Isaiah — Chapter 30
Synopsis Capitis
Synopsis: Oracle against the Egyptian alliance — 'Woe to the rebellious children who go down to Egypt for help' (v.1-7). Israel trusts in horses and chariots (v.16) rather than God. Contrasted with the promise of God's gracious teaching: 'Your Teacher will not hide himself any more, and your eyes shall see your Teacher' (v.20). Lapide reads v.20 as a prophecy of the Incarnation: God Himself will become the visible Teacher. The chapter ends with cosmic images of divine judgment (v.30-33) and the burning of Topheth — the fire of Gehenna.
Verse 1
Woe to you, apostate children, saith the Lord, that you would take counsel, and not of me: and would begin a web, and not by my spirit, that you might add sin upon sins. Woe to those who weave political schemes (Egyptian alliances) without consulting God. Lapide: this is the vice of all purely secular statesmanship — the decision-maker who excludes divine consultation adds sin to sin.
Verse 7
Egypt is vain, and to no purpose shall they help: therefore I have cried concerning this: It is pride only, sit still. Egypt = 'Rahab sitting still' — the great crocodile who makes noise but cannot help. Lapide: Rahab = boisterous pride (from the Hebrew); the proud nations who seem strong are precisely those who fail most completely when put to the test.
Verse 18
Therefore the Lord waiteth that he may have mercy on you: and therefore shall he be exalted, sparing you: because the Lord is the God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. One of the great consolation verses: God's patience is not negligence but preparation for a perfect mercy. He waits until the right moment to show His grace more abundantly. Lapide: this is the theology of divine Providence — God's delays are always purposeful.
Verse 20
Et non faciet avolare a te ultra doctorem tuum, et erunt oculi tui videntes praeceptorem tuum
Your Teacher will no more be hidden, and your eyes shall see your Teacher. Primary sense: the Lord Himself will be your teacher — fulfilled in Christ, the supreme Teacher and Rabbi (Mt 23:10: 'One is your Teacher, Christ'). Lapide: God taught Israel through prophets and priests; now He will teach directly in person (Incarnation), through Scripture interpreted by the Church. 'Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying: This is the way, walk in it' (v.21) = the voice of the Church's Magisterium, guiding the faithful in doctrine and morals.
Verse 26
And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days: in the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of his people, and shall heal the stroke of their wound. The sevenfold increased light = the glories of the Church and the celestial beatitude; fulfilled in stages: (1) in the time of Ezechias after Sennacherib's defeat; (2) in the spiritual light of the Gospel; (3) fully in the beatific vision of heaven.
Verse 33
For Topheth is prepared from yesterday, prepared by the king, deep and wide. The nourishment thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord, as a torrent of brimstone, kindling it. Tophet/Gehenna = prepared for the King (the devil or Sennacherib) long ago; God's breath is the fire of its torment. Lapide: this verse proves eternal hellfire — the torment prepared 'from yesterday' (= from eternity) will never be quenched; the 'breath of the Lord' = divine justice maintaining it perpetually.