Sermon Tone Analysis

Longing for Wholeness

: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

: 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Background:

Background:

Chapters 28-34: Leaders should trust Egypt

Chapter 36: Assyrian officer mocks idea of trusting God.

Death Valley given life:

New Life gives hope to the weak: God is coming to save you!

Transformation comes to the weak

More recreation happens

Highway of Holiness created for the Ransomed

Parade of Hope!!

v. 2: Carmel= ‘garden-land’, Sharon (): beauty

v.3: : 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

v.7: Thirsty Ground= Mirage.

v. 9: Redeemed: First time mentioned in Isaiah!

Avenger: “The one whose right it is to pursue the murderer of his next-of-kin.”

Motyer

God can redeem his people: “It is his inalienable right; it is he who identifies with them as their Next-of-Kin, taking their needs as if his own, the Mighty in the place of the helpless, paying their price.”

Motyer

Lion: : Be sober-minded; be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

v. 10: Ransomed: Assumed they are a purchased people (most associated with Exodus and consecration of all the firstborn of man and beast ().

‘they will overtake gladness’ “The people of the Lord and the joy of the Lord are united.”

Alex Motyer

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

Head to the Highway!

Trust in the Lord that he’s going to do this!

Strengthen the weak hands

Make firm the feeble knees

Say to those who have an anxious heart: Be Strong: Fear not!

God will come!

He will come and save you!

Longing for Joy

Progression:

Garden

Glory

Command

Miracles

Highway

Holy

Unclean can’t

Foolish can’t get lost

Road for Redeemed and Ransomed

Glory Road!

vv.1-2: Desert Joy

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

The Lord’s Actions:

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.

the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

What’s Happened?

v.5 THEN miraculous healing will come

Crocus: “march-plant” reed.

Blossom

: Assyria has destroyed Everything!

: “Ah, you destroyer”: Assyrian Kingdom to the North

8  The highways lie waste;

the traveler ceases.

Covenants are broken;

cities are despised;

there is no regard for man.

9  The land mourns and languishes;

Lebanon is confounded and withers away;

Sharon is like a desert,

and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

Isaiah 35

: Everything Comes back to Life!

Wilderness, dry land, desert shall become a garden

Highway: We’ll get to that highway...

Highway: We’ll get to that highway...

LAND TRANSFORMS FROM SAD TO GLAD!

Wilderness, dry land, desert: Rejoice

Crocus: “march-plant” reed.

Blossom

Lebanon will experience it’s prior glory- before it withered

Lebanon will experience it’s prior glory

Sharon rather than a desert, will return to her majestic status!

She will return to her name sake: Beauty

Carmel will return to her name sake, which is Garden.

That which the enemy destroyed, God will resurrect!

How?

v. 2: They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God!

Glory Def: ESV: “God’s manifest presence with His covenant people.”

Glory: Def: ESV: “God’s manifest presence with His covenant people.”

God glory, presence comes and everything comes to life!

Just by seeing God’s glory, things change

His face, his presence, his very being just brings life to the place!

The destruction human armies brought back in can hold up a candle against God.

No matter how decimated a place can be, no matter how much we can torch something, God enters the scene and everything comes to life!

His presence comes and lightness and life is the natural result.