Isaiah 35 (NIV)
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
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.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Reflection:
The judgment and destruction declared in chapter 34, is now followed by the opposite in chapter 35, a destiny of God’s redemptive plan for His people.Desert and wilderness will now be transformed into a place of bubbling springs, beauty, and life- “They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.”
When we read the following verses, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy,” we can’t help but want to shout – “Yes, this is what OUR Lord Jesus has done!” This healing is not just for individuals, but a healing representative of a whole new environment marked by continual life gushing forth, “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
And as His chosen people, this life is our hope as we move toward the complete fulfillment of God’s salvation promises (35:8-10). God has now provided us a way to walk. The clean, the righteous, and the holy will walk there; the redeemed and rescued will walk there.And yes, because of Jesus Christ we can now walk on this “highway” of salvation that will lead to everlasting joy!
Responding to the Transmission:
When difficult life situations face us, don’t be discouraged, but instead “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Jesus Christ, our redeemer, our rescuer, is the one who has paved the way for us to walk on this “Way of Holiness.”
Spend some time in prayer today asking for the Spirit’s empowering as we seek to live this life of holiness.Let’s continue to receive His redemption and rescue each day.
