Blessings in the Millennial Kingdom
May 17, 2019
Commentary
In chapters 1-34, Isaiah has delivered a message of judgment on all nations for their rejection of God. Chapter 34 spoke of great distress when God will judge all people for their actions. In this chapter, Isaiah contrasts the barrenness of Edom with the blossoming of Israel.
Restoration of the Land. (vv. 1-2). He prophesies that a time will come when “the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” (v. 1). He says that the desert areas of Israel shall one day blossom more beautifully than the grandeur of the cedar forests in Lebanon (v. 2). This chapter pictures the millennial reign of Christ and the days when life will be peaceful and everything will be made right.Restoration of Physical Health (vv. 3-6). This condition will not come, however, until after God’s judgment on the world (chap. 34). In the millennial age the Lord will restore the sick. The weak will be strong; the fearful will be courageous; the blind will see and the deaf will hear. The crippled will leap like a deer and the mute will speak.Restoration of Spiritual Life (vv. 7-10). The messianic kingdom will be a “highway of holiness.” Only believers will enter the millennial kingdom (v. 8). Those who have been redeemed, those who have been ransomed by the blood of Christ will live in the Messiah’s kingdom amid everlasting joy.
Application
God is preparing a way for His people to travel to heaven, and He will walk with us. God never stops at simply pointing the way, but He is always beside me as I go. All I need to do is trust Him to lead me each step of the way.
Isaiah 35:1– 10 (NET)
1 Let the wilderness and desert be happy; let the arid rift valley rejoice and bloom like a lily!
2 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.
3 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake.
4 Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge; with divine retribution he comes to deliver you.”
5 Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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,
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.
Illustration: Difference Between Forgiveness And Restoration
There is a difference between forgiveness and restoration. Some wrongly assume that saying your sorry is enough. But the truth is that the victim can often see the difference between a hastily uttered apology and genuine repentance. Consider the example of an abuser saying, “you’re a Christian so you must forgive me.” The implication is that the abuser is then free to continue his abuse. But who would be foolish to open themselves up to another round of abuse? A truly restored relationship requires recognizing and confessing guilt and real repentance which may very well include restitution when possible. (K. Edward Skidmore – Sermon Central).