# Isaiah 35 📖: The Desert Will Bloom [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Isaiah Overview]] | [[Isaiah 34]] | [[Isaiah 36]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Land and Its People Are Transformed [[#Verse 01.]] Let the wilderness and desert be happy; let the arid rift valley rejoice and bloom like a lily! [[#Verse 02.]] Let it richly bloom; let it rejoice and shout with delight! It is given the grandeur of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the grandeur of the Lord, the splendor of our God. [[#Verse 03.]] Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake. [[#Verse 04.]] Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge; with divine retribution he comes to deliver you.” [[#Verse 05.]] Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. [[#Verse 06.]] Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will burst forth in the wilderness, streams in the arid rift valley. [[#Verse 07.]] The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow. [[#Verse 08.]] A thoroughfare will be there— it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it— fools will not stray into it. [[#Verse 09.]] No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it— they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it, [[#Verse 10.]] those whom the Lord has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Chapter 35 is a joyful contrast to the desolation of Edom in chapter 34. 2. The desert blooming like a crocus (35:1) uses a word that may refer to a crocus or a lily-like flower. 3. Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon (35:2) were known for their forests and fertile fields. 4. Hebrews 12:12 quotes 35:3 to encourage weary believers to strengthen their weak hands and knees. 5. Jesus answered John the Baptist's question by pointing to the miracles described in 35:5-6 (Matthew 11:4-5). 6. The burning sand becoming a pool (35:7) may refer to the mirage, the shimmering illusion of water in the desert. 7. The highway called the Way of Holiness (35:8) pictures a safe road for pilgrims returning to God. 8. The first Christians were called followers of the Way (Acts 9:2). 9. Verse 10 is repeated nearly word for word in 51:11. 10. No lion on the road (35:9) means the dangers of desert travel will be gone. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the One who came to save us and opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and made the lame walk (35:4-6). Jesus pointed to these very signs to show John the Baptist He was the Messiah (Matthew 11:4-5). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The desert blooms with joy (35:1-2). Where in your life do you need God to bring new life? 2. God tells His people to strengthen weak hands and say to anxious hearts, be strong, do not fear (35:3-4). Who needs that encouragement from you this week? 3. The Way of Holiness is for the redeemed (35:8-10). What does it mean to walk on this way today? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 4: Say to the anxious: be strong, do not fear; your God is coming to save you. - 📖 verses 5-6: The blind will see, the deaf hear, the lame leap, and the mute shout for joy. - 📖 verse 10: The redeemed will return to Zion with joy; grief and sorrow will flee. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Matthew 11#Verse 02.|Matthew 11:2-6]] - Jesus answers John the Baptist. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 12#Verse 12.|Hebrews 12:12-13]] - Strengthen your weak hands and knees. - 🔗 [[Acts 03#Verse 06.|Acts 3:6-8]] - The lame man leaps and praises God. - 🔗 [[Revelation 21#Verse 04.|Revelation 21:4]] - No more death, mourning, or pain. - 🔗 [[John 14#Verse 06.|John 14:6]] - Jesus is the way. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Isaiah 35 - SOAP|The Lord Restores Us]] ## 📂 Internal Notes