Isaiah 35
THIS short chapter gives a little picture—one of several in the Scriptures—of the thousand years when the Lord Jesus shall reign as Israel’s Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when He shall have put down all enemies on earth, and cleansed the land and its inhabitants.
In considering the contents of this chapter which tells so much of the true hope of Israel, the Christian may well survey his own exalted prospect. Preceded by no storm of trial; heralded by no “signs”; appearing not as a warrior King, but as the Church’s Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus will make His coming known by a shout, by archangel’s voice and trump of God. Instantly the dead in Christ shall rise, followed within the twinkling of an eye by us (believers) who are alive and remain, caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with Him (1 Thess. 4:15-17).
When about to leave the world at the close of His matchless life on earth as the God-glorifying Man, He made it known that in His Father’s house are many abodes; that in leaving those He called His own, for whom He died, He was going to prepare a place for them, and would come again and receive them unto Himself, that where He is they may be also (John 14:2, 3). Amazing prospect for poor confessed sinners, deserving the torments of hell!
Israel’s hopes are also founded upon God’s Word; with them reliance is upon His promises to Abraham and David, for which reference may be made to Gen. 17:1-8; 1 Chron. 17; Jer. 33:7-26, and numerous other passages. Israel’s hopes, it is well to remember, are all earthly; the Christian’s are all heavenly, although we shall be with the Lord when He comes to reign, and we shall reign with Him over the earth.
Everything here has been touched by sin, and while sin will still be found in the world, it will be restrained; (Isa. 65:20; Psa. 101 would seem also to be applicable, its last verse in the best reading being “Every morning will I destroy all the wicked,” etc.); Satan will not be free as now to deceive (Rev. 20:2, 3), and in the land of Israel there will be few indeed, that are not born again. In large measure the curse will be removed from the ground; compare Gen. 3:18 with Isa. 55:13. The wilderness and the dry land (“solitary place”) shall be gladdened; the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, the comparison being made with Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon, three most favored regions in olden times (verses 1 and 2).
If the barren land shall be so wonderfully altered, what of man, long exhibiting the effects of sin? Verses 3 to 6 answer: the weak, the feeble, the fearful will find salvation in their God—their fears will be banished. The eyes of the blind shall be opened; the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; the lame shall leap as the hart, the dumb shall sing.
Where no water is, there shall be abundance, and there shall be a highway which Isaiah mentions a number of times (chapter 11:16; 49:11; 62:10), a way to Zion which shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass through it. It shall be for those that seek God.
“Those that go this way—even fools—shall not err therein.”
Along that new road, the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, coming to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Happy prospect, indeed! Meanwhile, the whole creation groans (Rom. 8:22), and believers too, but with a higher, a heavenly prospect (2 Cor. 5:2).
ML 10/29/1933