Isaiah 35
Summary for Isa 35:1-10: 35:1-10 a God will come to vindicate and transform his people. Instead of being deaf, blind, and lame (see 6:10 b), the people will be pure, holy, and redeemed. 35:1 c God’s land would become like a wasteland, spiritually desolate and physically depleted. However, God would turn the desert into a garden (see also 32:15 d), taking his people from exile to glory.35:2 e Lebanon ... Mount Carmel ... Sharon: There will be a reversal of earlier judgments (see 2:13 f; 10:34 g; 29:17 h; 33:9 i).
• glory ... splendor of our God: See also 6:3 j; 40:5 k.
35:3 l Tired hands and weak knees express discouragement and anxiety (see Heb 12:12 m).
35:4 n do not fear: The Lord here assures his people of his presence and purpose (see also 7:4 o; 10:24 p; 40:9 q; 43:1 r; 44:2 s; 54:4 t).
• The essence of the good news is that God is coming to save his people (see also 40:9 u; 52:7 v; 62:11 w). God’s coming brings spiritual transformation as well as rescue from enemies.
35:5 x eyes ... ears: There will be a transformation from spiritual blindness and deafness to understanding and knowing God (6:10 y; 29:18 z; 32:3 aa; 42:7 ab; see also Luke 7:22 ac; Acts 26:18 ad).
35:6 ae The lame ... those who cannot speak: All disabilities will be removed (see Matt 11:5 af; 12:22 ag; Mark 7:37 ah; Acts 3:7-8 ai).
35:8 aj The imagery of the great road recalls Israel’s crossing through the Red Sea (51:10 ak).
• Only holy and undefiled people will share the Highway of Holiness. God’s goal in salvation is that humans will share in his character and act as he does (see Eph 5:1-2 al; 1 Pet 2:21 am).
35:10 an Jerusalem: The prophecy extends beyond the return of Israel from exile to the final establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. It will be characterized by joy and gladness and the absence of sorrow and mourning (see also 25:7 ao; 51:11 ap; Rev 21:4 aq).
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