Isaiah 9:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The orphans and widows will show no compassion toward this individual; they will not be corrected through discipline, nor will they turn to righteousness. Do not dismiss such strictness as cruelty; instead, recognize its purpose: all are, as He declares, hypocrites and wrongdoers, and their mouths utter iniquities. Here, a lack of mercy can indeed be an act of compassion, for nothing is more effective in promoting their reform than neglect and being forgotten. Despite all this, His wrath is not averted, and His hand remains extended to deliver punishment through actions or to reiterate admonitions as befitting His nature. All these proclamations I, the prophet, have declared and anticipated, yet His anger remains unrelenting, signifying that my words could not appease His wrath.

Even before the arrival of the Savior, there were Jews who strived to embody this very ideal, faithfully adhering to the righteous commandments and earnestly seeking to enrich themselves with virtues that align with the law. They were not overlooked by God; for during that era, when the law cast only a shadow, and the fullness of the Gospel and the revelation of Christ had yet to emerge, they received commendation. It is written of Zacharias and Elizabeth: "There was in the days of Herod, king of the Jews, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:5–6). I believe the holy prophets lived in a similar manner. The Apostle Paul, despite asserting his blamelessness according to the law, questions, "What gain do I have?" He considers all such gains as loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:6–7). Thus, prior to the coming of our Savior, some attained the honor of law-abiding citizens, exhibiting courage and strength; but following His revelation and the proclamation of the Gospel, the regulations of the law were set aside, and the shadow was transformed into reality, ushering in genuine and spiritual service. Consequently, the Lord is not pleased with the young men of Judah, those who vigorously strive to live by the law, nor does He accept their bloody sacrifices, fleshly circumcision, purification rites, or Sabbath observances. Rather, we are instructed, as I mentioned, to lead lives that please God. After the shadow has faded, those who emerged as young men were not rejected by God, which was just; yet in those times, orphans and widows experienced suffering. Orphans represent those in need of spiritual sustenance and guidance. Similarly, we refer to widows as souls that, due to their lack of essential spiritual nurturing and instruction, are unable to bear fruit. The Israelites suffered from a lack of genuine education because of their hostility towards Christ, a fact for which they are not commended. Their eyes were blinded, as noted by the Psalmist, and their hearts were unyielding, preventing them from aspiring to higher truths, leading them instead to be fixated on earthly concerns. This fate befell them not without reason, but because they had become lawless and immoral, with every mouth speaking unrighteousness. Were they not lawless and filled with wickedness who sought to extinguish the One who offered life and knew no sin, despite the law’s explicit command against shedding innocent blood? Did not all the tongues of the Jews voice unrighteousness, as they called out to Pilate, "Crucify Him; if you do not crucify Him, you are not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12, 15)? As divine wrath grows ever fiercer, the impending scourge signals a dire forecast of their fate, aimed at awakening the prudence of the listeners through the fear of forthcoming tribulations. God reveals to them the calamities that await, desiring that, recognizing the risk of incurring His displeasure, they might evade the repercussions of His wrath and be shielded from external misfortunes.