Psalm 29 (28):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord's voice will summon the nations to believe, drawing those who once lived without hope and without God in this world; (Eph. 2:12) in a place where no prophet, no messenger of His truth, and no human beings resided. The Lord will transform the desolate land of Kadesh. Subsequently, He will illuminate the sacred teachings of His Scriptures, which had been neglected by the Jews who failed to comprehend them.

The voice of the Lord causes the wilderness to tremble. Such trembling transforms the wilderness into a blessing, turning it from a barren place into a flourishing land. It sheds the disgrace of emptiness and embraces the glory of abundance, as many who are childless are more desolate than those with a spouse (cf. Is. 54:1). What was once a wasteland is revitalized by the waters of the Spirit, becoming a pool of water (Ps. 106:35). The Lord will clear away the desolation of Kadesh. Hence, the Lord does not shake every wilderness but focuses on the wilderness of Kadesh, which signifies sanctification, as Kadesh translates to 'sanctification.'

The Lord's voice trembles the barren places. This trembling is universally perceived, as reflected in the statement, “When Jesus came in ... the whole town was shaken” (Matthew 21:10). The term ‘the wilderness’ signifies the Gentile Church, which was previously unaware of God. The Lord will purge the wilderness of Cadiz, which can be understood as ‘holy,’ representing the sacred Church of Christ.

The Church was abandoned, initially devoid of followers. Christ's account prior to the tribulation describes this wilderness as ‘heated’ (Psalm 28:8), stating that it ‘gave birth, and begat, and brought forth a whole nation at once.’

Simmachus interpreted it as not merely shedding off but rather giving life; Aquila saw it as the act of laboring to bring forth. Isaiah prophesied about this barren land, proclaiming: Rejoice, O thirsty wilderness, let the desert be glad and bloom like a lily (Isaiah 35:1). The Prophet refers to the Gentiles as a desolate place, likening them to those who once lacked knowledge of God. Concerning them, the divine Isaiah proclaimed that they would flourish, while the blessed David stated they would experience suffering and bear fruit. In another passage, Isaiah asserts: “The barren one who has not given birth shall rejoice; she shall shout and cry out to those who have not conceived, for the desolate will have more children than the one who has a husband” (Isaiah 54:1).

The Lord's voice reverberates across the desolate land. The expression ‘happens’ is notably absent, implying that the Lord's voice indeed comes forth. David refers to the nations as a barren wilderness due to their emptiness in knowing God and their deficiency of the living water that is spiritual instruction, as well as the fruits of goodness. When Christ arrived, He transformed this desolate land, first by stirring it and drawing it close to Himself, and subsequently by nurturing it with the healing of faith. The Lord will indeed shake the wilderness of Caddis; He will take action, says the Lord, not affecting the entire wilderness but specifically the wilderness of Caddis, which is holy—dedicated to Him and fitting for Him. The term 'Caddis' signifies holiness. In sacred Scripture, 'Kaddis' with one 'e' refers to various locations, as found in Genesis 14:7, Numbers 13:27, Deuteronomy 32:51, and 1 Maccabees 11:63, among others, while 'Caddis' with two 'e's’ denotes holiness.

In this passage, the prophet extols the might of God as He operates within creation, asserting that the voice of the Lord causes the wilderness to tremble and shift. The original Hebrew text uses the term "razhdati," which translates to "creates," indicating that the movement described is not simply an earthquake or the tremors associated with thunder, often experienced in arid regions, as some might believe. Rather, this movement is akin to a divine stirring that leads to new life.

The wilderness represents those who commit abominations, while the caddis, regarded as the sacred space, corresponds to the Jewish people, who are distinguished by God and chosen from various nations. However, the holy apostles addressed both Gentiles and Jews, proclaiming the Gospel of God, so that they might produce the fruits of repentance and embody the spirit of salvation. Concerning these desolate areas, it is written: 'The ungenerated fruit is rejoicing, as many children are empty' (Gal. 4:27; Is. 54:1).

Initiated by the proclamation of the Gospel. As noted by Athanasius, the Kaddish wilderness gained particular renown among the community.