Isaiah 35

Isaiah 35:1

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

The kingdom of Christ shall come, wherein he shall rule by the Gospel of peace; at what time all things shall flourish: even those places, which now seem to be forlorn deserts, shall then rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isaiah 35:2

The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon.

That, which was once a dry sandy desert, shall be now as fresh and green as Lebanon, and as plentiful and rich as Carmel and Sharon.

Isaiah 35:3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, &c.

Comfort yourselves therefore in the Lord, O ye that are weak and dejected.

Isaiah 35:7

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of waters: in the habitations of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

That barren soil, that was parched and burnt up with drought, R R 2 shall flow with abundance of water; and those desolate and dry deserts, which were wont to be the habitation of dragons, shall now turn moist and fruitful, so as the rushes and reeds shall cover it.

Isaiah 35:8

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, shall not err therein.

It shall not only be civil and accessible, but holy and gracious: none shall dare to set their foot there, who are unclean and perversely wicked, but it shall be for those that are holy and conscionable; and the path shall be so beaten with frequent passengers, that those, which are otherwise simple and ignorant, cannot err therein.

Isaiah 35:9

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there.

Neither shall it retain so much of the nature and use of a wilderness, as to give harbour to lions, or any other ravenous beasts: men of a cruel and bestial disposition shall find no place there; only the redeemed shall be meet inhabitants thereof. XXXVI. See 2 Kings xviii. XXXVII. See 2 Kings xix.