Therefore their way shall be as a slippery way in the dark: for they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evils upon them, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.
לָכֵן֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה דַרְכָּ֜ם לָהֶ֗ם כַּחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה יִדַּ֖חוּ וְנָ֣פְלוּ בָ֑הּ כִּֽי־אָבִ֨יא עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם רָעָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
For this reason, their path will be established. Observe how the intention is not to bring calamity swiftly, but to postpone it; yet, to prevent this delay from causing them to fall into disbelief and wickedness, they are reminded of those who committed similar transgressions and faced severe consequences. In the prophets of Samaria, they presented offerings, with some making sacrifices to Baal, while these individuals offered to Me.
When corruption infiltrates the Church of God, particularly among its leaders, it serves as a reminder of the words spoken: ‘The prophet and the priest are defiled; in My house I have found their corruption, saith the Lord.’ The Church, known as the house of Christ, is addressed by the Apostle Timothy, who conveys, ‘Let you learn how it is fitting to dwell in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the Truth’ (1 Tim. 3:15). In this prophecy, one can see the role of the teacher, while the dignity of the ministry is illustrated through the priest.
Should any of them endorse contrary beliefs, their path becomes perilous and obscured, leaving them devoid of the Lord, who declared, ‘I am the light of the world, that whosoever believeth in Me should not abide in darkness’ (John 12:46). Consequently, the saint who shunned all darkness proclaims, ‘The light of Your face is upon us, O Lord: You have given me joy in my heart’ (Psalm 4:7, 8). However, when they dwell in darkness and traverse a treacherous way, that is, within heretical deception, they are bound to doubt and will ultimately stumble. The Lord may bring affliction upon them, not because it is inherently malevolent nor because the Lord causes evil, but it becomes a source of suffering for those undergoing discipline. Thus, the same experience can be perceived as both harmful and beneficial: harmful to those it torments, yet beneficial to those it corrects. It is essential to recognize that the year of the Lord's visitation signifies the correction and discipline of sinners, in accordance with the scripture: ‘I will visit with the rod of their iniquity, and with the wounds of their unrighteousness; but I will not tear My mercy from them’ (Psalms 88:33, 34).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS