Isaiah chapter thirty-five promises glorious redemption and restoration of Zion, as a “mirror image” of chapter thirty-four, which “spoke of the fate of the arrogant nations [e.g. Edom] and all who trusted in them. This one speaks of the destiny of those who turn from that path to a resolute trust in God” (John Oswalt, The NIV Application Commentary). For Zion,

            The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,

               the desert shall rejoice and blossom,

            like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,

               and rejoice with joy and singing. (Isa. 35:1-2a,b NRSV)

But

            the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch,

               and her soil into sulfur;

               her land shall become burning pitch.

            Night and day it shall not be quenched;

               its smoke shall go up forever. (Isa. 34:9, 10a,b NRSV)

Verses 3-6a and 8 [of chap. 35] make it plain that this restoration is a spiritual one. Those who are discouraged and fearful will be given courage and strength. They have remained faithful while the nation has gone down and down. They have seen evil triumph again and again, and they have wondered if God’s day would ever come. But . . . the Lord will balance the scales of justice, and they will see the day when both wickedness and righteousness receive their true reward from God. Furthermore, in an apparent allusion to Isaiah 6, the promise is made that those who did not remain faithful–the “blind” and the “deaf,” the spiritually “lame” and “mute”–will be delivered from their afflictions and become full participants in the community of faith. (Oswalt)

The highway there

               . . . 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. (Isa. 35:8 NRSV)

            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. (v. 10)

The Book of Revelation closes with a reminder that “I [Christ} am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work” (Rev. 22:12). “Christ applies God’s title to himself” (Bruce M. Metzger, NOAB, on v. 13; cf. 1:8): “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (v. 13). John emphasizes the spiritual cleansing that is needed for entering the holy city. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates” (v. 14). Jesus himself, “the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (v. 16), issues the invitation:

            The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

            And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”

            And let everyone who is thirsty come.

            Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (Rev. 22:17 NRSV)

We are reminded that “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, [flows] from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city” (vv. 1, 2a). “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen” (v. 21).

Perhaps more than he knew or fully comprehended, Zechariah, in his “Benedictus” (“Blessed be . . .”), anticipated the redemption, restoration and blessed future of God’s people, fulfilling the promise,

            the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

               to grant us that we, being rescued f rom the hands of our enemies,

            might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness

               before him all our days. (Lk. 1:73-75 NRSV)

This will happen because

            He [the Lord God of Israel] has raised up a mighty savior for us

               in the house of his servant David,

            as he spike through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

               that we would be saved from our enemies

                  and from the hand of all who hate us. (vv. 69-71 NRSV)

He will give us salvation, “the forgiveness of . . . sins” (v. 77), light for “those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,” and peace (v. 79).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.

rdworden@hgst.edu

rworden@houston.rr.com