A HOMEBOUND HIGHWAY
Opening Prayer
As I come to your Word today, open my eyes and unstop my ears, Lord, so I can see and hear you clearly.
Read ISAIAH 35
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Joy of the Redeemed
35 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are there areas in your life where you doubt God’s presence and care for you?The people of Israel were very familiar with long journeys through deserts. First Abram, then Isaac, then Jacob and Joseph. The exodus was a 40-year trek, and the forced march to Babylon a shorter but far nastier few weeks. The desert meant exposure to extreme temperatures and the fear and discomfort of insufficient food and water sources. We may not have experienced literal deserts, but all of us have lived in desert times where hope has scant soil in which to grow.
In this beautiful poem, the dusty trudge became a pilgrimage, the wayside gloriously decked out in joyful expression of the splendor of God (v. 2). There were several ways in which the traveler was strengthened: first, by seeing the signs of God’s presence and love all around (vv. 5–7); secondly, by holding on to the truth that God was coming to save (v. 4); and thirdly, by staying on the Way of Holiness which leads to everlasting joy (vv. 8, 10).
We are not wandering directionless through life until we stumble upon a meaningless death. We are on a highway to home. We are not alone on our journey; we are among a great throng of fellow believers and accompanied by the Lord God himself.
Apply
The imperative in verse 4 was to encourage the fearful with the words, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.’ Who might you say that to? Do you need to say it to yourself?
Closing prayer
When I am afraid, Holy Spirit, call to my attention my Father’s presence and promises. Remind me that he is not far off; he is near, he will guide me and give me all that is needed to persevere.
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