Isaiah 35

This chapter concludes the first part of the book of Isaiah. In the previous chapter we considered the final judgment of the world. However, that chapter is not the last word. The final word is not of judgment but redemption (9). It is a story of over flowingly abundant joy.

In verses 1 and 2 you have a picture of rejuvenated nature (see also 6, 7). This speaks powerfully about God’s transforming power; His ability to do the unexpected, and perform the opposite of what might be anticipated. In these first two verses Isaiah personifies nature: the ‘’desert… will be glad’’; the ‘’crocus…will rejoice.’’ This is common in Hebrew poetry. The ‘’splendour’’ of transformed nature will reflect the splendour of God Himself (2). Whatever else the prophet had in mind, he was surely looking ahead to the end of history and the new heaven and new earth. Warren Wiersbe makes the point that history began in a garden, but man’s sin turned it into a desert. When Jesus comes again, the creation will rejoice to be set free from the bondage of sin (Isaiah 55:12, 13; Romans 8:18-25.)

But the new heaven and the new earth are still future, and in the present we are on a tough pilgrimage through this world, so we need to support each other on this journey (3, 4; see Hebrews 12: 12, 13). Here are constructive ways we can do this: a.) serve practically: ‘’Strengthen…steady…; b.) speak truthfully (or we might say theologically): ‘’…say…’’ Above all we want to be pointing people to God. Although we look to support them, we don’t want them leaning on us. We want them to know God as their all in all, and look to Him for all their necessary resources. We surely desire that they will prove Him for themselves?

The next section (5-7) looks ahead to the Messianic age, inaugurated at the first coming of Jesus, and which will fully flower at His second advent (Isaiah 29:18; 32:3; Matthew 11:4, 5; 12:22; 15:29-31; Acts 3:7, 8). With the coming of Jesus there were wonderful miracles of healing. These things happened because God had come (4).But when the fullness of His kingdom comes there will be no spiritual blindness or deafness whatsoever, and all sickness will be banished for good (33:24). The Kingdom of God will be one of total light and perfect life.

In (8-10) Isaiah looks far into the future. Although he may partly be envisioning the returning exiles coming home from captivity across the desert to Jerusalem (in a second Exodus!) he surely is also looking ahead to the ‘’new Jerusalem’’ (Revelation 21:2) into which nothing ‘’unclean’’ or ‘’impure’’ will be permitted to enter (Revelation 21:27). In that city ‘’sorrow and sighing’’ will be no more (see Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:3, 4). We note from these verses that ‘’the redeemed will walk…’’ on ‘’the Way of Holiness’’. If we have been bought at such a price by Jesus, then we are to honour God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). F.B. Meyer comments that holiness is a ‘Way’. He says: ‘’Our holiness is progressive. Though we may perfectly obey up to the limit of our knowledge, that knowledge is ever on the increase, beckoning our advance.’’ ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.282.

‘’Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind , behold your Saviour come; And leap, ye lame, for joy! Charles Wesley.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that ‘blessings abound’ wherever Jesus reigns