Isaiah Chapter 35 prophesies a future era of "Millennial Blessing" following Christ's enthronement, depicting a transformed world. In this time, deserts will blossom, physical ailments will be healed, and dangerous creatures will be absent. A "highway of holiness" will lead to Zion, where sorrow will cease, and joy and gladness will prevail under Christ's righteous reign.
EXPOSITORY NOTES ON
THE PROPHET ISAIAH
By
Harry A. Ironside, Litt.D.
Copyright @ 1952
edited for 3BSB by Baptist Bible Believer in the spirit of the Colportage ministry of a century ago
THIS precious portion, which concludes the first division of our book is a beautiful inspired poem, setting before us the delightful conditions which will prevail in this world after the binding of Satan as depicted in Revelation 20:1, and the enthronement of our Lord JESUS CHRIST as Sovereign of the universe. Isaiah's own heart must have been thrilled as he looked forward to this time of peace and righteousness following the long years of strife and wickedness which have caused such grief and suffering throughout human history. Even creation itself will share in the blessings of that day of the Lord's power, and so we read:
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 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 (verses 1, 2).
All that is lovely in the present condition of the world, such as the grandeur of Lebanon, the beauties of Carmel and Sharon's plains will be retained in that new era, and to these will be added many additional testimonies to the CREATOR's joy in the world which He brought into being by the word of His power, but which has been so terribly marred as a result of man's sin.
Every fruitful field or orchard, every lovely garden, presents a foretaste of what in Messiah's day will be everywhere prevalent, when the parched deserts will give place to verdant meadows, and the thorns and thistles brought in by the curse will vanish, and trees and shrubs bearing fruits to appeal to the appetite and flowers to delight the eye, will spring up instead. But the physical and spiritual blessings that will come to all mankind will transcend all of these material changes.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 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. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 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 (verses 3-6).
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).
For long centuries the people of earth have yearned for deliverance from the countless ills that affect humanity. So the prophet exhorts those whose faith is weak and whose hearts are fearful to lift up their eyes and look on to the time when GOD Himself shall come down to earth to end its travail and bring in new and happy conditions. When JESUS came the first time all the signs of the coming age were manifested as sickness of every form fled away at the sound of His voice or the touch of His hand; when blind eyes were opened, deaf ears made to hear and the tongues of the dumb to sing. To some extent these signs followed the preaching of His apostles who could say with authority to the lame and helpless,
In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk,
and whose very shadow at times had healing power. All of these wonders were but foretastes of what shall be everywhere prevalent in millennial days.
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 (verse 7).
Venomous and baneful creatures such as the crocodile and the alligator will no longer molest mankind nor prove a menace to the safety of children. Only what will minister to man's comfort and security will remain.
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 [or, simple] shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up therein, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 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 (verses 8-10).
The way into GOD's presence is ever the way of holiness. So in that day when men's hearts shall be turned to the Lord, He will lead them to Himself along the highway of holiness, to Mount Zion where His throne will be established and from which His law will go forth into all the earth. Under His beneficent and righteous reign sorrow and sighing shall come to an end and joy and gladness take their place.
While we who belong to the Church, the Body of CHRIST, have our hearts fixed on the heavenly hope, as we look for the coming of our Lord JESUS and our gathering together unto Him, we cannot but rejoice to know that GOD has such blessing in store for Israel His earthly people and for the nations of the earth who have been the prey of such distressing circumstances throughout their history, circumstances which they are so powerless to change. It is most humbling to man's pride, to realize that all our boasted civilization is utterly unable to prevent war and oppression in spite of Peace Conferences, a now effete League of Nations and our present United Nations Council. CHRIST alone can put things right. His return is man's only hope for lasting peace.
~ end of chapter 35 ~