I. Restoration of the Land and the People (v1-4)
In contrast to Chapter 34, the land of Israel will be restored. Its desert shall blossom like the crocus, a small, purple flower that is the first to emerge from the spring. It represents cheerfulness and glee as it brings color to the landscape after a long winter. It is also associated with youth. *
The glory of Lebanon will be given to Israel, possibly symbolizing the restoration of the forests and precious trees such as the juniper, the fir and the cypress which are used to build the temple. Carmel and Sharon may symbolises the fertile pastures that feeds the farm animals. (Isa 60:13; 65:10).
The blessing is more than just ecological but a spiritual flourishing in our lives. We will see clearly the glory and splendour of God.
Hebrews 12:12 quotes Isaiah 35:3 - "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees." It is an encouragement to believers to strive for peace and holiness, and to avoid bitterness so that as many as possible will enjoy God's grace.
Those with "anxious hearts" (v4) - those that want to take actions in haste, can instead be fearless for the vengeance of God will come soon. ("will come" appears three times in this paragraph.)
This doesn't mean we will see the vengeance in our life time, but we know for certain that there will be a day of reckoning.
II. Salvation of the Lord (5-7)
"The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped" (v5) is a prophecy of the salvation of God though His son, Jesus Christ. The miracles are a sign of the presence of God. John the baptist asked whether Jesus is the Messiah, and Jesus answered "the blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear" (Mat 11:4-5) as the visible proof of who He was.
Isaiah further said that "waters break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (v6). While this may refer to the physical healing of the land, which Israel is already enjoying, it is also a spiritual prophecy about the effects of salvation that Jesus brought. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38).
Before we believed, we did not know how parched we were, and we were looking to quench our thirst from "empty cisterns." It was only after we were born again that we realised the true refreshments that Christ brings to every part of our lives.
III. Way of Holiness (8-10)
Jesus came and established a new way for the Jewish people. In fact, followers of Christ were literally called the followers of "The Way." Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (Jn 14:6-7).
Isaiah said that the Way of Holiness is like a highway (v8). Thr highway is the path to God. The unclean and the lions (people who wants to do evil or harm) will not walk there.
Rather, the redeemed shall walk in it - it is not that if you walk, you will be redeemed, but that you are redeemed before you are allowed to walk in it. Even "fools... shall not go astray" - it is opened to everyone, whether the learned or the illiterate.
"The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing" (v10) not only refers to the Jewish people, but to all who were "redeemed" by Christ.
The "returning" seem to suggest that even the dead in Christ, and the righteous dead before Christ, will be part of the multitude streaming towards Jerusalem to give praise to the one on the throne. And there will be an everlasting joy and gladness over the people, for there will never be any sorrow and sighing evermore.
*www.flowermeaning.com
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