Idea: Isaiah 35 speaks of a glorious restoration of the people of God that has an historical meaning in the return of the captives. But it also prefigures the reign of Jesus Christ and the final restoration of all things at the end of time. This end times prophecy gives hope to the people of God in this present time.
1. Restoration - Isaiah 34 spoke of the destroying judgment of God. Chapter 35 speaks of a breath-taking restoration. There will be streams in the desert and the wilderness will burst into blossom.
2. Revival - strengthen the weak. Isaiah directs us to two means of revival. 1. Behold your God - confess that He is your Lord in the midst of trial. 2. Recognize that He will put all things right – “vengeance is mine.”
3. Return - the promise of complete rest and holiness in heaven. God Himself will usher His children into His eternal presence.
Calvin says well that “the Lord began some kind of restoration when he brought his people out of Babylon; but that was only a slight foretaste, and, therefore, I have no hesitation in saying that this passage... must refer to the kingdom of Christ; and in no other light could it be viewed...” It is in Christ that we have restoration. In Him we are counted as heirs of eternal life, adopted by God to receive an eternal inheritance. While we possess this blessing now in Christ, there remains a Sabbath rest to enter. There remains the blessing of being freed from temptation and sin that we will know will be made complete on that last great day. We can say with IS, “We shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.”
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