Isaiah on Tuesday - Images of Redemption

Once more as I approach Isaiah I find that chapter divisions, while helpful for reference, divide the text where they should probably stay together. Last time, I looked at Isaiah 34 and likened the prose to a Conan novel due to its graphic and fantastical content.

This week starts where that chapter left off, although with a completely different theme. Last time, Isaiah was deep in judgment; today he is full of promise. To Isaiah, the physical world around him was a metaphor for what is and what is to come. In chapter 35, he uses that world to describe what redemption will be like:

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
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.

He then goes on to list the imperfections that will be made Perfect:

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you."

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.

He then returns to the land around him as the desert, the burning sand, becomes a pool - a place of refreshment. Finally, a road will lead to the holy city upon which there is no fear of bandit or wild animal. The righteous will walk it and upon entering the city:

the ransomed of the LORD will return.
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.

That sounds pretty good to me. Redemption from Isaiah's standpoint is corruption becoming pure, emptiness becoming full, sickness being healed and barriers being removed. Hey! I want to be redeemed! Luckily, that's the promise under which we live.