CROWNED WITH EVERLASTING JOY

Passage: Isaiah 35:1-10

Key verse: 10

NIV

Joy of the Redeemed

35 The desert(A) and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.(B)
Like the crocus,(C) 2 it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.(D)
The glory of Lebanon(E) will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel(F) and Sharon;(G)
they will see the glory(H) of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.(I)

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees(J) that give way;
4 say(K) to those with fearful hearts,(L)
    “Be strong, do not fear;(M)
your God will come,(N)
    he will come with vengeance;(O)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save(P) you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened(Q)
    and the ears of the deaf(R) unstopped.
6 Then will the lame(S) leap like a deer,(T)
    and the mute tongue(U) shout for joy.(V)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams(W) in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground(X) bubbling springs.(Y)
In the haunts where jackals(Z) once lay,
    grass and reeds(AA) and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway(AB) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;(AC)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean(AD) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion(AE) will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;(AF)
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed(AG) will walk there,
10     and those the Lord has rescued(AH) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;(AI)
    everlasting joy(AJ) will crown their heads.
Gladness(AK) and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.(AL)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Ransomed Shall Return

35 (A)The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    (B)the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
(C)The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of (D)Carmel and (E)Sharon.
(F)They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

3 (G)Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
(H)Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

5 (I)Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 (J)then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
(K)For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
7 (L)the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of (M)jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 (N)And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
(O)the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a]
9 No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 (P)And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
(Q)everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 35:8 Or if they are fools, they shall not wander in it
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Isaiah 35 complements the previous chapter. God’s wrath awaits those who reject the LORD. But glory and everlasting joy await those who are faithful to God. One day, God will bring the fullness of his kingdom. This world can feel like a desert because of sin and death. But God’s kingdom will bring his life and beauty to this wilderness. As God’s children, we sometimes feel that our hands are feeble and our knees shaky. Fear may overwhelm us, even as struggle to we live by faith in this broken, sinful world. God can sometimes feel far away in our darkest moments. Do not be discouraged! The LORD tells us to be strong in him (3,4). He is not far away. He will come again with divine retribution to save us.

In God’s kingdom, healing and restoration will come to the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the mute. God’s presence and rule will be like streams in the desert. God’s kingdom is described like a highway of holiness. Only the clean and redeemed, those rescued by the LORD, will walk on it. All the suffering and heartache God’s people experienced in this life will be replaced with singing and gladness. Everlasting joy will crown the heads of God’s people. This is promised to all who have put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, may your kingdom come. Thank you for promising everlasting joy. Strengthen us to be faithful to you until that glorious day.

One Word: God promises everlasting joy