Chapter 35

1 The joyful flourishing of Christ’s kingdom. 3 The weak are encouraged by the virtues and privileges of the gospel.

1. Desert shall rejoice. This chapter presents an inspired and inspiring picture of the earth in its restored state. The arid and waste regions of the world in its present state will be no more.

The rose. Heb. chabasseleth, thought by some to have been the narcissus, a popular wildflower of Palestine. Others have identified it with the crocus or primrose. Verses 1, 2 portray the beauty and fragrance of a land that blooms again after being freed from the curse of sin.

2. Lebanon. The Lebanon Mts., Mt. Carmel, and the Plain of Sharon were noted for their verdure and beauty. In ch. 33:9 a curse had stripped these regions of their verdure and reduced them to a wilderness state. Now, however, they were to be restored by God to their Edenic beauty (see chs. 41:19; 55:12, 13; 65:10).

3. Confirm. Or, “make firm.” God’s messengers are to encourage their fellow men to look forward with confidence to the glories of the earth made new and to trust in His power to deliver them from this present world cursed by sin.

4. With vengeance. That is, upon His enemies, but to “save” His faithful people (see Matt. 25:32, 34, 41). The disposal of the enemies of God’s people prepares the way for their deliverance, and with the knowledge of this, His children may take courage and hope (see Isa. 25:9; John 14:1–3; Titus 2:13).

5. The eyes of the blind. This promise will be true both literally and figuratively. Men who are spiritually blind (ch. 6:9, 10) will have the eyes of their spiritual vision opened and the ears of their moral understanding unstopped. In the earth made new all physical infirmities will likewise be healed.

6. Waters break out. This will be true both literally and figuratively (see on v. 5). For the figurative application see Ps. 46:4; Zech. 13:1; John 4:10; John 7:37, and for the literal fulfillment see Eze. 47:1–12; Rev. 22:1, 2.

7. The parched ground. Fertility and beauty will characterize even the regions of earth that are now sterile and barren.

Dragons. See on ch. 13:22.

8. An highway. See on chs. 11:16; 19:23–25. Had the people of Israel been faithful to God, the Land of Promise would have been restored to its Edenic fertility and beauty, as here pictured in vs. 1–4, 7, and sickness and disease would have disappeared from among them, as portrayed in vs. 5, 6 (see pp. 27, 28). From all nations sincere seekers for truth would travel “The way of holiness” up to Jerusalem to learn of the true God (see pp. 28–30). “The way of holiness” would not be for “the unclean,” or insincere, yet it would be so clearly marked that even the simplest of men, if honest in their search for truth, would not lose their way. All “the ransomed of the Lord” would eventually “come to Zion” along this highway “with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads” (see on Isa. 35:10; cf. Isa. 52:1; Joel 3:17). But Israel proved unfaithful, and accordingly forfeited the glorious destiny that might have been hers, and the promises of this chapter belong to the church today (MH 159, 160; see pp. 35, 36).

And a way. Nineteen Hebrew manuscripts, including Dead Sea scroll 1QIs, together with the Syriac, do not have these words.

9. No lion. In ancient times lions were a serious menace to those who journeyed through wild and desolate regions. But God assured a safe journey to those who would travel to Jerusalem along His holy way.

10. The ransomed. That is, those of all nations who accepted salvation.

With songs. The journey to Zion is a happy one. Pilgrims on their way to attend the feasts at Jerusalem went with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving to God. They sang psalms of praise (see Ps. 121; Ps. 122) as they looked forward to the happy hours they would spend in the sacred city, in fellowship with one another and in communion with God. This was to be the experience of “the ransomed” of all nations.

Ellen G. White comments

1–10MH 160; 8T 78

1     DA 305; GC 675; ML 139; 6T 24, 308

1, 2 PP 542

2     GC 302; PK 313, 733

3, 4 1T 370; 4T 131; 5T 489

3–6PK 728

5–10PP 542

6     PP 413; 5T 565

6, 7 PK 234

6–8PK 729

8     AA 53; Ed 170; FE 340; GC 320; 2T 692

10   Ed 167; ML 344; MYP 116; PK 730; SL 95