[Isaiah 35:1] THE WILDERNESS AND THE SOLITARY PLACE SHALL BE GLAD FOR THEM; AND THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE, AND BLOSSOM AS THE ROSE.
[Isaiah 35:2] IT 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.
[Isaiah 35:3] STRENGTHEN YE THE WEAK HANDS, AND CONFIRM THE FEEBLE KNEES.
This is speaking to the Israelites in Exile who will be returning.
[Isaiah 35:4] SAY 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.
God will take vengeance on those who oppressed us. He will save His people.
[Isaiah 35:5] THEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE OPENED, AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF SHALL BE UNSTOPPED.
[Isaiah 35:6] THEN 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.
[Isaiah 35:7] AND 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.
[Isaiah 35:8] AND 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.
This could be understood both in a physical and a spiritual sense. There really will be an actual roadway as described. There will also be a new spirit of understanding and instruction so that those who wish to return to God may do so without straying in errors or tiring out through weakness or discouragement: A spirit of vigor and love that overcomes inbuilt and acquired imperfections. This is a promise that those wh set out on this spiritual journey will find their way clearly marked before them.
[Isaiah 35:9] 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:
[Isaiah 35:10] 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.
Isaiah was speaking on several planes all at once.
At his own level he was referring to Israel and Judah, especially Judah. The Ten Tribes had been taken away in his lifetime. A good portion of Judah was about to join the Ten Tribes in Assyrian Captivity. Sennacherib was then to beseige Jerusalem but Jerusalem was to be miraculously delivered as described in the following chapters. Then (after a few generations) Babylon was to take the remnant of Judah into captivity. Later Cyrus the Persian would enable the Jews of Judah to return. Edom was a small country to the south of Judah that had underground reserviors of petroleum and bitumen that could be set alight. Edom was also a separate entity in the north in Urartu bordering Assyria. Also elements from Edom were prominent in Babylon. Edom, Assyria, and Babylon, and even Tyre (where there was another settlement of Edom) are sometimes refered to interchangeably.
Isaiah dressed his Prophecies in terms pertinent to his own times but the main import is to future generations especially the End Time.
Edom was to become a mighty entity:
Edom is Esau:
[GENESIS 27:38] AND ESAU SAID UNTO HIS FATHER, HAST THOU BUT ONE BLESSING, MY FATHER? BLESS ME, EVEN ME ALSO, O MY FATHER. AND ESAU LIFTED UP HIS VOICE, AND WEPT.
Esau has emotional grievance against Jacob.
[GENESIS 27:39] AND ISAAC HIS FATHER ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD, THY DWELLING SHALL BE THE FATNESS OF THE EARTH, AND OF THE DEW OF HEAVEN FROM ABOVE;
rich land, well-watered: Amongst the best land available. Mineral and natural resources. Richness.
[GENESIS 27:40] AND BY THY SWORD SHALT THOU LIVE, AND SHALT SERVE THY BROTHER; AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS WHEN THOU SHALT HAVE THE DOMINION, THAT THOU SHALT BREAK HIS YOKE FROM OFF THY NECK.
A warrior people existing by the sword, preferring the sword to other means whenever the yoke of his brother is not upon him.
A lot of us have weaknesses. We may not be pround of them. We may try to deny them. If we wish we can overcome them. God helps those who ask for HIS assistance.
Even so, we often do not really want help. In the dark recesses of our existence we cutivate our weakness.
A glass of vodka before an alcoholic.
A cigarette before a chain smoker.
Temptation before a committed sinner.
A piece of flesh before a starving dog.
Lord Fisher was Head of the Admiralty before the First World War. In 1908 he said that War with Germany would break out in 1914. He based his assumption on the Ship-building program of Germany at that time. He also said which month the War would begin but he was a month late in his estimate. At that time Germany was not hostile towards Britain. On the contrary. It was just that even the smell of potential success in conflict would be too hard to overcome.
[GENESIS 27:41] AND ESAU HATED JACOB BECAUSE OF THE BLESSING WHEREWITH HIS FATHER BLESSED HIM: AND ESAU SAID IN HIS HEART, THE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR MY FATHER ARE AT HAND; THEN WILL I SLAY MY BROTHER JACOB.
Esau hated Jacob and always does.
According to tradition descendants of Esau went to Rome and Germany. They were especially prominent amongst the aristocracy of Europe. The so-called “Germanic” nations were a mixture of Israelites, Edomites, Canaanites, descendants of Japhet and others.
It appears that in Bblical terms there no real “mixtures”: One is or one is not.
Ishmeal is the Arabs and islam.
Edom is Europe.
According to many Biblical passages Edom it appears will be completely destroyed BUT Rabbinical tradition says that in the End Times (after suffering punishment) a portion of Edom and of Ishmael will repent.
Isaiah-35.
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