Isaiah 35
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
When everything around you appear to be dry and barren God will intervene on your behalf. Like a flower that bursts into bloom, life will overpower the desert. No longer will you be fruitless, dry, unproductive, or lifeless.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
The Bible is telling us even the greatest places of Man will see and recognize their unmatched Glory of God.
THE LAND OF LEBANON
Lebanon is a mountainous country in the middle east known for its's tall and lofty cedar forests and juniper. Jeremiah 18:14 states the mountains are snow covered and rocky.
In my reading it seems like this is a place of social stature- "man's best".
THE LAND OF CARMEL
The splendor of Carmel. The scripture paints a portrait Carmel to show glory and riches. Ahab invited 250+ false prophets to the Mount Carmel to worship false gods. It was a wealthy land able to sustain large flocks of 1000+ sheep. Saul built a statue of himself to honor himself.
He said: “The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” Amos 1:2
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. Amos 9:3
He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. 1:4
THE LAND OF SHARON
The land of Sharon is a Mediterranean plain south of Lebanon. The Bible only tells us the land of Sharon supported a lot of grazing herds.
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
God will be your source of strength in any situation regardless of any physical limitations. In our weakness He will be our strength. He can fix and compensate for any of our shortcomings. Our physical limitations cannot limit us because God will make a way.
say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
Take comfort, courage and find strength knowing God will be with you. Do not let fear hold you back from living your life. Not only will God come to save you from your situation, but he is coming with Divine Retribution to save you. He is going to come to defend you from any wrong doings held against you.
Retribution: punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
You can also look at this as the hopeful time when Jesus returns. We will be delivered from the sins of this Earth, the stress of the Earth. The worries and fears of this Earth. When Jesus returns all wickedness will be held accountable.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
God's redeeming power will not only strengthen our weaknesses but HEAL our ailments. What held us back in life held us back no more. What limitations we had will be destroyed. What physical ailments that required us to adapt to live will be no more. We are talking about a complete restoration. What was once a medical diagnosis is now a complete restoration. The restoration will be welcomed with joyful shouts of celebrations.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. God will completely restore the wastelands in our life. Where there is no substance God will bring abundance. What was once a wilderness without provision; will come streams of waters that will produce life. What was once a burning sand , gritty and lifeless- will be completely changed into pools of water with bubbling springs. Water is a Biblical symbol of life. Life in the wastelands, life in the desserts. Not just a little but also springs pouring into pools. This is a water source that is being fed. This is not just a little bit of provision in a dry season, this is a never ending supply of water being poured into the once barren place.
In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.
The haunt is a graveyard, symbolic to a dry season and death. God will bring life and beauty back to the once area of death. Walking in the lush area is the redeemed. We will be delivered from the ravenous beasts and lion. The lion and ravenous bests are symbolic to Satan and his demons. God will turn the dry and barren land into a land lush and green protected from those who would try to destroy life.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
There will be such an emotional and mental freedom in Christ. Nothing will hold back our joy. Our joy will not be covered by fear, doubt, worry, dread, depression. Our joy will not be shadowed by responsibilities or reason. Our joy will be released with shouts of gladness. All need to sigh and all seeds of sorrow will disappear. When we enter God’s holy city – The New Jerusalem- all the negative aspects of life will be gone. When we enter God's holy city- the new Jerusalem- all our troubles will be gone. Only the joyous will remain.
