Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֹת֣וֹ תַקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ וְה֥וּא מוֹרַאֲכֶ֖ם וְה֥וּא מֽ͏ַעֲרִֽצְכֶֽם׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 7 commentaries
Brothers, set apart that one, for He will be a source of reverence for you. What is the significance of 'that one you shall set apart'? To sanctify the Lord implies placing your hope solely in Him, to offer Him praise, to exalt Him above all, and to have a deep respect for Him, ensuring that in honoring Him, you need not fear others.
Let the Lord of glory, who is Christ, be glorified in a greater way through you, as he desires to be revered through your faith and to inspire awe in your hearts.
The prophet, after altering his tone, conveys a message to the people of God: "Although the nations have formed a negative opinion of you and refuse to associate with you in accordance with the law, do not be intimidated by the hostility of the nations; instead, remember the Lord, for 'You shall sanctify him, and he shall be your fear.'” It is essential for spiritual maturity to discern what deserves reverence, avoiding a state of constant dread over every sound or unworthy concern. The Psalm condemns such behavior, declaring: 'Fear fear where there is no fear' (Psalm 13:5). Therefore, set apart the Lord as holy, and He shall be your reverence. Anticipate His return, and holdHis judgement in awe. He is indeed formidable, recompensing each person according to their actions; He is the one who will descend from heaven with His holy angels accompanied by the trumpet's call; He is the one whose judgement leads to eternal punishment.
Sanctify the Lord of Hosts, for He will be your sanctification; a refuge and support for you, the house of Judah.
However, you, O prophet, along with your companions, should not be afraid of the treacherous plans of the people; rather, let your fear be of the Lord. It is written that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
For the Lord has spoken to me, guiding me with His powerful hand to refrain from following the path of this people. He has instructed me to declare that we should not refer to their words as a conspiracy, nor should we live in fear of their dread. The Lord of Hosts will be your sanctification; He is whom you should revere and whom you should fear. However, He will also serve as a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling for both houses of Israel—a snare and a ruin for those who dwell in Jerusalem. Many will stumble and be broken, ensnared in their sins, and caught. The Septuagint interprets it with the Lord proclaiming that they have deviated from His paths, suggesting we should not label His commands as burdensome.
Instead, we are to fear Him alone and trust in Him, for He will be our sanctification, shielding us from stumbling as a rock of offense. The house of Jacob will find themselves in a net in a valley for those sitting in Jerusalem; thus, numerous individuals will falter, break, and be ensnared.
It is essential first to reflect on the Hebrew text. The Lord communicated to me, admonishing me through His grace and mighty hand that I should not follow the error of this people. He urged me not to be afraid of the conspiracies of the two kings, as their claims against me constitute rebellion. Instead, O prophet, and all who accompany you, place your fear in the Lord alone. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He will be a source of sanctification for those who believe, but for the unbelieving—those in Judah and Israel—He will be a stumbling stone and a rock of offense. Especially for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, many will stumble, fall, and be ensnared in the chains of sin leading to captivity.
The two houses referenced correspond to the families of Shammai and Hillel, whose legacy birthed the scribes and Pharisees. Their traditions and interpretations often led to the degradation of the Law. These two houses failed to recognize the Savior, who became their downfall. The LXX notes that the people resisted God's will, deeming His commands as burdensome, similar to the sentiment expressed in the Gospel about the difficulty of His teachings. Therefore, they are urged to listen to the Lord and fear Him alone. If they place their faith in Him, He will act as their sanctification and will not allow them to stumble.
The apostolic teachings also affirm that Christ was a stumbling block for the Jews and folly for the Gentiles. They pursued a righteousness based on the law but stumbled at the cornerstone, as it is written: "I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed." Consequently, those rejecting Immanuel, whom they encounter as a stumbling stone, will face destruction and be carried off into captivity. The phrase referring to the house of Jacob as a net and a valley signifies that they will not occupy the heights of spiritual truth but will be entangled in lowly pursuits and accumulate iniquity.
This parable emphasizes the importance of relying solely on the Lord for protection against adversaries, warning of dire consequences for those who lack trust in Him while offering the hope of a brighter future in the Messiah's reign. The threat posed by the invading rulers of Israel and Syria instilled considerable dread in Ahaz and his people, as indicated (Isaiah 7:2). Their fear was indeed warranted; however, the greater issue was that this anxiety consumed them so thoroughly that they forgot God. They failed to lower themselves before His divine authority as both the Sovereign of Israel and the Lord of all creation, who holds the fate of every kingdom and nation in His hands. They neglected to turn to Him in repentance and earnest supplication for aid.
Confronting this fixation on fear of man, the prophet calls on the king and the people to remember their obligations to the Lord. O Lord of Hosts, sanctify him—meaning you should honor Him with reverence—bestow glory and respect upon Him as your King and God, and He will be your source of awe. Fear your adversaries, O Israel, but let your foremost fear be of the Lord; do not think that any power in the world can threaten you without His consent, nor believe that rescue from your foes lies in human assistance like that of the king of Assyria.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS