Isaiah 35

Isaiah 35:1-4

The flourishing state of the gospel church is here for forth, as a concept to the dreadful deceptions of the preceding chapter. 1. The Gentiles shall be brought into it, ver. 1, 2, 7. 2. The usual and numerous shall be encouraged, ver. 3, 4. 3. Attitudes shall be strength both on the faith and bodies of man, ver. 5, 6. 4. It shall be conducted in the way of helping, ver. 8, 9. 5. It shall be brought at left to codely joys, ver. 10.

1. THE wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall be the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. 3. ¶ Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, roar God with a recompense, be will come and save you.

When the Affyrian army was destroyed, the country of Judea, which had been wafted as a wilderness before them, quickly resumed its venture and fruitfulness. To this the prophecy may in part refer, but it chiefly regards,

1. The flourishing state of the church, when the Gentile world, before a barren wilderness, by the preaching of the gospel puts on a new face, blossoming with the joys of divine consolations, bringing forth the most excellent fruits of grace, and with such abundance, as to be compared to Lebanon, where the choicest cedars grow; and to Carmel and Sharon, the richest spirits of Judea for Corn and pastures: such strength, beauty, and fruitfulness should eminently unite in the gospel church, and they shall be the glory of the Lord, and the needless of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, his person, offices, and compleat redemption, wherein God is to transcendently compelled, and appears to amiable and glorious in the eyes of the redeemed. Note, A believing view of the Redeemer’s grace and glory brings joy to the heart, and is the efficient means of quickening it to bring forth much fruit.

2. By the ministry of the word, they are encouraged and supported to bear up under the temptations and sufferings to which, for the fate of Christ, they would be exposed. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, those who from an awakened feuds of guilt and wrath were ready to find down in despair, unable to lift up the hands of prayer, shall be encouraged;