Preparing for Deliverance
Intro
In the previous chapter (Isaiah 34) Isaiah proclaimed a future when every nation would be judged by God and the land is left bare and desolate as a desert wilderness. In this chapter the second half of that story is told, in which the wilderness is restored into a land with abundant resources while those who survive God’s judgement experience a complete restoration and an outpouring of blessings.
In this chapter we see God’s power to restore and transform all the affirmaties that we experience into an abundance of blessings of peace, fearlessness, and resources.
Isaiah 35:1-4
[1] The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus [2] it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. [3] Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. [4] Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
To those whom this message was first proclaimed in Isaiah’s day, places like Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon would have been already understood to be the most resourceful and beautiful places they had ever known. So when Isaiah proclaims that the glory of these beautiful places would be given to the wilderness, his listeners would have understood that it would take “the glory of the LORD” to make this prophecy to be realized. Yet to the person of faith, they would rejoice in this declaration, for although they were currently in a weakened, fearful, and vulnerable state, they would have been deeply encouraged to know that the LORD, their help, was on the way!
Isaiah 35:5-7
[5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; [6] then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; [7] the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
Not only is restoration of the land made possible when God’s glory appears, but so is the restoration of God’s people. So as the wilderness is transformed into an oasis, eyes are also opened and deaf ears also regain their hearing, the lame also leap for joy, and the mute also sing for joy. Isaiah says to Israel “here is your God”(v.4), for when God’s blessings flow they often overflow. Therefore the hot burning dry sand shall become not only a puddle of water but as a pool of and even as a swamp ( v.7), which speaks to an overflow of blessings.
Isaiah 35:8-10
A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. [9] No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. [10] And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
At first, the highway called the Holy Way that Isaiah proclaims God will create, seems to be a road that only a select few (God’s people) can follow. Many people interpret it this way and simply leave it there. But we must be careful to consider who God’s people are; surely every person born is a child of God. And so it is through deeper consideration of the text that we read that not even fools will stray from this Holy Way. Therefore the Holy Way is not a result of humanity's ability to remain Holy with their own self righteousness, but rather it is through the resurrection of Christ that all who accept him as LORD of their lives are made Holy and are led on the paths of righteousness for his Namesake.
The contrast between judgement (Isaiah 34) and restoration (Isaiah 35) is differentiated by God’s position in each chapter. We can learn from this that when God is not the head of our lives judgement soon follows, no matter what prosperity we may be presently enjoying. On the other hand when we give God the authority to reign over us as LORD, an abundance of blessings are sure to follow no matter what kind of suffering we may be presently faced with.
Conclusion
One of the most dreadful things about the wilderness in the days of Isaiah was the fear of being eaten alive by a lion or wild beast. In our own lives fear, worry, and anxiety consume our thinking when we move outside of God’s headship.
However when God reigns in our lives, just as the environment around us is transformed, and our own hearts transformed through redemption, so the mindset of fear is transformed into thoughts of peace; the apostle Paul called this a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
In Isaiah 34 the harsh unbiased judgement of God is completely satisfied. In Isaiah 35 the threats of wild beasts, hunger/thirst, disability, and even ignorance are all completely removed. Therefore fear and sorrow are gone for good, and all that is left for the redeemed of God to do is to “return to Zion with everlasting joy”, a joy that they wear on their heads down to throughout their entire being.
Prayer
Gracious LORD,
We know that you still have all power in your hands, and so we pray that you will fulfill your promises to transform our wilderness experiences into flourishing and beautiful gardens with an abundance of all that you already know we need. We pray that you would become our strength as you transform our weaknesses into great strength and as we put our whole hope in you. Open our eyes and our ears so that we can behold your goodness. Show us the Holy Way and make us Holy as we journey on it. We acknowledged you alone as the head of our lives. We pray that you remove all fear and shame, so that we can walk with our heads held high never ceasing to rejoice in the freedom of your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!!