearts of those entrusted with the mysteries, fostering a consciousness of a commendable life. Thus, although they are outsiders, as they do not share the blood of Israel in the flesh, they are indeed wise builders, as articulated by the apostle Paul, wholly capable of establishing Christ within us, manifestly through faith and good instruction. I believe this interpretation aligns with the statement: The children of the nations shall build your walls, and their rulers will stand before you. Whose rulers? Clearly, the rulers of the nations. In these words, He refers to the leaders of the nations who, being part of Christ’s Church, act as protectors of it and its children, guarding against every assault from visible and unseen foes; or those truly adorned with the highest honors who wield a royal scepter as chief among the Church. Chief here denotes servitude; for they adhere to divine and sacred decrees and show utmost respect for the Church's preaching. For my anger, I will punish you, and for my mercy, I will love you. And your gates shall remain open continuously, day and night, never closing, to welcome the talents and the recognized leaders of the nations. If the talents and rulers do not serve you, they shall be undone, and the nations will face desolation. As it has been noted, you have incurred numerous serious transgressions, leading to consequences befitting your actions; it was necessary for you to experience divine wrath due to such traits. However, since it is essential that, due to the kindness and mercy of the Lord God, grace be extended to you, it has been granted, and I shall cease, says He, My anger.
The children of foreigners will construct your walls, and their leaders will serve you. My anger led to your affliction, but through My grace, I have forgiven you. Your gates will remain ever open, not closed during the day or night, drawing to you the strength of nations and their kings. Nations and kingdoms that refuse to serve you will come to ruin, leading to desolation. The foreign nations shall raise your walls, and their rulers will be present before you. Because of My indignation, you were struck down, yet by My compassion, you have been cherished. Your gates will forever be open, never closing, so that the wealth of the nations and their kings may continually flow to you.
Those nations and kings that do not offer their service will face destruction; they will be brought to devastation.
In this context, the Church is both fortified and expanded, as the city of the Savior is built, with the help of Gentiles who contribute to its walls, preventing intruders and disbelief from finding a foothold. The term "foreigners" refers to the Gentile nations that genuinely contribute to the establishment of Christ’s Church, with their rulers and leaders standing in its presence. This can be interpreted both literally and spiritually. Literally, we see Roman authority yielding to Christ’s dominion, contributing to the construction of churches with public funds and enacting laws that protect against pagan persecution and heretical deceit. Spiritually, the exemplary among them—those filled with virtue, eloquence, and holiness—serve this cause, resuscitating what has been neglected, that He may once again extend His love due to His mercy.
It is also to be noted that what was once desolate and held captive by the Jewish people will find reconciliation through the calling of the Gentiles. Thus, the gates will remain perpetually open for those who wish to be saved; both the joy-filled and the sorrowful who seek to believe in Him shall freely enter. The treasures of the nations will be brought forth to it, and their rulers will serve it as captives. You will witness this when the most eloquent are drawn to faith in Christ, revealing how the wisdom of the learned becomes foolishness, and the insights of the wise are set aside, so that the foolishness of God may surpass human wisdom (1 Cor. 1).
Those who refuse to offer genuine and beneficial service to the Church, desiring only their growth or recognition in the apostolic faith, will face destruction along with the wicked, and all who reject God's presence will descend into desolation.
Cyrus initiated the reconstruction of Jerusalem, though his efforts were incomplete; it was during the reign of Darius, son of Hystaspes, that only the Temple of God was restored. Later, under Artaxerxes Dolgoruk, Nehemiah, who was a Jew rather than a foreigner, played a significant role in rebuilding the walls, with funding that came from communal contributions rather than the king’s treasury. After the Jewish conquest, the walls of Jerusalem were ultimately reconstructed by the Roman rulers. To grasp these words more profoundly, one must recognize that foreign nations upheld and protected their beliefs through prayers and counsel. For in My anger I have smitten thee, but in My favour I will be gracious unto thee (Is 60:10).
This pertains to Jerusalem, which faced destruction due to its sins yet was restored through mere human effort, as well as to the Church of God, which once resembled a barren wasteland, unworthy of divine attention, but thereafter thrived under the care of the Saviour.
The prophet refers to the expansion of the Church as the vessels of Tarshish, akin to those that arrived from the distant land of India, which evokes the story of Jonah. Their journey to Jerusalem is not for their own benefit, but rather for the glory of God, who seeks to fulfill the covenant made with the patriarchs through His profound compassion. Furthermore, it is written, "Then the sons of the foreigners shall build thy walls" (Is 60:10). We witness this today as the Gentiles lead the churches, enriching them with their teachings, ensuring that no contrary words or opinions prevail. Their rulers will serve you (Is 60:10). Even now, the authorities in Rome and the apprehension concerning kings deter those who conspire against the churches. To serve fundamentally entails obedience. They heed the sacred call of the Church, paying close attention to the proclamation of the Gospel.
One can observe the fulfillment of the word through the souls who, following the conversion of the Gentiles, dedicate themselves to the teachings of godliness and the ministry of the altar, offering themselves to the Lord. The Church of God holds a special honor for their transformation and salvation.
When we consider this prophecy in relation to the Jewish people following their return from Babylonian exile, it was fulfilled in a tangible manner. The temple walls in Jerusalem were restored with assistance from outsiders, under the authority of Persian rulers Cyrus and Darius Istaspes. Additionally, the city walls were reconstructed from the debris, also aided by foreign support, under the command of Artaxerxes. Indeed, the Persian kings contributed to the revival of Jerusalem, standing before it and engaging in the restoration that honored the God of Israel. This entire endeavor was an act of divine grace. In His wrath, the Lord had struck Jerusalem through the Babylonians, but He showed mercy upon witnessing the lamentation of the Jews, who recognized their sins before Him.
Furthermore, this prophecy holds a spiritual significance for the New Testament Church. For an extended period, the Lord refined her through trials, which He permitted due to His displeasure with her unfaithful members. Yet, in due time, He honored her by transforming her adversaries into her children and her tormentors into guardians. While kings once persecuted the Church, it was through figures like Constantine the Great and his heirs that they began to support her.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS