Monday, September 10, 2007

Isaiah 35

JOY OF THE REDEEMED

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus 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.

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way,
say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, so not fear;
your God will come,
He will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution he will come to save you."

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

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.
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that way;
wicked fools will not go about it.

No lion will be there,
nor will ferocious beasts get up on it,
they will not be found there.
But, only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord 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.

3 comments:

Amy said...

I love the last part of this....

Sometimes I think I *sigh* too much...Daily I ask for less *sighing* and more gladness & joy... Someday I won't have to ask!!!!

Anonymous said...

I love this passage too, Hol!

Shari said...

Yes - my family is ready for the last part of this verse...Joy and Gladness will overtake them! I RECEIVE THAT!!