Scripture Text (NRSV)
Isaiah 35:1-10
35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert
shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
35:2 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. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.
35:3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
35:4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not
fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible
recompense. He will come and save you."
35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of
the deaf unstopped;
35:6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the
speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the
wilderness, and streams in the desert;
35:7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground
springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass
shall become reeds and rushes.
35:8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
35:9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up
on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk
there.
35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion
with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall
obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Comments:
It is early yet, but I think I shall start with the words of Isaiah
verses 34-36 and then go to the Matthew text. I will work from there
about the doubt that John has and how we all have questions and that
is how it should be. When we find out the answers that makes our faith
just that much stronger. I am sure that John was wondering if it was
all worth while and if he had made a mistake, jsut as we all would in
his position. It does not lessen him, just make him human like us.
MR in NY
Strengthening feeble knees would certainly appeal to some of my
members! The problem lies with the highly figurative and metaphorical
language used by the prophet. For hard-headed, Scots Presbyterians,
the prophet's words tend sound like pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by.
Morover, the return of Israel from captivity, while decidedly
miraculous, was no picnic! Just re-read Ezra-Nehemiah!
So, how do we help the congregation experience the vision in a way
that will speak to them today? Are we only to make the connection
between Jesus and the healing miracles Isaiah foresaw?
The Reverend Curmudgeon El Dorado, AR
I'm going to point out to the congregation that this pericope is
poetry. There are images throughout, to which we can relate. I'll
especially use the highway and explain to them the Babylonian parade
of statues of their gods, called the via sacra. The "Holy Way" may be
in contrast to that ritual, which must've offended the Jews.
After a brief explanation, two of the members of my worship design
team will stand and each take about 3 minutes to tell about when they
felt as if they were in the desert, but God brought life back to an
otherwise desolate situation. Then, I'll open it up to the
congregation, inviting them to share stories, thinking about the
various symbols in the poem: the jackals, the burning sand, the
flowers, the springs of water, the via sacra (in which someone may
have mocked their faith). I'll conclude by bringing our discussion
into the context of Advent -- not Christmas, but Advent, in which we
appreciate God's unexpected, life-giving appearances. MTSOfan
Previous:
Verse 8 limits the highway to "God's people", and "not even fools
shall go astray." It's good to know that fools have a place in the
kingdom! Geo
What beautiful poetry. It makes my heart sing and I'm sure that is
mild compared to those in exile who hungered for such hope and for
such a vision from the Lord. Manzel
Those of us preaching on the OT can get kind of lonely! Here's some
info I picked up from a friend: The text anticipates a joy in the
not-yet so strong that it appears in the now-already. Few literary
enhancements capture this eschatological joy of the Christian as well
a little line from the French children's classic, The Little Prince.
Here the fox says to the Little Prince, "If you come at four o'clock,
I shall begin to be happy at three o'clock." (Quoted in James H.
Bailey, The Happy Hour. Lima, OH: C.S.S. Publishing, 1985, p. 34)
Jon in San Buenaventura
Geo,
I think you're absolutely right. In the eyes of the pointy headed,
ivory tower, intellectual elites, believer's are scorned as fools.
Well here's one they have right... we are (or should be) fools for
Christ! Being on the Way as part of God's people, humbling ourselves
enough to be viewed as fools by those who worship themselves and each
other.
Rick in Va
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf
unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the
speechless sing for joy."
Anybody up for a rousing chourus of "O, for a Thousand Tongues"?
--Rod in Pixley
Vs. 8, no traveler, not even fools shall go astray. During the
Thanksgiving holiday in western and central PA an elderly couple
driving to State College to a son's house for Thanksgiving got
disoriented and ended up missing for several days. They were found
several days after Thanksgiving in the state of New York! They were
still disoriented, but safe.
On God's highway there is protection and security. And noone,
especially guys will have to ask for directions (as if we do anyway)
It looks like a restricted lane only for God's people.
John near Pitts.
Verse 4 "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God...He will come and
save you" Wow, a God who comes to us! A God who acts on our behalf. A
God who knows and cares and acts! Great news to those who are feeling
lonely, left out, missing loved ones, going through family or health
crises during this holiday season.
John near Pitts.
One of the things that I've noticed in this passage is the sense of
re-creation. Things that once have been a certain way, have been
restored. For example, notice that the desert will bloom with crocus,
and the majesty of Lebanon (a big tree). In order for that to have
happened, (unless the creator starts anew) the crocus seed and the
cedar of Lebanon seed must have lied dormat in the ground until the
Re-Creator comes with life giving water and restores them to new life.
The good news for us is that even when our souls feel like the desert,
there is that seed within us that yearns for new life from the
Re-Creator of the universe.
Some early ramblings from a middle-aged preacher.
John in Ky.
35:5 As much as we think we can hear or see for that matter. The bible
says: "Eyes hath no seen, Ear hath not heard, nor have it been made
into the imagination of man what good things God have for us. So in
all actuallity. We all are blind and deaf in the sight of GOD!!!
Servant of GOD
35:5 As much as we think we can hear or see for that matter. The bible
says: "Eyes hath not seen, Ear hath not heard, nor have it been made
into the imagination of man what good things God have for us. So in
all actuallity. We all are blind and deaf in the sight of GOD!!!
Servant of GOD
35:5 As much as we think we can hear or see for that matter. The bible
says: "Eyes hath not seen, Ear hath not heard, nor have it been made
into the imagination of man what good things God have for us. So in
all actuallity. We all are blind and deaf in the sight of GOD!!!
Torland F. Lewis, Sr. Servant of GOD
Oh -- glad to hear someone say that about "O For A Thousand Tongues"
-- That's what we are going to sing as our first hymn this sunday. My
congregation will prob be expecting Christmas carols...but NOT YET!! I
love this season. I love this scripture. It's hard to choose! RevKK
For me, this passage speaks of the contrast between life without God
(desert/wilderness) and life with God (life in all its fullness).
The amazing thing is that God will come with his vengeance to save us
- that means he must be on our side!! (or else I'd find his vengeance
very scary)
My (NIV) bible has a different version of the last part of verse 8
"wicked fools will not go about on it". This is a completely different
image from that quoted here. (I prefer the idea that not even fools
can go astray)
Mary in Australia
Let's face it, Israel is in captivity because they messed up big time.
They sought alliances with other nations when they should have been
seeking Yahweh's help (glad I'm not in a theocracy), they ignored the
poor and oppressed, their leaders were promoting idolatry. And in the
midst of captivity comes this wonderful love song from God.
In my opinion, this passage is about grace, plain and simple.
Undeserved favor. But what wonderful imagery of forgiveness and a
highway to restoration and peace with God.
Contrast the joy promised in this passage with Psalm 137 (By the
rivers of Babylon we sat...) Once again, mourning into dancing, life
from death, joy from sorrow, reconciliation from estrangement. Boy
there's a lot of application in this passage! I know I've messed up
more than my share of times.
Joyfully,
John near Pitts.
Oh, thanks Jon in San Buenaventura for the great quote from "The
Little Prince."
John near Pitts.
The spiritually barren (wilderness) will be fruitfull and produce once
again and teem with life. That which was dead will spring to life.
That which was barren will be populated. That which was dangerous will
be safe. The dumb shall sing, the deaf shall hear and the ransomed
will return. Interestingly, it does not say that they will be
ransomed, just that they will return. Does this echo of Jesus "slain
before the foundation of the world" giving his life a "ransom for
many?"
not sure who wrote this as some perople are not writing their names of
initials.... please let us know who you are.
<<The spiritually barren (wilderness) will be fruitfull and produce
once again and teem with life. That which was dead will spring to
life. >>
It is more accurate to know that the wilderness is not without life,
growing things, totally barren. I have been there in Israel... and it
is more like range land... slim pickings to be sure.... but it has
potential for much and varied life forms.
besides that... isn't the promise wonderful? flowers, crocus.... deaf
hearing, blind seeing.... lame leaping.... frankly it is tooooo
much..... beyond our imagination.... not possible................
except for a transforming God.
SD..hd
Thanks John (Ky) for hitting the nail on the head for me. This passage
is hope for us PRECISELY when our hearts feel like the desert. So much
of the cultural celebration of this season is designed to avoid the
desert, the wilderness. Momentarily cover it up and pretend everything
is fine. The family gets along with each other, etc. Put lights over
everything and we can forget about the barrenness for a while. AND SO
WE END UP MISSING THE COMING OF THE LORD! Because it was in our desert
that we supposed to be looking. Doesn't Jesus allude to this in the
gospel when he says, "What did you come out to the desert to see?
Someone dressed in soft robes? Tinsel? Look, those who wear soft robes
are in royal palaces. The tinsel is in the dept. stores. What then did
you go out to see? A prophet? Yes......"
Deep down we want and need someone skinny in camel hair rather than
someone fat in red with white fluffy trim. We recognize that the
fromer knows the secret of the desert that blossoms.
pHil
As I read it, the theme which keeps repeating itself throughout this
passage is Joy: the desert rejoicing and singing, the "tongues of the
speechless sing for joy", "everlasting joy" with the redeemed as they
walk along "the holy way."
Joy is more than a surface emotion. Joy emanates from deep inside our
souls. Joy is a gift of God and we cultivate lives of joy as we walk
with Christ along our journeys of life. Joy in Christ feeds and
transforms the barren, dry, wilderness, desert times of our lives,
allowing them to blossom into times of healing, hope and peace.
"Joy to the World!" Ken on the Hudson
Do you get the impression Isaiah's people are a little doubtful of the
future? That they look at the world around them and wonder if there
really is a God? That all hope seems lost? Why else would he say these
things? The people have been beated up, kicked around, and left out to
die in the deserts of life (actual ones and spiritual Dry Mouth too).
In the face of this is Isaiah's Vision. You just can't help from
feeling the cool breee when Isaiah starts Hoopin'. For those who are
making a big deal about the "People of God HOV Lane" I'd be a little
careful. To a people who are being abused by society what's the "Good
News" about the wicked not being brought low? Where's the justice in
the opressor not being punished? You can water-down grace if you'd
like, but clearly the wicked don't fare well before God according to
the OT and as a general rule in the NT ("Wicked" get redefined by
Jesus). An opressed people hearing that there will be an Express Lane
for them - just as there always was for the present-day wealthy
opressors - that's evidence that the World is standing on its head! PW
in PA
"Not even fools shall go astray" is a hope for me. God has a highway
in the wilderness for all God's people, the holy way. Even the fools
like me can't get lost on this road. Neither will God allow the
dangers of the wilderness to swallow me up, like lions.
Who are the unclean? the ones not allowed? It is not the foolish, it
is not the weak, for they are expressly included. The unclean, it
seems to me, are those who expressly rebel against God. They are
looking for things to fill themselves with, not the Holy Other in our
midst. I doubt that they would even see the highway.
But Isaiah seems to hold out the hope for me that God's highway is
broad enough even for fools to find their way, that God's mercy is
strong enough to carry the weak along, and God's love is powerful
enough to ransom us and bring us home.
Hallelujah.
ST
"Not even fools shall go astray" is a hope for me. God has a highway
in the wilderness for all God's people, the holy way. Even the fools
like me can't get lost on this road. Neither will God allow the
dangers of the wilderness to swallow me up, like lions.
Who are the unclean? the ones not allowed? It is not the foolish, it
is not the weak, for they are expressly included. The unclean, it
seems to me, are those who expressly rebel against God. They are
looking for things to fill themselves with, not the Holy Other in our
midst. I doubt that they would even see the highway.
But Isaiah seems to hold out the hope for me that God's highway is
broad enough even for fools to find their way, that God's mercy is
strong enough to carry the weak along, and God's love is powerful
enough to ransom us and bring us home.
Hallelujah.
ST
Hi! and Help!
At our lectionary Bible study yesterday we were looking at the verse
which had been reassuring to people here, regarding the promise for
fools - that even we would be able to find our way on the highway. But
we had many translations and they were VERY different:
NIV: ... wicken fools will not go about on it.
Living: ... even the most stupid cannot miss the way.
NKJV: ... whoever walks the road, though a fool, will not go astray.
TEV: ... no fool will mislead those who follow it.
RSV: ... fools shall not err therein.
NEB: ... no fools shall trespass on it.
NRSV: ...not even fools shall go astray.
Well, there is quite a variety of meanings here... the participants
were hoping I could get some answers, but I am not a Hebrew
scholar....
peace kent in Québec
Somewhere I read that you need to compare Isaiah 34 and 35, or take
them together as a unity. In 34 God punishes Edom for sin. Since they
sinned the gardens and streams they own will go dry. In contrast,
since Israel is repenting (when Isaiah wrote this) their deserts will
bloom and their dry land become gardens. It is not necessarily an
apocalyptic verse, just descriptive of how repentence brings healing.
Boyd in NC
Somewhere I read that you need to compare Isaiah 34 and 35, or take
them together as a unity. In 34 God punishes Edom for sin. Since they
sinned the gardens and streams they own will go dry. In contrast,
since Israel is repenting (when Isaiah wrote this) their deserts will
bloom and their dry land become gardens. It is not necessarily an
apocalyptic verse, just descriptive of how repentence brings healing.
Boyd in NC
kent,
I'm afraid I'm just as confused as you are (and that ought to make
alot of DPS'rs very happy).
The Hebrew word (according to Strong's Dictionary) is:
'eviyl, ev-eel'; from an unused root (mean. to be perverse); (fig.)
silly:--fool (-ish) (man).
Additionally, it occurs 26 times in Scripture. Here are a few of those
verses (King James or NIV).
Psa 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and
suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline.
Prov 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want
of wisdom.
Prov 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is
favour.
Prov 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath
it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Isa 19:11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the
wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto
Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
I'm hoping some Hebrew experts can help us out.
Intrigued now...
Rick in Va
Dear Kent,
Good luck with your question! I suspect not many of us have enough
background in Hebrew to answer it well. In cases like this, the
translator probably has to make some decisions about which words go
together to form a phrase or a clause.Or different manuscripts may
vary.
In this case, different decisions by different translators have
created the differences you see.
I am not enough of a Hebrew scholar to venture a guess as to what
translation is "correct." I hope that I have at least helped you with
the reasons that such translation variations can exist.
Do we have a real Hebrew scholar out there who can help more than
that?
ST
To Mary in Australia: It may be that wilderness doesn't mean the
absence of God. What seems paramount in Isaiah (and the Gospel) is
that the salvation comes, in fact, in the very place of wilderness or
desolation. The burning sands become a pool, etc. Eliz in NY
PW in PA "For those who are making abig deal about the "People of God
HOV Lane" I'd be a little careful. To a people who are being abused by
society what's the "Good News" about the wicked not being brought low?
Where's the justice in the opressor not being punished? You can
water-down grace if you'd like, but clearly the wicked don't fare well
before God according to the OT and as a general rule in the NT
("Wicked" get redefined by Jesus). An opressed people hearing that
there will be an Express Lane for them - just as there always was for
the present-day wealthy opressors - that's evidence that the World is
standing on its head! PW in PA"
I'm not certain where you're getting the impression of a cheap or
watered down grace. Grace can't be earned. Israel is in captivity,
longing for home...and I assume repentant. In terms of a judgement on
the wicked verse 4 states that He will come with vengeance, with
terrible recompense.
The HOV lane in the desert is for those whom God chooses..."the
unclean shall not travel on it".
I think you're right-on stating that they were probably wondering
where God was in all of this. I don't know if they were doubting their
future but the present captivity wasn't a picnic...cf.psalm 137 a
description of Israel's frame of mind during the Babylonian
captivity..."blessed is the one who takes your little children and
dashes them upon the rocks."
Sounds like God's intervention and promising a return to Jerusalem
isn't warranted by the captives, but God promises a home-coming
none-the-less. The redeemed shall walk there...those bought by God.
Grace is never cheap...it cost God His Son. My response however, can
cheapen it whenever I simply dismiss this tremendous act as something
not for me.
John near Pitts
