Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in labour.
רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries
and found themselves in a situation akin to a woman in labor. It is clear that this struggle was not orchestrated by human means; rather, God was the sovereign architect of the conflict, bewildering the intentions of the adversary, stirring their hearts, compelling them into the agony of birth, and instilling in them an ineffable terror.
O cherished Church, how blessed you are! You have both heard and seen. You have listened to the promises and witnessed their realization; you've received prophecies and now recognize their fulfillment in the Gospel. Everything that is now realized was foretold long ago. Therefore, lift your gaze and observe the world; witness your inheritance that reaches to the farthest corners of the earth. Behold the fulfillment of what has been declared, for it is written: "all the kings of the earth will worship him; all the nations will serve him" (Psalm 71:11).
Observe how the rulers of the earth are assembled together (Psalm 47:5). Consider the gatherings from the north; behold their call to ascend to the mountain of the Lord, where He will instruct us in His ways, and we shall follow in them (Isaiah 2:3). They joined together. In what, if not in this foundational stone? (Eph. 2:20) They beheld it and were astonished (Ps. 47:6). Following their awe at the splendor and majesty of Christ, what transpired? They were disturbed and agitated (Psalm 47:7), and fear enveloped them. From where did this fear arise if not from the awareness of their transgressions? Let them flee, one king after another; let them acknowledge the true King.
Thus, He proclaims elsewhere, “But I have been appointed by Him to reign on His holy mountain Zion.” It was then proclaimed that a king reigns in Zion, to whom dominion was granted even to the furthest reaches of the earth. The rulers should tremble, fearing the loss of their dominion, lest it be taken from them. This was the despair of the unfortunate Herod, who, driven by fear of losing his rule, committed the atrocity of slaying innocent children (Matthew 2:16). Had he come to worship the King alongside the Magi instead of malevolently striving for power, he would not have met his end in guilt, having harmed the innocent while Christ, though just a child, triumphed. Therefore, kings ought to be apprehensive when it is declared, “Yet I am appointed king on His holy mountain Zion, and an inheritance will be given to Him even unto the farthest corners of the earth.” The warning to them is thus: “Therefore take heed, O kings; be instructed, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence, and rejoice in Him with trembling.” How did they respond? With the pangs of a woman in labor. What do the pains of a woman in labor signify but the anguish of one who repents? The same sentiment of suffering is echoed, “By Thy fear (Isaiah says) we were conceived, and through the Spirit of salvation, we are brought forth” (Isaiah 26:17-18). The kings experienced the fear of Christ, and through their travail, they found salvation by placing their faith in Him whom they feared. The pains are likened to those of a woman in labor; where labor is mentioned, expect the arrival of a new life. The old self endures pain, but the new creation emerges.
Amazement is delightful to me. For the authority of the Savior inspired within them admiration and astonishment.
The thought of the immense struggle required to achieve the ultimate goal can be daunting, as one considers the numerous trials and tribulations the righteous endure, the formidable challenges they face, and the arduous nature of their toil. There exists deep anguish along this harsh path, compounded by the burdens of self-control and the trials of conscience. Even the strongest among them fear that someone may falter under the weight of such difficulties or the sorrows they encounter. Indeed, significant and painful sufferings will arise within the Church, and in the presence of the great King, there will be distress akin to that experienced by a woman in labor (Psalm 47:7; Jeremiah 22:23), until Christ is formed within us (Galatians 4:19).
The Apostle Paul felt deep concern seeing how gradually his message was received by the wayward Galatians, prompting him to exclaim, “My children, for whom I am again in the throes of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). The Lord recognizes in the Gospel the intense suffering associated with childbirth: "A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world" (John 16:21).
It requires great effort to truly embrace Christ for ourselves, or else we risk drifting like a rudderless ship on the ocean of this world. When Christ informed the apostles of His return to the Father, they were filled with sadness, fearing they would be left without a leader. Christ embodies joy; He is the child that humanity brings forth, carrying within our minds the Spirit of salvation. Those who have already nurtured Him rejoice, while those still in the process may feel doubt and anxiety. It is essential to give birth to Him and provide for His growth. Avoid improper practices: “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk” (Exodus 23:19), lest you hear the foreboding words, “Woe to those who are pregnant and nursing” (Matthew 24:19)!
Christ was born of Mary so that we might recognize Him, as the ox recognizes its master (Isaiah 1:3), understanding that He is our Creator and the Lord of those who came before us. Nourish Him not as an infant, but honor Him as the true and perfect God, who comes from the true and perfect God. The Magi revered Him in this manner, recognizing Him not merely in the humble setting of a mother’s milk, but as the eternal God Himself. They looked to the heavens for guidance, rather than searching earthly places, for they followed the star that shone above. Mary did not suffer the pains of childbirth, for she understood the magnitude of bringing forth her Lord and Savior, as seen in her proclamation: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47). Thus, the anguish relates to the journey of bringing Him into your life, as well as nurturing Him. From the very beginning, it is crucial to acknowledge His perfection.
Upon witnessing the steadfast foundations of the Church and understanding the fragility of false prophecies, as the Prophet declares, they were filled with fear and dread, akin to travelers navigating a narrow path by the sea, who are unsettled by crashing waves and anticipate their own demise. Consequently, instead of continuing their struggle and assault, they now proclaim the strength of the very Church they once opposed, exclaiming, ‘As many as have heard, so also have seen in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God.’
I have experienced dread: there are afflictions akin to those of a woman in labor. The adversaries of the Church, upon witnessing its strength, were filled with fear; just as a pregnant woman endures the pains of childbirth, so too were these foes of the Church distressed, tormented, and anxious about the repercussions of their struggle against her. As the esteemed Athanasius remarked, this refers to the conflict over preaching that arose against the apostles from the carnal rulers of the nations, while ancient invisible spirits held sway, only to be astonished by the divine assistance bestowed upon the saints.
In this passage, the prophet succinctly recounts the narrative of Jerusalem's liberation from peril. The core of the account reveals that certain kings conspired to assail the Holy City and utterly dismantle it; however, their plans turned futile, dissipating like vapor. The prophet emphasizes this further, describing how the mere sight of the Holy City caused them to tremble—not just a simple quaking, but as if overwhelmed by labor pains, they were seized with an utter terror. While the historical context he refers to remains uncertain, it likely aligns closely with the reigns of Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Asa, the monarchs of Judah.
Regardless, the prophet succinctly notes that the Jewish people clearly recognized that God was the one who defended and safeguarded His city, countering the might of His adversaries with His unparalleled strength. Thus, it is clear that the battle was not fought by human wisdom; rather, it was divinely orchestrated, as God dismantled the cunning of the enemies, instilled fear into their hearts, afflicted them with maladies, and filled them with an uncanny astonishment.
Refer to Psalm 29. This hymn, written by David, was performed by the sons of Korah, designated to be sung on the second day of the Seven Days, exaltations and glorifications directed towards God relating to the creation of the heavens on that day: God declared, "Let there be a firmament," and it was so, marking the second day (Genesis 1:6-8). The second Sabbath signifies the foundation of the Holy Church, which emerged following the week of Christ's Resurrection, as the apostles were commissioned to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.
The rulers of the earth gathered and came together. In the face of these united forces that advanced against Jerusalem during Jehoshaphat's reign, the Lord manifested Himself as the protector of Jerusalem's inhabitants. Not only did the allies' plans against Jerusalem fail, but they also met their end in their internal conflict (2 Chronicles 20:23); they were, as subsequent verses of the psalm express, dismayed, I am in distress (verses 6-7). Similarly, the foes of the Church of Christ, which cannot be overcome by the powers of hell and is shielded by its all-powerful Head, who reigns at the right hand of God the Father - the incarnate Savior Jesus Christ.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS