AN ENTREATY FOR THE SAKE OF THE MESSIAH’S COMING Certain scholars interpret what the prophet Isaiah says here - as in several other chapters - as concerning the Second Advent of the Lord Christ to reign 1000 years before the great tribulation (the millennium kingdom). But it is obvious that the prophet is talking here about the Lord’s coming for salvation, that was already realized on the cross, and is still being realized practically in the heart of every believer, hungry for the Lord. 1. The Messiah coming down from heaven 1-3. 2. The blessings of waiting for the Messiah 4-5. 3. Confession of sins 5-12. 1. THE MESSIAH COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence - as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil - to make Your name known to Your adversaries; that the nations may tremble at Your presence.”(Is. 64: 1, 2) Certain interpreters believe that talk here concerns the second coming of the Lord Christ, to establish His millennium kingdom on earth, to reign and overcome His adversaries and enemies and all nations etc. This is unlike His first coming, which was concealed in the womb of the holy Virgin, when He did not cry nor raise His voice. I do not intend here to deal with the millennium kingdom, which I have already done in the interpretation of chapter 19 of the book of Revelation. Yet what I wish to confirm is that the text of the book of Isaiah should not be understood in a literal way, as our Christ is a spiritual King, who refused to reign materially, considering His divine incarnation as though a coming down from heaven, to encounter us. Our life was as hard as mountains, He came to shake our depths, to burn the brushwood of evil in us, to let the cold water in us boil with love, and to grant us victory over the enemies of His name, not through seen wars, but through faith, working with love. For the sake of getting rescued from captivity or afflictions, it is enough for man to ask God to “look down from heaven, and see from His habitation, holy and glorious.” (Is. 63: 15) Even though God is filling both heaven and earth with His Deity, yet for the sake of our salvation from sins, and of our return to the Fatherly bosom, it needs rending the heavens and coming down of the Word of God to our earth (Is. 64: 1). And as the Lord Christ said: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me…that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6: 38, 40) He came down from heaven to realize obedience, on behalf of Adam who fell into rebellion, putting forth the will of the Father, that is One with His own will: the realization of salvation and resurrection, through recognizing the Son in faith and abiding in Him. “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” (John 3:13) 7 St. John the Baptist said of Him: “He who comes from above is above all.” (John 3: 31) St. Ephram the Syrian, praises the Word of God, who has rent the heaven and came down, saying, [Blessed is He who by His incarnation has purchased life for our human nature! Blessed is He who sealed our soul, adorned it, and betrothed it a bride for Himself! Blessed is He who made of our body a tent for His concealed nature! Glory is to Him who, seeing how we likened the beasts in their violence and greed, He came down to become as One of us, in order that we become heavenly ones!1] The prophet David foreseeing the divine incarnation, said, “He bowed the heavens... and came down.” (Psalm 18: 9) Some people believe that saying, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence” (Is, 64: 1) implies that the people, amid their affliction, felt as though God has hidden His face from them by the clouds: “He dwells in the dark cloud” (2 Chronicles 6: 1); “Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see.” (Job 22: 11) As though they are crying out: “If our sins have hidden You behind the dark clouds, and denied us the understanding of the mysteries of Your intentions, there is no one but You to put things in order. We cannot ascend to You, but You can rend the veil and descend to us. It is not enough to look down on us from Your heavens, we are in need of Your dwelling in our midst.” “The mountains might shake.” (Is. 64: 1) If the solid mountains have trembled in Sinai, as God encountered Moses (Exodus 19: 17, 18); and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, as He spoke to Elijah (1 Kings 19: 11); who could stand before Him? Only God can solve all our problems, can shake our old man and destroy the might of our evil, to establish His kingdom in us. If the devil with all his hosts and angels, with their evil works and deceits, are like mountains, the Lord would shake their kingdom by His cross. If they were like brushwood, He will burn them with fire. We need the Lord to come down to us, as our adversaries, like mountains, who are also the adversaries of His name, oppose us to take us away of His kingdom, and to uproot His name and kingdom from within us. Opposition of the devil and his hosts, however severe it is, will be like brushwood that will be burnt by God with fire, not only to scatter opposition, but also to turn it into what is good for us. He will use this fire in heating up the cold water of our hearts to boil with love and holy zeal (Is. 64: 2). St. John Chrysostom says, [Even the devil could be for our advantage if we understand his ways, which is obvious in the episode of Job. We can also learn this from Paul, who writes concerning the adulterer: “Deliver such one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 5: 5). You see! Even Satan could be a cause for salvation, not by his nature, but through the shrewdness of the apostle, who acted like a physician who transforms the poison of a serpent into medicine2.] 1 On Nativity, hymn 2. للمؤلف: هل للشیطان سلطان علیك؟ لیوحنا ذهبي الفم، ص 2 .61 8 2. THE BLESSINGS OF WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH As the prophets lived waiting for the coming of the Messiah for salvation, we will be always waiting for Him, to reign, not on earth, but in our hearts and our inner life, to carry us to the fellowship of His glory, to behold what he has prepared for us and to get filled with joy for His righteousness working in us. The prophet says, “For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness.” (Is. 64: 4, 5) If God’s actions since the old days were so amazing, yet, no one have ever heard nor seen such things, as what God has done with humanity through His redeeming works. He came down from heaven, to encounter the sinners with joy, bringing righteousness into their lives; granting them inner glories, as a pledge of the eternal glory. St. Hippolytus comments on this prophetically phrase, saying on the tongue of the Lord Christ: [Come into the kingdom prepared for you since the beginning of the world. Enjoy forever what is given you by My Father Who is in heaven, and by the Life-giving Holy Spirit. What mouth could express these blessings that no eye could see, or ear could hear, or man’s heart could perceive? Things that are prepared by God for those who love Him (Is. 64: 4; 1 Corinthians 2: 9) You have heard of the persistent joy! Of the unchangeable Kingdom! You have learned now about the unending banquet of blessings!1] 3. CONFESSION OF SINS Our souls remain joyful because of the exalted redeeming works of God, waiting always for the continuous encounter with Him, to take away the shame of our sins, and to proclaim the glory of His righteousness in us. The ways to realize that encounter are: a. Confessing sins: “You are indeed angry, for we have sinned.” (Is. 64: 5) St. Cyprian says, [It is good to repent! If you have no place for penitence in your heart, you would loose the grace of cleansing that you have got through baptism since long time. It is far better to have a garment to mend, than not to have one to wear; but once we get one, it should be renewed2.] St John Climacus says, [Penitence renews baptism; it is undersigning a contract with God for a second life3.] St. John Chrysostom says, [Did you sin against God? Say to Him: ‘I have sinned’; what is the big deal in that?4] b. Realizing that our self-righteousness is incapable of saving us: “But we are like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags. We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away.” (Is. 64: 6) Father Martyrus the Syrian, says, [“Our vigor was turned to frailty in us” as we saw Him (Daniel 10: 8). Because of His splendor our mouths get sealed. When we regain a little strength to talk to Him, our conscience blames us, seeing how “we have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly” in His presence (Psalm 106: 6). If we imagine that we are righteous, all our righteousness is like a filthy rag. To Him conquest 1 Anti-Niciene Frs, bol 5, p. 253.. 2 On Repentance, 2. 3 Ladder 5; PG. 88:764B. 4 De Paenitentia 2:2, PG 49:285. 9 is referred, but to us shame and disgrace (Baruch 1: 15)1.] Abbot Theonas tells us how our good works could turn bad, if we lean on our self-righteousness; our righteousness is counted as a filthy rag, if compared to divine righteousness2. c. Realizing the compassionate and forgiving Fatherhood of God: “But now, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our potter. And all we are the work of Your hand. Do not be furious O Lord.”(Is. 64: 8, 9) God presents Himself to us as a Father, a Friend, and a caring Shepherd, in order to attract every soul, through penitence, to Him. His Church carries the same features, to embrace all through love enjoying the amazing salvation of God. In a message to a fallen monk, St. Basil, the Great says, [I am grieved for you. For who among the clergy would not cry, when he hears this? Who, among the ministers of the altar, would not knock his chest? Who, among the laity, whose conscience would not be troubled? You have destroyed all at the same time; have let all down. Remember the good Shepherd who follows and cares for you. Please, do not hesitate to come to me, for any worldly consideration. I stick to, and cry for my deceased, “because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.” (Is. 22: 4) There you are! Everyone is ready to welcome you! Everyone shares your strife; so do not retreat... It is time for salvation; it is time for mending! Be of good cheer and do not despair; The Church is not a Law, to judge a sinner without mercy; but has a Law of mercy, that over-rides punishment and hopes for correction! The doors are not yet closed. The Bridegroom is hearing... Have compassion on yourself and on all of us in our Lord Jesus Christ3.] d. Remembering “we all are His people.” (Is. 64: 9) e. Realizing how desolate we have been. We became like a wild desert. Fire has flared up inside us; and all our inner sanctuaries have been distorted. 1 Book of perfection, 10. 2 St. Cassian: Conf. 23:4. 3 Ep. 44.
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