Isaiah 35 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Isaiah 35

The Ransomed Shall Return

35:1   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 have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
  Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
  with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”
5   Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6   then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
  For waters 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;
  in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8   And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
  the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.¹
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 gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Footnotes

[1] 35:8 Or if they are fools, they shall not wander in it

Commentary

v1-2: Promises of fruitfulness for the children of Israel, experiencing the glory and excellence of God; contrasting with 34.8-15. Here is the inheritance through Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

v3-4: Such promises bring encouragement today; words here quoted in Heb 12.12-13. "Your God" will come with vengeance on unbelievers (ch 34) and salvation for His people (33.22). The reference in Hebrews means that we cannot restrict the blessings here is natural Jews, but to all in Christ. The "God" spoken of here will come amongst His people; this was true in the incarnation of Christ, and will be true at His future return.

v5-7: The barrenness of judgment replaced by fruitfulness, see also 29.18-19. The glory of Christ is manifest in His saving the unworthy; in revealing truth to the ignorant, in giving sight to the blind, 1 Cor 1.26-31. There are the signs of the Messiah, Luke 7.19-22, seen in the life of Christ.

v8-10: Holiness and security in the Lord; a road leading to Zion. The highway itself will be a place of blessing, a foretaste of the destination. Those who are ransomed by God will return joyfully. Even the early Christians were called followers of the Way, Acts 9.2. The life we lead is one of righteousness.