Chapter 35 of Isaiah brings good news to those who know and love the Messiah. Most Bibles title it something along the lines of "The Ransomed Return to Zion." This is good news!
Isaiah 35:1-2 (HCSB) The
wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom
like a rose. It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and
singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and
Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
What a contrast to the gloom and
doom of the land in the nations of chapter 34! The desert will blossom
abundantly like a rose and rejoice with joy and singing - as when the trees
clap their hands! This wilderness is not left to scavengers but is redeemed by God
for the redeemed of God. And all with see the splendor and glory of YHWH as He
reveals Zion.
Isaiah 35:3-4 (HCSB) Strengthen
the weak hands, steady the shaking knees! Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do
not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming;
He will save you.”
We see a New Covenant allusion to
this: Hebrews 12:7, 12 - 13 (HCSB) "Endure ⌊suffering⌋ as
discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a
father does not discipline? Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened
knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be
dislocated but healed instead." God's vengeance is coming upon those who
hate Him, retribution for the evil they've done. This same God, vengeful towards
some, is merciful towards others. He WILL save His own - the Great Shepherd
will find EVERY lost sheep and bring EACH one home to the sheepfold of God.
Isaiah 35:5-7 (HCSB) Then the
eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the
lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for
water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the parched
ground will become a pool of water, and the thirsty land springs of water. In
the haunt of jackals, in their lairs, there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
Jesus referred to the first part
of this passage when John's disciples came to Him with the question, "Are
you the One who is to come or should we look for another?" Matthew 11:4-6
(HCSB) "Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and
see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the
deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if
anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”" This is how we know
this passage in Isaiah describes the kingdom of God given through Jesus - He
said it is proof that He is the One is to come. Again we see parched land
revived, scavengers no longer at home because of this. If this is not cause to
join the land and rejoice with great joy I fail to find any reason to do so.
Isaiah 35:8 (HCSB) A road will be
there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on
it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Even the fool will not go
astray.
In chapter 11 we read of a
highway that brings God's remnant to Zion; here that road is a Holy Way that no
rebels can travel. This road is set apart for those clothed in the
righteousness of Christ, who walk His path; even fools that once denied Him
will be kept on the narrow path since they now belong to Him.
Isaiah 35:9-10 (HCSB) There will
be no lion there, and no vicious beast will go up on it; they will not be found
there. But the redeemed will walk ⌊on it⌋, and the
redeemed of the LORD will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with
unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake ⌊them⌋, and sorrow and sighing will
flee.
Zion is in view here - no vicious
animals or people will be there. Here we see them outside instead of tame, not
in conflict what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 11:6-7 (HCSB) "The wolf will live
with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young
lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and
the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will
eat straw like the ox." Two references to Zion with word pictures using
animals to describe the peace the redeemed will have. Neither reference should
be seen as a focus on the animals, but on the peace of God He gives His people.
We will walk on His revived land (new earth), wherein peace rules. We will sing
His praise without end, full of joy and gladness. Not only with there be no
vicious beasts, there will no sorrow.
Revelation 21:1-4 (HCSB) Then I
saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned
for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s
dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every
tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will
exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
God's plan of redemption,
unfolded from Genesis through Revelation - it's all about the One who was to
come, the promised Messiah. He gives joy unbounded to those He brings into His
sheepfold. Do you know Him? There is no politician, no business, no husband or
wife, no child or parent that provide this peace and joy. Christ ALONE gave His
life to save His OWN; to bring the ransomed to Zion.
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