The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom, 1, 2. The weak are encouraged by the virtues and privileges of the Gospel, 3-10.
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them,/
and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,/
even with joy and singing./
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,/
the excellence of Carmel and Sharon./
They shall see the glory of the LORD/
and the excellence of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands/
and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,/
"Be strong. Do not fear./
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,/
even God with a recompense./
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened/
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame man shall leap as a buck,/
and the tongue of the mute shall sing./
For in the wilderness waters shall break out,/
and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool,/
and the thirsty land springs of water./
In the habitation of jackals, where each lay,/
there shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And a 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 who are way-faring men./
And fools shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there,/
nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon./
It shall not be found there,/
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Isaiah, Chapter 35[➚]
[v.3] - Quoted in Hebrews 12:12.
[v.5-6] - Quoted in Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22.