Midweek Advent 3 – December 19, 2019 – Isaiah 35:1-10
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 35. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Perhaps it has been explained to you before that Biblical prophecy is often layered. The prophet looks at what is coming, and at times does not make absolutely clear distinctions about timing. One of the best explanations of this is that it is kind of like a person looking at our mountains from Ft. Lupton. It may appear that they are very close, and that there is little distance from the first hills to the back range. When we get closer, and into the mountains, we discover there is significant distance from the first ridge to the continental divide.
- We have this is our text for this evening. What is described is the coming of the church – and the assurances and blessings enjoyed by us until the final day. Also described are the realities of the blessed heavenly kingdom of God – which come when Jesus returns in glory on Judgment Day.
- Christ’s salvation is already here – within the church. All are invited to participate and join in, for “God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This blessedness is received by simple repentance and faith.
- But the full fruition of Christ’s salvation comes on the Last Day. Nonetheless, the coming of His salvation has initiated many of these blessings for God’s children of faith even here and now! Isaiah makes this clear in our text, for:
I. Seeing The Glory Of The Lord – His Salvation – Brings Light And Good Into The World
Text: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.”
A. Even Nature Is Renewed
Text: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. . . . Waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”
B. The Weak And Worried Are Strengthened
Text: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”
Statement: These things are true to some degree even now. Nature continues to provide abundantly for all human beings. This is the gift and blessing of God! And how many people within the church have been strengthened and relieved of fear and anxiety by knowing and believing the love that God has for us, and His promises to bless and preserve us?
Application: These are blessing of Christ’s salvation which come to us even today – in addition to the absolute assurances of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and gift of eternal life! It is surely God’s will that we not only be saved for a future kingdom, but blessed richly even here and now within the church!
Transition: This is the main import of our text. But it is also true that:
II. God Will Come With His Recompense
Text: “Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.”
A. He Does So In Order To Save And Bless His People, Believers
Text: “Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”
B. He Does So In Order To Create The Church, “The Way Of Holiness”
Text: “A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way. . . . the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion.” [Remember what Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jn. 14:6]
1. It is for those cleansed by the blood of Jesus
1 Jn. 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
John 8:36 “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
2. There is safety on this “Way” – no evil or violence
Text: “No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it.”
3. In this “Way” we are preserved even from our own foolishness
Text: “It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.”
C. And Joy Permeates Everything – Sorrow And Sighing Flee Away
Text: “The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Statement: While the complete fulfillment of this will not occur until the Last Day and the new heavens and earth, nonetheless there is some fulfillment of these blessings even here and now – in the salvation of Christ! Thank God for these blessings!
Application: At times we lament the difficulties of the Christian life in this fallen world. We dare not ignore the great blessings that are ours already in the kingdom of Christ, on the way of holiness!
Conclusion: Again, to use the analogy of our mountains, if we want to get to the divide we have some climbing to do. However, it is a blessing even now to be on the way in the mountains. May God grant each of us the gladness and joy of His kingdom, and may our sorrow and sighing flee away. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.