Isaías 35
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 35
Guzik - The coming judgment would be enough to make the hands of anyone weak, and knees of anyone feeble. But in light of the glorious restoration God will bring from that time, it is no time to have weak hands or feeble knees! Get strong and get going!. We use our hands to work with; those with weak hands are not working for the LORD as they should. We use our knees both to progress with and to pray with. Those with feeble knees are not progressing with the LORD and praying as they should.i. Hebrews 12:12 quotes this verse from Isaiah to make the point that even in a time of chastening from the LORD, we should take strength and courage in the LORD, knowing that it is His Fatherly love and care that has allowed and directed the chastening. It’s time to get strong in the LORD and move on!. But the passage both here in Isaiah and Hebrews 12 indicates that there are some among God’s people who indeed have weak hands and feeble knees. What is the cause of it? If we are not making progress in our walk with Jesus, fault can surely be found with weak hands and feeble knees.(Isaiah 35 Commentary) Larry Walker - God comes to the aid of the blind, deaf, and lame (Isa 35:5–6). The similarity between Isa 35:5–7 and Jesus’ response to John the Baptist’s question from prison has led many to believe that Jesus had Isaiah’s words in mind when he sent his reply to John (Matt 11:2–6). The strong likeness is sufficient reason to conclude that Isaiah’s words clearly point to the Messiah who would come. Israel was blind and deaf to the word of God that Isaiah proclaimed (cf. Isaiah 6:9–10), but in the future, her spiritual perception will be restored. These were signs of the messianic age (cf. Matt 12:22; Acts 3:7–8). Christ’s healing of the blind and the lame proved that he could also forgive sin (Matt 11:5; cf. Acts 3:18; 14:10). Even nature would benefit (Isaiah 35:6–7; for “springs … streams” see Isaiah 32:2+, and note God’s provision of water in Ex 17:6 and 2 Kgs 3:15–20). Spiritual and physical healing are linked in Christ’s ministry (Matt 11:5). (See context in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Isaiah) Paul Apple - God’s people can find themselves in circumstances where they are exhausted and feeble; in those times they need encouraging words; speaking forth the marvelous truth of the grace and power and deliverance of God; take courage because God is going to pour out vengeance on all your enemies; you stay faithful God is for you if you are a believer God is with you God is in you God will help you; you wait on Him
Isaías 35
Guzik - In our present trials, we need the strong hope of the LORD to overcome our fearful hearts. Our fearful hearts are not hoped by a vain, vague optimism; they are helped by the assured confidence that He will come and save. (Isaiah 35 Commentary) Fear not - This same exhortation is given to Israel later in Isaiah and then in Jeremiah (in the context of the "time of Jacob's distress")... “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. (Isaiah 54:4) ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid. (Jeremiah 30:10+) Behold, your God - Your God speaks in general to Israel. However ultimately only those Jews who have entered into the Abrahamic Covenant by grace through faith (cf their father Abraham in Ge 15:6+ - which I think is one of the most important passages in the OT - MEMORIZE IT!) can truly call God "THEIR" God. Ultimately, the Abrahamic Covenant "morphed" (to undergo transformation) so to speak into the New Covenant (See Abrahamic vs Old vs New) which was promised to the Jews and which will be fulfilled to them in the last of the Last Days when they enter by grace through faith (cf Zech 12:10-14+, Zech 13:1+, Zech 13:8-9+, Ro 11:26-27+)... (Jer 31:31-33+) “Behold, days are coming,” ( the last of the Last Days) declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be THEIR GOD, and they shall be My people. (See also New Covenant in the Old Testament) Here Isaiah repeats a truth given in the previous chapter in the context of destruction... For the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (Isaiah 34:8+) PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS God will come with vengeance - Vengeance speaks of taking revenge or dealing out retribution, a justly deserved penalty. When will He come with vengeance? This is a prophecy that will not be fully fulfilled until the Second Coming of their Messiah. This truth will fortify their heart so that they can indeed take courage and not be afraid. When God's people are oppressed, Scripture comforts them that God will save them by judging their adversaries. So to whom will God come with vengeance? In context, this refers to the enemies of Israel, but ultimately it refers to the enemies of God as Paul explains in his description of the return of Messiah with vengeance... For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed–for our testimony to you was believed. (2Th 1:6-10+, cf Isa 66:15, Ps 50:3) Many OT passages speak of God's righteous vengeance against Israel's (God's) enemies... Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course (THIS REFERS TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION - Mt 24:21+, THE TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE - Jer 30:7+). 21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity (THIS IS WHEN THE STONE CRUSHES THE STATUTE - Daniel 2:34-35+; Daniel 2:44-45+); And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain. Isaiah 61:2+ To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (MESSIAH'S FIRST COMING - See Lk 4:17-21+) And the day of vengeance (MESSIAH'S SECOND COMING, cf Isaiah 34:8+) of our God; To comfort all who mourn, Isa 63:4+ “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. Zechariah 2:8-10 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations (GODLESS, ANTI-SEMITIC GENTILES) which plunder you (ISRAEL), for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 “For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. 10 “Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming (FIRST TO DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES - Rev 19:11-21+) and I will dwell in your midst (THEN TO ESTABLISH HIS MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AND SET UP HIS THRONE IN ZION),” declares the LORD. Vengeance (05359)(naqam from the verb form naqam = to avenge or take vengeance) is the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done). It refers to punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong and can refer to punishment beyond what is physical. The recompense of God will come - This is a promise from God Who cannot lie (Nu 23:19+) given to the nation of Israel which will be fulfilled when Messiah returns to carry out perfect recompense (cf Zech 14:5b+).
Isaías 35
Guzik - When God’s salvation comes, miraculous power comes with it. It is a miracle for the blind to see, for the deaf to hear, for the lame to run, and for the mute to speak. But when He will come and save you, He does it with miraculous power! (Isaiah 35 Commentary) Notice that this prophecy is given as a sign of the times of the Messiah. And so when the Messiah came the first time, these miraculous signs were repeatedly performed by Jesus, clearly testifying that He was their long expected Messiah (see Jn 10:25-26). Matthew records the miracle of the mute and the crowds reaction, as they acknowledged the uniqueness of the miracle but failing to recognize the uniqueness of their Messiah! As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him. 33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”(Matthew 9:32,33+, see also Mt 12:22+; Mt 15:30; Mark 7:32-37+; Mark 9:17-25+; Luke 1:64+; Luke 11:14+) O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, Your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Saviour come; And leap, ye lame, for joy! Charles Wesley Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy - This almost certainly speaks of physical healing. The lame will not just walk but they will even leap, even leaping for joy! The mute will not just speak but will shout for joy! The blessed healing wrought by Jesus, Jehovah Rapha: (Jehovah Rophe) The LORD our Healer, in that glorious day will allow those who enter His earthly kingdom full ability to enjoy that kingdom! One is reminded of the crippled man who was miraculously healed in Acts 3 giving us a sample of the great and marvelous things we shall see in Christ's Millennial kingdom And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.....6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene–walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.(Acts 3:2, 6-8) As John
Isaías 35
Guzik - When God’s salvation comes, miraculous provision comes with it. What was dry and useless before becomes well watered and fruitful. (Isaiah 35 Commentary) John Martin - Though some interpreters take these statements as figurative of spiritual blessings, it seems preferable to take them as literal statements, especially in view of the covenant promises (Deut. 28:1–14). With the Lord living among His people and with righteousness being practiced by them, the Lord will provide physical healing and agricultural fecundity. (See context in The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Larry Walker - In chapter 34, the streams of Edom were filled with pitch, and wild animals roamed the ruins. Now those creatures are gone, and streams of water irrigate the desert. The reeds and rushes associated with well-watered areas are now bountiful there (Isaiah 35:7). The Messiah has become the unending source of living water (John 4:14). (See context in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Isaiah) The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water- Isaiah continues the description of the literal transformation of the landscape of the earth in the New Age of Messiah, a change impacting not only climate and topography but also fauna and flora! O happy day! The scorched land (NAS marginal note = mirage) - Young's version renders this as "the mirage." Bultema comments "“The word translated parched ground (scorched land) actually means mirage, air reflection, an atmospheric phenomenon frequently seen in Eastern deserts which is caused by the reflection of the hot rays of the sun … Now the prophet brings the glad tiding that what used to be a mere semblance and an illusion will one day become a glorious reality.” (Bolding added) Lange's Commentary on scorched land - it is now agreed denotes the illusive appearance often witnessed both at sea and land, called in English looming, in Italian fata morgana, and in French mirage. In the deserts of Arabia and Africa, the appearance presented is precisely that of an extended sheet of water, tending not only to mislead the traveller, but to aggravate his thirst by disappointment. “More deceitful than mirage” (or serab) is an Arabian proverb. (Lange's Commentary) While Isaiah is referring to literal springs watering the thirsty ground, one is reminded of the spiritual springs that water one's thirsty soul. Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39+) As Guzik says "There is no reason for a Christian to endure a “dry time,” not when the miraculous power of Jesus Christ to provide is present." In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, grass becomes reeds and rushes - "The rocky crags normally inhabited by jackals (Isa 34:13) are to become splashy meadows." (See context in The MacArthur Study Bible) Lange's Commentary - This torture (SEEING MIRAGES IN THE DESERT) shall not be experienced by the returning Israelites. Instead of the mocking atmospheric illusion there shall be an actual lake, and the dry region shall become a region of bubbling (מבוע) springs. Where before was only the lair of jackals, there Israel will bivouac as in a place where now is a green spot hedged in for cane and reed. The Prophet has in mind his own description Isa 34:13b. Once dry, it is now moist; so much so that plants requiring great moisture grow there. Wherever the moisture extends these plants grow. (Lange's Commentary) Oswald Chambers - Vision and reality And the parched ground shall become a pool. Isaiah 35:7. We always have visions before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in us, then is the time that Satan comes in with his temptations, and we are apt to say it is no use to go on. Instead of the vision becoming real, there has come the valley of humiliation. ‘Life is not as idle ore, But iron dug from central gloom, And batter’d by the shocks of doom To shape and use.’ God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. Think of the enormous leisure of God! He is never in a hurry. We are always in such a frantic hurry. In the light of the glory of the vision we go forth to do things, but the vision is not real in us yet; and God has to take us into the valley, and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the place where He can trust us with the veritable reality. Ever since we had the vision God has been at work, getting us into the shape of the ideal, and over and over again we escape from His hand and try to batter ourselves into our own shape. The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you. Robert Hawker - Devotional on Isaiah 35:7 - OH! how refreshing is this promise to my poor, dry, barren, thirsty soul! Surely every poor sinner like me, that knows his own leanness and poverty, will feel the blessedness of it; for whether he be in the sapless state of unawakened nature, or whether in a scorched or languishing state, from the want of the renewings of grace, nothing can be more refreshing than such a promise. Precious Jesus! do thou revive the languishing frame of thy people; do thou pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. Oh what a fulness, blessed Lord! there is in thyself to supply all. Surely thou art, as the church said, “A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” Do thou then, oh Lord, send forth this day, this blessed day, such copious streams from thyself as may cleanse, revive, comfort, satisfy, and strengthen, all thy churches. Lord, cause me to drink of the rivers of thy pleasure; for with thee is the fountain of life. Isaiah 35:8 A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. KJV 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. NET Isaiah 35:8 A thoroughfare will be there– it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it– fools will not stray into it. NLT Isaiah 35:8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there. Septuagint-NETS - A pure way shall be there, and it shall be called a holy way; and the unclean shall not pass by there, nor shall be there an unclean way, but those who have been dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray. A highway will be there Isaiah 11:16; 19:23; 40:3,4; 42:16; 49:11,12; 57:14; 62:10; Jeremiah 31:21; John 14:6; Hebrews 10:20-23 a roadway Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14,15; 1 Peter 2:9,10 The unclean will not travel on it Isaiah 52:1,11; 60:21; Ezekiel 43:12; 44:9; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 14:20,21; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:27 But it will be for him who walks that way Isaiah 49:10; Ps 23:4; Matthew 1:23; Revelation 7:15-17 And fools will not wander on it Isaiah 30:21; Ps 19:7; 25:8,9; 119:130; Proverbs 4:18; 8:20; Jeremiah 32:39,40; Jeremiah 50:4,5; John 7:17; 1 John 2:20,27 Related Passage: Psalm 84:5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS: THE ROAD FOR THE REDEEMED Hebrew reads literally, "and there will be there a road and a way, and the Way of Holiness it will be called." It be be a HIGH (elevated) way, a HOLY way, to the HOLY CITY and the HOLY ONE of Israel, Who Alone is the "WAY, the truth and the life." (John 14:6). One enters this HIGH AND HOLY way through a NARROW GATE as declared by the BUILDER of this way... “Enter (NOT A SUGGESTION BUT A COMMAND - only way to obey it is to yield to the wooing of the Holy Spirit) through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt 7:13-14+) This HOLY HIGH way reminds us of Isaiah's words A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4“Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; (Isaiah 40:3-4)
Isaías 35
Guzik - Today, we take good roads for granted. But in the ancient world, a good road—a highway—was an amazing blessing for travel, progress, and business. Isaiah announces that in the ministry of the Messiah, there will be a wonderful highway, a road, known as the Highway of Holiness. The Hebrew word for highway indicates what our English word literally says: “a high-way.” It speaks of a raised road, lifted above the ground. It is a high, glorious road to travel on!. The construction of this Highway of Holiness was the greatest engineering feat ever accomplished. “Engineering has done much to tunnel mountains, and bridge abysses; but the greatest triumph of engineering is that which made a way from sin to holiness, from death to life, from condemnation to perfection. Who could make a road over the mountains of our iniquities but Almighty God? None but the Lord of love would have wished it; none but the God of wisdom could have devised it; none but the God of power could have carried it out.” (Spurgeon) (Isaiah 35 Commentary) (Bolding added) And it will be called the Highway of Holiness - Isaiah then goes on to explain why it is a holy highway. And of course ultimately it is because only those who have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20) of the blood of the Redeemer are set apart or holy to the Lord. All others are unholy. I personally believe this is a literal road that all the saints of the Lord will one day be allowed to travel upon on a totally renovated planet! The unclean will not travel on it - This is straightforward. Since it is a holy highway leading to the holy city and holy throne of the holy God, the Messiah, unholy persons are not allowed on it! But it will be for him who walks that way - ESV = "It shall belong to those who walk on the way." CSB = "but it will be for the one who walks the path." NLT = "It will be only for those who walk in God's ways." As Guzik quips "This highway isn’t for everyone. It has a “toll booth,” but you can’t make it on this highway by paying your way. You are only allowed on this highway if you are cleansed by the great work of the Messiah." (Isaiah 35 Commentary) And fools will not wander on it - NET = "it is reserved for those authorized to use it– fools will not stray into it." NLT = "fools will never walk there." NIV = "wicked fools will not go about on it." There is however another way to interpret this passage as indicated by the ESV rendering which has "even if they are fools, they shall not go astray." The New RSV is similar to the ESV = "not even fools, shall go astray." In other words, even a fool could not get lost on this highway. The Septuagint supports the ESV rendering translating the Greek as "they shall not go astray." Lange's Commentary has "Another advantage of this via sacra is that even the simple-minded (“Thumbe”), cannot go astray on it." Larry Walker on Highway of Holiness - Highway of Holiness. In the culture of the ancient Near East, certain roads between temples were sometimes open only to those who were ceremonially clean. (See Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Isaiah) Alan Carr - These verses speak of a highway that will pass through the land in that day. Because of the Assyrian invasion, it was not safe to travel the roads. The day will come when safety will be restored to the land. The people will once again be able to go to Jerusalem to worship the Lord in holiness and peace. (Isaiah 35:8-10 - The Sermon Notebook) J M Riddle on the Highway of Holiness - It is called a "highway" meaning "a road built on a raised causeway and therefore visible and unmistakable" (J. A. Motyer). E. J. Young contrasts the "way that is cast up" here, with Jeremiah 18:15, which speaks of a "way not cast up". He comments: "Here then is no mere faint track in the desert, such as is usually found, but a prepared, cast up way, whose existence can be detected without any difficulty". (What the Bible Teaches – Song of Solomon and Isaiah) NET Note on highway of holiness - In this context those authorized to use the Way of Holiness would be morally upright people who are the recipients of God's deliverance, in contrast to the morally impure and foolish who are excluded from the new covenant community. H A