Isaiah 35
Notes
Transcript
The Ransomed Return
The Ransomed Return
Coming back to the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, one of the major prophets and generally one of the most well known of the OT prophets as well.
Last week we look at how God was planning to judge the nations, especially those who were unforgiving in their treatment toward God’s people.
Generally at times people are uncomfortable talking about God’s judgment on His people or the world, but my friends what we tend to forget is that God is not like us..
He is not evil, arbitrary or misguided in his judgment, instead we know that God is holy and wise and so are His judgments.
So all that God does is good and right, which is in line with His natural attributes
So Lets get started this evening, we have 10 verses to cover in our text today. Lets look at verses 1-2
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Chapter 35 pulls us away form the theses of the total devastation of the earth. It pulls away from the themes of a sword of judgment, filled with blood and the destruction of mankind that we saw in chapter 34 to something different.
In this chapter we see pictures of an inhabited city, a fertile land and a life that is filled with joy and peace.
It is good news, hope, love and mercy abounding because of who the Lord our God is...
God will change the dry, dead wilderness to a land that will blossom, in fact Isaiah says the land will be glad. Why, life has returned to it instead of death.
This transformation will bring the majesty and glory of nature back to its fulness. Isaiah tells us by God’s hand that those place like Mt Carmel, like those places of Lebanon who once boasted and displayed the glory of God will once again bear witness to that truth.
Isaiah says they will bear witness to the glory of God. we are not sure if it is just speaking to a time when nature is so beautiful that it speaks or tells us of God’s goodness or if God Himself will appear during this time of transformation as well.
Regardless, People will see the Lord majesty and glory.
But carry the thought a little more forward, it says they will rejoice, be glad and sing.
Can you imagine with me what that final homecoming will be like… when we see Him
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
One day all things will experience freedom from the curse of sin and death…
Now lets move forward… VV 3-4, Isa 35:3-4
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
God has sent his Son, we are redeemed, but we wait for the final portion, we wait to see the day when all things will be made new. These mortal bodies will be set free and will be made like his… no weak hands or legs...
Hear the word of the Lord and fear not… The redeemed will assure the weak and the anxious that their is no need to fear or be afraid, God will save us.
There is a future day when God will save us from our enemies and more especially from the condition of death.
And listen to verse 4… Isaiah says that God will come, and I like the phrase recompense. He is changing and restoring what was once lost.
Just as everything changed with Adams sin so it will change again with God’s son
God will defeat the wicked of the earth so that he can save his people. This brings hope to his people. We have hope today why? We are his and He is coming again.
He will come and save us.
Now, lets look at verses 5-6
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Wow, in that day we will see the blind , the deaf, the lame and the mute all healed.. there is nothing better than hearing the healing, the blessing of the Lord.
The waters break forth in the wilderness is a picture of the hearts of the people opened and singing forth praise and adoration to the Lord our God.
And also remember we have talked about the transformation of the desserts from dead to flowing with water, like the flood waters springing forth.
Streams in the desert will bring lush vegetation, grass and flowers because water gives life and my friends living water from our Savior brings life, it transforms our very life to one where we are over flowing with His blessings.
And this is a big transformation, rememnber in chapter 34, the streams in Edom where turned to pitch, dried up and no life.
I also love that in heaven the river there is set to flow from the throne of God.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Beautiful my friends.
Verses 7-8 Isa 35:7-8
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
Verse 7 continues the theme of the change that is taking place as this world is being redeemed.
The sand, while hot and miserable will become like an Oasis in the desert. Springs of water will come forth out of the land.
The effect of this change will mean the earth that has changed, and the animals will inherit. These places that were once desolate will become meaningful and a blessing to many, including man who will take this once desolate land and make it useful.
A land that once was fit only for the jackal is now a blessing to many.
And look at verse 8.. the way of Holiness, is the highway used by the people to come to Zion so that they may worship and praise the Lord.
It is called the way of holiness in that only the holy, those right with God walk on it. It is reserved for the redeemed of God, His people.
How do we know this, the second part of verse 8 and even into verse 9 says the unclean person, the fool, the lion or wild beast shall not walk on it.
Why? We have been redeemed, bought from the penalty of sin and made free.
Now verses 9-10 Isa 35:9-10
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they 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 singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Verse 9 carries that thought of who can and cannot walk on the way of holiness...
So verse 9 the redeemed shall walk there. These are the covenant relatives of God. He redeemed us, adopted us and made us the children of of God as we see in Romans 8…
And verse 10 says the “Ransomed of the Lord” shall return and come to Zion signing
Ransomed comes from a legal practice of making a payment to deliver someone from debt, obligation or punishment. This is an act of divine grave where by God has delivered his people.
They will obtain gladness and joy … yes, we will be in His presence and in His city… you talk about happy, there will be signing and shouting I think in that city.
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away… No more sorrow, no sin, no tears there
How can we be sad when we are with our Savior…right?
So what should man do in response to this and the other passages where God promises to punish the guilty, the sinful.
Man does not want to fall into the hands of an angry God.
Man should do all they can to find help. In this case, it is Jesus.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
God has a free gift for everyone who would only come and take hold of his promise.
He promises life and life eternal,
Do you know Jesus today?