The wilderness and the parched land will exult; the Arabah will rejoice and bloom; 2 Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly, and rejoice with joyful song. 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. 3 Strengthen hands that are feeble, make firm knees that are weak, 4 Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; 6 Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the Arabah. 7 The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; The abode where jackals crouch will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. 8 A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, but it will be for his people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any beast of prey approach, nor be found. But there the redeemed shall walk, 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning flee away.
The passages during Advent reflect themes of hope, preparation, and joy at the coming of Christ. As we journey through these Scriptures, we are invited to deepen our trust in God’s faithfulness, prepare our hearts to receive His grace, and rejoice in the wondrous mystery of Emmanuel—God with us. Isaiah 35 not only foretells the first coming of Christ but also looks ahead to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom at His second coming, inviting us into a vision of both present and future hope.
Isaiah gives a prophetic vision of hope, restoration, and salvation in this passage. He envisions the barren wilderness bursting into life, symbolizing the transformation of desolation into abundance (cf. Exodus 16:4-5). The wilderness and the Arabah (a desert valley) represent the hopeless state of the people in exile (cf. Isaiah 34:9-10). God’s intervention brings renewal, as creation reflects the joy of redemption (cf. Rev. 21:5). Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon were known for their lush landscapes so reference to these fertile regions indicates the restoration of God’s people. Seeing God’s “glory” and “splendor” links to the theophany at Mount Sinai where God’s glory was revealed as a consuming fire on the mountain (Exodus 24:17) and anticipates the incarnation of Christ (John 1:14).
Isaiah urges the weak and the weary to find strength in the hope of God’s deliverance. He will bring justice for the oppressed and salvation for His people. God coming to save them ties in with Messianic expectations of divine intervention for salvation. Opening the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf anticipates the miraculous works of the Messiah fulfilled in Christ’s ministry (Mt. 11:5; John 9:1-7). Isaiah speaks of the joy and vitality the redeemed will experience. The bursting forth of water in the desert symbolizes life and abundance provided by God, reminiscent of the water from the rock in Exodus 17:6. This points forward to the living water Jesus offers (John 4:14; 7:38).
The barren sands will be turned into fertile lands and Jackals, symbols of desolation (Isaiah 34:13), will give way to abundant life. The “holy way” represents the path of righteousness, reserved for the redeemed whose journey of holiness culminates in communion with God. This is similar to Jesus’ teaching about the “narrow road” leading to life (Mt. 7:13-14). The historical significance of Zion as the center of God’s covenant people provides a basis for its ultimate role as a symbol of God’s eternal kingdom. The redeemed can make their spiritual pilgrimage safely and without fear. They will return joyfully to Zion, a symbol of God’s eternal kingdom. Their “everlasting joy” reflects the fullness of salvation and the end of suffering, as seen in Revelation 21:3-4. The “ransomed of the Lord” refers not only to Israel’s return from exile but also to humanity’s redemption through Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of restoration and salvation in Isaiah 35. May we walk the holy way with faith, strengthened by Your presence, as You lead us to everlasting joy. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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