PRAISE TO THE LORD FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM By the end of the last chapter, the part concerning Isaiah’s warnings of the devastation to occur to the nations, because of their departure away from God, and their rebellion against Him, comes to an end. Chapters 25 to 27, on the other hand, present praises of salvation, proclaim God’s intentions through His chastisements, and reveal the extent of His yearning for His beloved vine, and His invitation of His people to enjoy the great banquet, and the destruction of the devil’s power. Chapter 25 represents praise for the work of God with His people, bringing them back from captivity, and destroying their enemies (including Moab), as a symbol of His redeeming work in the New Testament, when He establishes His kingdom, granting His people the freedom and conquest over the forces of darkness. This chapter and the next one lead us into the kingdom of the New Testament, as the Lord comes to establish His heavenly kingdom in the life of mankind. That was what St. John the Baptist proclaimed, at the beginning of his ministry, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3: 1) The King Himself proclaimed: “The kingdom of God is within you.” They denied the Messiah, the King, yet the King keeps on calling on all humanity to come to His kingdom, saying, in an open invitation across all ages: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) 1. A praise of thanksgiving to the Lord 1-5. 2. Banquet of the New Testament 6-9. 3. Devastation of Moab 10-12. 1. A PRAISE OF THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD As Isaiah’s eyes were opened to the kingdom of the Lord Christ, his heart got flooded with joy, and his tongue set forth praising the Lord for His work of salvation. After prophesying the bitter chastisements he turned into a psalmist praising the Lord. The mysteries of his praise and thanksgiving were: a. Realization of the words of God and His honest true promises: “O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name. For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Is. 25: 1) The prophet realized that the mystery of salvation lies in the honest promises of God, and marvelous works of His hands. That is why St. Irenaeus comments on this praise saying, [We see here that our salvation is not through our own efforts, but through the grace of God1.] We praise God and give Him thanks, for His marvelous divine counsels, from the beginning, He is caring for our salvation; even before we ever existed, since we were in His thought, the subject of His love. b. Devastation of evil (Babylon): “For you have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a place of foreigners to be a city no more. It will never be rebuilt”(Is. 25: 2) Our salvation by the divine arm will be realized through the devastation of evil, namely the arrogant city of Babylon, the one filled with confusion that embraces 1 Adv. Haer. 3:20:3. the antichrist. It is as though, the mystery of our praise is the setting of the kingdom of Christ, going hand-in-hand with the collapse of the kingdom of the devil, the opponent of truth, the devastation of his city, and destruction of his palace. The ‘city’ here, probably refers to the control of the devil, of the congregation; his control of smaller units, like the family; and the place refers to his control of the hearts of individual. The enemy works on all levels, in order to reign through the congregation, the family, or the individual... Our Christ, likewise, opposes him on all levels, to devastate all traces of his kingdom. As to calling the soul, controlled by the enemy, “a place of foreigners,” it is because the devil with his angels are occupying the soul, as foreigners, taking hold of what is not theirs. It is the good creation of God, into which they have infiltrated. Probably also, devastating the city, the town, or the place of foreigners, all refer to the destruction of our old man with all his works, for the sake of the continuous renewal of the inward man, after the image of his Creator (2 Corinthians 4: 16). c. Preaching: What rejoices the heart and fills it with praise, is that the setting of the inward kingdom of Christ, together with the devastation of the kingdom of the devil in us, is going hand-in-hand with testifying or preaching of the work of God and the gospel of His salvation. Thus drawing a multitude of souls, to establish a strong Church, not on account of the number of its members, but of the Mighty Christ dwelling in it. “The strong people will glorify You. The city of terrible nations will fear You.” (Is. 25: 3) Our souls rejoice in the strong people of God, that carries in itself the power of His resurrection that has overcome death; to live strong and ruthless, practicing divine fear; as is said of them, “Breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army;” (Ezekiel 37: 10) “Awesome as an army with banners.” (Song 6: 10). When the city of Babylon in us is devastated, and the strong town and stronghold of the devil are destroyed, the Lord will reign to set, out of us, a strong people, awesome to the enemy. What is that awesome people, but the sanctification of the soul, the body, the mind, the words, the emotions, even the shadow of man? Haven’t the sicknesses got away before the shadow of the apostle Peter (Acts 5: 15); and illnesses were cured and evil spirits were cast away through merely looking at the handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul (Acts 19: 11)? d. Granting the oppressed their rights: “For you have been a strength to the poor; a strength to the needy in his distress. A shade from heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. You will reduce the noise of aliens...The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.” (Is. 25: 4, 5) Humanity is moaning because of the law of oppression that prevailed, since sin entered to it. That is why God presents Himself as a Source of practical comfort, as a support to the wounded soul, a stronghold to the poor at times of affliction, a refuge against floods and storms, a shade from heat; While, “the blast (the breath) of the terrible (the ruthless) is like a storm against a wall.” God, with His exalted love, and His fatherly care, offers Himself to His believers according to their needs; becoming everything for them, for the sake of their peace, their edification, and their satisfaction. He is for them the strength, the stronghold, the refuge, the shading cloud, and the bread coming down from heaven etc. 2. BANQUET OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The Word of God, the Savior, comes to every soul, to satisfy its needs, to grant it peace, and power against the evil enemy; and to enjoy the new life in Christ, as a permanent joyous banquet. That banquet is actually, the truly fulfilling evangelic life, offered to all peoples. Here He describes it as: a. A public banquet: “The Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces” (Is. 25: 6) The gate is now widely open before all peoples to enjoy the word of God, His covenants, laws, and works of salvation, particularly the fellowship of the Eucharist (the body and blood of the Lord). The gifts of God are no more confined to a certain people or to a special race. The Lord Christ proclaims the generality of His invitation by saying, “Go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” (Matthew 22: 9) b. A feast of choice pieces: (Is. 25: 6). What is this rich feast or rich banquet but the sacrament of the Eucharist, where the believers from all peoples share with the heavenly hosts in the praise; to have the gates of heaven opened before them; or let us say, the Church turns into heaven, where the believers enjoy the body and blood of the Lord, as salvation and satisfaction. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23: 1) Listen to what David tells you about the importance of the sacraments you have gained! How he started his psalm by proclaiming that he is not any more “in want”! Why? Because whoever partakes of the body of Christ will never get hungry any more!2 St. Ambrose Those who are deprived of earthly blessings, because of their group age are granted the heavenly ones in richness and satisfaction, to sing with David: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23: 1)3 St. Didymus the Blind That banquet is the support of our souls, the basis of our hope, our salvation, our light, and our life. When you see the table set before you, you should say to yourself: ‘Because of His body, I shall not be any more dust and ashes; I shall not be a prisoner but free! Because of this (body), I hope for heaven, and receive heavenly goodness, eternal life, angelic share and having a conversation with Christ. That body, which was nailed and flogged, not be anymore overcome by death!’ It is the body that was stabbed and covered with blood, and from which came out the two springs for the salvation of the world: a spring of blood, and a spring of water!4 St. John Chrysostom c. A spiritually joyful banquet: “A feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees.” (Is. 25: 6) The wine refers to spiritual joy; being fine or pure, means that it does not cause man to get drunk or to lose his consciousness, but gives him spiritual joy. The wine of the Lord is not like that which Noah drank in the book of Genesis; but being drunk by the glass of the Lord and His Blood is not as being the glass of wine of the world… For the glass of the Lord makes those who drink it more prudent, and grants their thoughts spiritual wisdom. It transfers man from tasting 2 De Sacram. 5:12,13. 3 De Trinit. PG. 39:708C. 4 In 1Cor. Hom 24. the world to apprehending God... It sets the soul free, and grants it comfort, offering it the joy of divine goodness, instead of the depression of heart, darkened because of the heavy burdens of sin5. Martyr Cyprian d. A heavenly banquet: Through which the cover and veil of the letter are taken away, to get those who partake of it into heaven itself, to discover its mysteries that were before veiled before humans. “And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” (Is. 25: 7) The people who got purified and filled with amazing gifts starts to march toward the altar singing: “Let us go to the house of the Lord. May God rejoice our youth...” They are hastening toward the heavenly banquet6. St. Ambrose Every time we minister the Liturgy of this Sacrifice we should count ourselves like those in heaven7. Abbot Theodore e. A life-giving banquet: “He will swallow up death forever.” (Is. 25: 8). Through this sacrifice, we, the mortals by nature, expect no death; we, the corrupt, no corruption; and in place of the earth with all its evils, we gain blessings and joys of heaven8. Abbot Theodore In order not to boast assuming that life is our own doing, and get arrogant toward God, we should know through experience that if we are granted eternal life, we get it through that exalted sacrament, the “Eucharist9.” St. Irenaeus f. A glorified banquet: “The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces. The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken” (Is. 25: 8) He Grants His believers comfort in Him through the holy life, or through enjoying the righteousness of Christ. If tears have infiltrated to all humanity through its rebellion, our union with God, in His Son, through the Holy Spirit, will grant us steadfastness in Christ, who is obedient to the Father; thus taking away the heavy burden of our rebellion, and wiping away our inner tears; granting the soul inner glories, to be experienced in this life, as a pledge of the heavenly eternal glory. Our life is a strife and struggle against the forces of darkness, a continuous battle, on the field of the inner heart, through which we are granted, by our Christ, conquest and victory; bandaging every wound, and wiping away every tear. The sacramental banquet is the body of the Lord that supports us against our lusts, and against the evil one. It is true that the devil tremble before those who respectfully partake of these sacraments10. St. Cyril of Alexandria 5 Ep. 63:11. 6 Myst. 43. 7 Cat. Hom 15:20. 8 Ibid 13:12; 16:30. 9 Fr. Malaty: Christ in the Eucharist, 1985, book 1, ch. 6. 10 PG. 33:841C. 3. DEVASTATION OF MOAB As the believers rejoice for overcoming sorrow, bitterness, tears, and even death, through the free banquet of salvation, they say, “This is our God. We have waited for Him, and He will save us.”(Is. 25: 9) Our joy is in our salvation from our enemies; namely from the devil, all his hosts, and his evil deeds; for the glory of the children of God, is accompanied by shame to the powers of darkness, symbolized here by Moab: “For on the mountain the hand of the Lord will rest, and Moab shall be trampled down under Him, as straw is trampled down for the refuse heap. And He will spread out His hands in the midst, as he who swims spreads out his hands to swim. And He will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands. The fortress of the high fort of your walls, He will bring down, lay low, and brings to the ground, down to the dust.” (Is. 25: 10, 11) If the powers of darkness have showed haughtiness over the children of God, and thought that they are capable of humiliating them, God through the cross, destroyed their strongholds, and brought them down to the abyss; giving us the authority to trample over serpents and scorpions and all powers of darkness; as straw is trampled down to use in building bricks. As though those powers, that were the cause of our perdition are transformed, through the work of salvation of God, into despised and humble items underneath our feet, to be used for the edification of our souls, as without the devil we would have never been crowned. The mystery behind the devastation of the enemy is his pride, who thought of himself as protected within fortified walls, but God brought these walls to the ground, to expose the weakness of the enemy, and to reveal the truth of his helplessness before our Lord.
Welcome