Today's Video Devotion

Saturday 4/27/24

Streams in the Desert

📺️ Isaiah 35 🔊

 ¹The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

 ²It 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 see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

 ³Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

 ⁴Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

 ⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

 ⁶Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

 ⁷And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

 ⁸And 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.

 ⁹No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

 ¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Isaiah

Date Penned: (700-681 BC)

Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)

Theme: Words of Judgment (c 1-39)

Message: Streams in the Desert (v 1-10)

Isaiah 35 Commentary 

(35:1-10) Judgment on All Nations - In Isaiah 1-34, the prophet has delivered a message of judgment on all nations, including Israel and Judah, for rejecting God. Although we have seen glimpses of relief and restoration for the remnant of faithful believers in these chapters, the climate of wrath, fury, judgment, and destruction has prevailed. Now Isaiah breaks through with a vision of beauty and encouragement. God is just as thorough in his mercy as he is consistent in his judgment. His complete moral perfection is revealed by his hatred of all sin, and this leads to judgment. This same moral perfection is revealed in his love for all he has created. This leads to mercy for those who have sinned but who have sincerely loved Jesus and put their trust in him. 

(35:1-10) A Day of Peace - This chapter is a beautiful picture of the final kingdom, in which God will establish his justice and destroy all evil. This is the world the redeemed can anticipate after the judgment, when creation itself will rejoice in God. Isaiah 34 speaks of great distress when God will judge all people for their actions. Isaiah 35 pictures the days when life will be peaceful at last and everything will be made right. Carmel and Sharon, mentioned in 35:2, were regions of thick vegetation and fertile soil. They were symbols of productivity and plenty. 

(35:3-4) The Return of the Lord - Because we all sin, the thought of the return of the Lord can be frightening. He will return with vengeance against evil, yet he will save those who have placed their trust in him. We should encourage those who have become weak or timid in their faith. Our fear of judgment can be changed instead to awe at God's salvation and rescue of his people. 

(35:6-7) Streams in the Desert - The healing of physical defects here is real, and not just a figurative representation of spiritual healing. Our bodies will one day be perfectly restored to function as God originally intended. Similarly, the streams in the desert are not just a mirage. Nature will also be released from the curse of the Fall in that day (see Genesis 3:17-19). 

(35:8-10) Following the Lord - This "way of holiness" is the path that righteous pilgrims will take from the desert of suffering to Zion (Jerusalem). They can find it only by following God. Only the ransomed and redeemed will travel on God's highway; they will be protected from wicked travelers and harmful animals. God is preparing a way for his people (those who walk in his ways) to travel to his home, and he will walk with us. God never stops at simply pointing the way; he always walks beside us as we go.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 35. In our text today, we see Streams in the Desert as the Lord provides a way where there seems to be no way. In applying, we see that our Lord cares, provides for our needs, and makes a way where there seems to be no way. How about you? Do you know the power of our God, and is He your Lord? Let us learn from our text today as Isaiah paints a picture of how the Lord will destroy evil, establish justice, and make a way where there seems to be no way.