Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 35

Verses 1-10

1. Assurance of Glory! (ch.35)
   1. God’s heart is to have sinners repent & believers to be encouraged!
   2. When Jesus comes to rule & reign marvelous changes will take place.
   3. (1) The desolate wilderness turns into a beautiful garden.
      1. Human history began in a garden, but man’s sin turned it into a desert.
      2. God’s creation will rejoice when it’s set free from the bondage of sin (Warren Wiersbe; pg.472; With the Word.)
   4. (2b) Oswald Chambers, “The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.” ☺
   5. (3) Those weak will be made strong!
   6. (4) Those fearful-hearted will be made courageous!
   7. (5-7) The disabled will be handicapped no longer!
      1. Note For in 6b – Why the healings? “It’s the water, & a lot more!”
         1. See Rev.22:2
      2. Wow! complete restoration of physical health!
      3. The blind will see!(5a); The deaf will hear!(5b); The lame will leap!(5c); The dumb will not just talk, but sing!(5d)
      4. Kind of sounds like when John the Baptist asked, “what should we expect to see when Messiah comes?” “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;…”
   8. (6) A great devotional sprung out of this verse in 1925!
      1. “Streams in the Desert” LB.Cowman(Mrs. Charles E.).
      2. She was a missionary with her husband in the Orient.
      3. She compiled a collection of “prayerful meditations, Christian writings, & God’s written promises.”
      4. My Utmost for His Highest(by Oswald Chambers) was written at the same time period(1927).
         1. They ministered together for a time in Japan.
         2. Both were greatly influenced by Charles Spurgeon. (Chambers saved under him ministry in the late 1800’s)
      5. Read Numb.21:16-18a
         1. Ever sing about water before?
         2. (NIV) "Spring up, O well! Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank-- the nobles with scepters and staffs."
            1. As they dug, they tapped into a stream that had run“unseen” below!
         3. What a beautiful picture this is! – Q: In what area of your life do you need to just “sing out Praise” unto Him? Q: What area is dry, barren, parched, unfruitful, and desolate?
         4. Q: How did the children of Israel find the water? 3.8.5.4.1.While standing on burning sand, & digging the well with their staff of promise, they sang a praise of faith!
         5. Complaining always brought about a dry desert! While Praising always brought about a delicious dessert!
         6. (21:16) “Gather the people together & I will give them water!”
         7. Salvation – "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;”
         8. Our spiritual walk – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, thatHe might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,” Eph.5:25,26
         9. My goal as a bible teacher! - He will give the water of life… I’m just a conduit!
         10. Our future Glory! – Will be refreshing!
   9. (8-10a) A road that you can’t get lost on!
      1. Here I find comfort & all hope...that even the fool/simple, as long as he’s on the road, will find his way & not get lost.
         1. The Kings Highway was cut off to them back in Numb.20.
         2. Here a Highway is built(Fast Track Lane i.e. members only!)
      2. The Christian way is not the "middle way" between extremes, but the "narrow way" between precipices. (Donald G. Bloesch in Theological Notebook I. Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 5.)
      3. God says we can walk safely on His Highway!
         1. Prov.4:14 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.”
            Prov.4:18 “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”
            Prov.15:19 “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.”
      4. Only Believers enter into Millennium.
         1. Prov.10:30 “The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.”
         2. Mt.5:5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
         3. Also sheep & goat judgment Mt.25, & Ezek.20:38.
      5. Q: What blessings are spoken of here which are available now on His Highway (i.e. Christian life)?
         1. Being redeemed; ransomed; singing; joy; gladness.
   10. (10b) Sorrow will be turned to Joy!
       1. Rev.21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death(but life forevermore), nor sorrow(but joy), nor crying(but laughter). There shall be no more pain(but pleasure), for the former things have passed away.”
   11. Q: Are you personally waiting for any of these physical blessings?
       1. In the meanwhile can you enjoy:
          Deliverance from your enemies?
          Fruitfulness in your time left here?
          Spiritual strength in the midst of your physical weaknesses?
          Holiness in a very unholy world?
          Joy & Gladness despite the devils discouragements?
   12. Story: 89 workers were accidentally killed during the building of the Boulder Dam(Hoover). The memorial plaque reads: “For those who died that the desert might bloom.”
       1. One day, the desert will bloom to the Glory of God, because of Jesus’ death upon the cross for you & I.
       2. All earthly wrongs will be righted. Sufferings will cease. Maladies will be removed.
          1. But only believers will partake of these blessings.
          2. If you are not a believer, this present, fallen world is the only kingdom you’ll ever know.
       3. Put your trust in Jesus for a glorious future!