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Isaiah 35
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King James Version
Joy of the Redeemed
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice,
and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of
Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the
glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God
will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come
and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in
the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in
the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men,
though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it 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 songs and everlasting
joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee
away.1
Bible Commentary
1 The wilderness and solitary place refers to the land of Palestine, which was
despised like a wilderness and brought to desolation by the rage of their enemies. It shall
again flourish exceedingly.2 The imminent siege of Jerusalem, the subject of the greater
part of the proceeding five chapters, is seen here in its proper perspective. It will not
be the end of the nation. They will survive and go on to greater glory.3
2 The wilderness shall be as pleasant and fruitful as Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon.
The glory of Lebanon referred to its mountains and huge cedars.3 The
excellency of Carmel was
its mountainous beauty, while the Plain of Sharon was famed for its fertility.4 Judea became
prosperous in the days of Hezekiah, but the kingdom of Christ is the great subject
intended. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness, to rejoice with joy and
singing, and to blossom abundantly.5
3 The Judeans now despondent are to be encouraged by the assurance of the blessings
promised.6 This is the design of the gospel. Fear is weakening; the more we strive against
it, the stronger we are, both for doing and suffering; and he that says to us, Be strong,
has laid help for us upon One who is mighty.5
4 There is a message of courage and hope for God's people. Your God -
Tho' he seems to be departed, will shortly come to execute
vengeance upon your enemies and prepare the way for your
deliverance.2 Assurance is given of the approach of Messiah, to
take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to recompense with
abundant comforts those that mourn in Zion; He will come and
save. He will come again at the end of time, to punish those who have
troubled his people; and to give those who were troubled such rest
as will be a full reward for all their troubles.5
5 The promise that the blind shall see and the deaf hear had both literal and
figurative fulfilment. Figuratively it was descriptive of the joy felt at the deliverance
from Assyria and Babylon. Literally this promise would be fulfilled at the coming of Jesus
and His miracles.6 When Christ shall come then great wonders shall be wrought on men's
souls. By the word and Spirit of Christ, the spiritually blind were enlightened; and those
deaf to the calls of God were made to hear them readily.5
6 Those unable to do any thing good, by Divine grace were made active therein.
Those that knew not how to speak of God or to God, had their lips opened to show forth
his praise. When the Holy Ghost came upon the Gentiles that heard the word, then were the
fountains of life opened.5
7 The most dry and barren places shall be made moist and fruitful; which is
principally meant of the plentiful effusion of God's grace upon such persons and nations,
as had been wholly destitute of it. Those dry and parched deserts, in which dragons have
their abode, shall yield abundance of grass, and reeds, and rushes, which grow only in
moist ground.2
8 An highway and a way are not to be taken for two different ways, but for one and
the same way.2 The way of religion and godliness shall be laid open. The way of holiness is
the way of God's commandment; it is the good old way. And the way to heaven is a plain way.
Even those knowing but little, and the unlearned, can find the road.5
9 In ancient times lions were a serious menace to those who journeyed through wild
and desolate regions. But God assured a safe journey to those who would travel to Jerusalem
along His holy way.4 Christ, the way to God, shall be clearly made known; and the way of a
believer's duty shall be plainly marked out. Let us then go forward cheerfully, assured
that the end of this way shall be everlasting joy, and rest for the soul.5
10 The ransomed of the Lord returning to Zion literally applies to the return from
Babylon.6 The journey to Zion is a happy one. Pilgrims on their way to attend the feasts
at Jerusalem went with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving to God. They sang psalms of
praise as they looked forward to the happy hours they would spend in the sacred city, in
fellowship with one another and in communion with God. This is to be the experience of
the ransomed of all nations who by faith are made citizens of the gospel Zion.4 They rejoice
in Christ Jesus; and their sorrows and sighs are made to flee away by Divine consolations.5
References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2. John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
- http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
3.
Isaiah 34 - 35 No disappointment for
Those Who Trust in Zion -
www.ao.net/~fmoeller/isa34-35.htm
4. SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 4 pgs.
232-233
5. The Concise Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible - http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
6. Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871). Commentary by A. R. FAUSSETT
- http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
7. Christian Resource Centre (Bermuda) - Horn, Siegfried -
www.nisbett.com/summary/sum-o-20.htm
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?