Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come” Isaiah 35:4 (italics added)
Henry H. Halley calls Isaiah 35 ”One of the greatest chapters in the Bible. A poem of rare and superb beauty. It presents a picture of the last times, when the redeemed, after long suffering, finally shine forth in all the radiance of their heavenly glory. Returning exiles traveling along the highway (Isaiah 35:8-10) offer a marvelous image of the redeemed traveling home to God.” What a glorious promise and imagery this chapter gives us, especially after the long list of woes and the storm of judgment in the preceding chapters. The chapter begins with “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” (Isaiah 35:1-2). Even creation will share in the blessings of Christ’s reign.
Spring is starting to make itself known with the budding flowers and flowering trees. I walked the entire circumference of the Tidal Basin this weekend and was absorbed and surrounded by the beauty of the iconic Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in peak bloom. People come from all over the world to see the blossoms and for a chance to snap a picture with their beauty as the background. But as beautiful and alluring as they are, they will not hold a candle to the supernatural transformation of the earth into a veritable Garden of Eden as the Millennial Kingdom is ushered in. The curse from creation will be lifted, and “the glory of our Lord and splendor of our God” will be fully displayed (Isaiah 35:2).
The spring flowers will wither away as the seasons change, and crowds flock to see the cherry blossoms at their peak because they will soon fall to the ground. The landscape on this earth will quickly change from spring to summer. But we serve a God that never changes. Despite our sins and rebellion, God’s faithfulness to us and His promises speaks to His character and sovereignty. And without belief in the solid hope of God’s faithfulness and unchangeable nature, we would feel like ships lost at sea. Being beaten down by the crashing waves, swallowed by the towering swells, and lost, never finding our way home. But God promised in verses 8-10 that there will be “a highway that only the redeemed will walk, and 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.” We will be led home, and oh, what a glorious home it will be; it will always be in peak bloom. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The pictures are from my weekend stroll with great friends around the Tidal basin. Even the rain and the fog did not dull the beauty of the Cherry Blossoms.