(wam) isaiah 35; exposition and biblical theology - dr. robert asher

7/27/2019 (WAM) Isaiah 35; Exposition and Biblical Theology - Dr. Robert Asher

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ISAIAH 35: EXPOSITION and BIBLICA

byDr. Robert Asher

1

Introduction

Students often ignore Isaiah 35, but

understanding pre-millennial theology. Tbetween the Tribulation Period and the Mil

speaks vividly of the conditions that will existh Mill i Th t t l th t G d



Isaiah 35: Exposition and

overturning the spiritual judgment. It alsohealing, because the curse has been partial

evident from New Testament verses in which with physical healing but also spiritual healin

out to Christ showed their faith in the Messthem physically. This signaled what would ta

accepted the Kingdom offer during the ministr

The renewal of the water in the desert isill thi l th d t t bl



4 CTS Journal 8 (April–June 2002)

to Adam and Eve. Emphatic language inoverabundantly coming to life from a state o

language personifies nature’s restoration fromfull blessing of God. This chapter contrasts

grave judgment upon Edom in Isaiah 34.

The first verse depicts the happiness renewal. The wilderness and the desert wi

Arabah will rejoice and blossom (Isaiah 35:1)




wilderness and desert, where little life thrivsustains limitless life and bears fruit abundantl

Isaiah 35:1b–2a uses emphatic language

happiness of nature because of the new statherself: Like the crocus, It will blossom profu

rejoicing and shout of joy.

These lines emphasize both the tremenA b h ill i d th fi ti j




transformation of the Arabah from near stbeauty.

The desert will not only experience a ren

in history but also the direct presence of Goglory of the LORD, The majesty of our God

plural personal pronoun they is problematic idiffer widely concerning its relation to Israel.

1 Th ild d t d A b h t



Isaiah 35: Exposition and B

Nature will see the glory of the Lord, the

just as when the pre-incarnate Christ walked inin His glory and majesty (Genesis 3:8) Natu

Him in His fullness and will again see Him w

The occasion of Genesis 3:8 was just before G

the time when death came upon mankind. Isaiafter the partial removal of the curse from

brought the curse of judgment, removal presence and death Isaiah 35 brings bless




(with).”22

Creation longs to be free fromoppression (Romans 8:21). The curse pre

producing overabundantly as in the Garden of

Yet, the time is coming when all things a(Colossians 1:20). Then even the wilderne

Arabah, will produce lavishly just as before tnature will experience awesome joy, gladnes

rather than the groaning and sighing under tN t ill i d b




Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen t

with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear n

will come with vengeance; The recompense He will save you” (Isaiah 35:3–4).

These verses give three commands to a cencourage, strengthen, and admonish a secon

the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble (Isaiand strengthen use a verb stem that mean

strengthen, encourage, support, and assist.”2




them from peril. The first group admonishesgive them reason for hope.

Isaiah specifies the method for encoura

encouragement has definitive hope behind itknow that He is coming, and indeed, He is h

will come with vengeance; The recompense of Gwill save you (Isaiah 35:4b).

This half of the verse is problematic




enemies. The recompense of God will giveexactly what they deserve.

God will recompense His enemies for the

or will do to His people. Yet, He will also efpeople Israel. The word save is a hiphil jussiv

to save His people even though they do not Historically, He saved His people from the p

the future, He will save them from the power l i d j t A S i H h h




time.29

It points to an event immediately folloHere (as well as in Isaiah 60:5 and Micah 3:4)

time with emphasis on the following event. Tof as having taken place before the complet

action.”31

In other words, eyes being opened hsaved .

Physical or Spiritual Healing?

T ibl i t t ti f fi




deliver them from their enemies who are athem.

Verse five speaks of the opening of the

the ears of the deaf. Verse six speaks (in partfollowed by a shout of joy (same word, differ

verse two). Unlike nature, a right relationshIsrael requires spiritual as well as physical ren

to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nationM ki d f i d h l i




blindness. Isaiah 29:9 speaks of willfully refuconsequence, becoming blind and unable to

also discusses willful sin, divine judgment, anIsaiah 29:18, the people who are now blind an

with open ears and seeing eyes. Isaiah 32:3–messianic day when the future spiritual

accomplished.

Isaiah 42:7 also speaks of spiritual blinbli d I i h 56 10 d 59 10 l

h 3 d




physically blind, not spiritually blind. Their sMessiah led to receiving physical vision. The

their spiritual vision exceeded that of the Pindeed spiritually blind (Matthew 15:14; 23

prefigured Israel in recognizing and accepIsrael and were healed physically. They were

spiritual eyes led to healing of their physicrecognized her Messiah at this time and had

and His offer of the Kingdom, spiritual anld h h d th Si th t did t

16 CTS J l 8 (A il J 2002)




The spiritual or physical disqualifications Mosaic Law will no longer apply.

Results of Nature’s Renew

Verse 6b speaks about waters flowing

and Arabah. This will sustain the fruitfulnesthe Millennium. One of the most severe proble

today is the lack of fresh water. There will beF ill b k f h i h ild

I i h 35 E i i d B




The word pool (A&g^m ) is an Akka

agammu meaning “swamp, pool.”38

It may“troubled pool” or “reed pool.”

39The desert w

bountiful water. Isaiah 41:18 gives God’s diMillennium: I will make the wilderness a pool

land fountains of water (Isaiah 41:18).Today Israel draws water from tw

aquifers—one under the central north-south

18 CTS J l 8 (A il J 2002)




their limits. As much as 8 percent of food

that use groundwater faster than the aquife

many large rivers are so heavily diverted thsea for much of the year. As the number of

to five billion by 2025, farmers will have

aggressively with cities and industry for shri

The expanding population in the MilGod’s grace and sovereignty preplanned

thousands of years before the Second Comin

I i h 35 E iti d B




During the Tribulation Period, Israelwilderness (Revelation 12:6) where she will u

by the Messiah (Ezekiel 20:33–38) and spirit(Isaiah 35:5, 6). We do not know with certa

flee, but it is a “picture of desolation.”41

Fruthe probable location to be in Mt. Seir (Matthe

12:6, 14; Isaiah 33:13–16; Micah 2:12).42

Hias it is strongly defendable.

Th ti ill th d i ti

20 CTS J l 8 (A il J 2002)




gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing

35:8–10).

The word highway comes from the verb up, lift up, exalt.”

44The word highway (

road,”45

is possibly from the Akkadian word

The Akkadian word designates “the processioin Babylon.”

46The idea is a road that

surrounding terrain, similar perhaps to the frei i t t th l d ill b l k f t

I i h 35 E iti d B




Lord Jesus, the Righteous One, shall sit uponMessiah in Ezekiel’s Temple.”

47In the A

personal Presence of God, i.e., Christ, will pIsrael along the Highway of Holiness throu

land.

The apostates of Israel, who are uncleansince the Ezekiel 20 judgment already purged

not walk on it. Only those redeemed by the Lhi h (35 9 10) N ith t t

22 CTS Journal 8 (April June 2002)




“ransom, rescue, deliver.”50

It appears in all

except Aramaic. It has the basic meaning

ownership to another through payment of a prsubstitute. This word is parallel to G+AWl?m in

are redeemed/ransomed will return to Zion. Th

often refers to returning to the land. They wi

with joyful shouting. The joy is again due to Gin verses 2 and 6. They will find everlasting j

whole disposition, as this word is associa

(Exodus 4:14; Psalms 19:8; 104:15; 105:3





24 CTS Journal 8 (April June 2002)




Effect and Removal of the C

Effects of the Curse Removal oOn Race Sense of guilt (Genesis 3:7)

Loss of fellowship with God

(Genesis 3:8 )

Removed for b

Gladness and j

• Everlast

• New Co

31:31–3

• Earth fu

(Isaiah

Not removed f

On Serpent Condemned to crawl

(Genesis 3:14)

Not removed,

Millennium (I





Bob Asher received the B.S., M.S., and

Engineering from Oklahoma State University

then studied at Dallas Theological Seminary bMaster’s in Old Testament and Semitic L

Southwest University, Southwest Institute

Biblical History, Albuquerque, NM where

candidate and taught Old Testament and Semwent home to be with the Lord while this arti

process.

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