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SAIAH 35:10 & 51:11 are identical verses. These verses comprise
a song that almost eclipses the rest of these 2 chapters: "The redeemed of the LORD shall return, & come with singing
unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain
gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away." Ah yes, everlasting joy! I like this forever stuff. Let's try to pick up on some of the other
statements in this chapter that also address "forever stuff."
Isaiah begins this chapter by advising God's
followers to look back in review. From where did we come? What has God done for
us in the past? Surely the future (even the infinitely distant future) is
related to the past. If God has invested so much in us, is He likely to give up
on us now? Or ever? It's not like He didn't know where we would be at this
point, right? What He starts, He finishes (Philippians 1:6). He perseveres. Or,
as God said through Isaiah, "My
salvation shall be forever' (Isaiah 51:6).
Notice also that those who follow after righteousness eventually know
righteousness (Isaiah 51:1, 7 & Matthew 5:6). And, those who resist
righteousness are found to be made of very fragile fabric indeed. God comforts
His own, and discomfits His enemies. It really is that simple. No matter how low we go, if we are God's
children, we can be sure that He will bring us out... in His good time. We are
always in His hand. Always. That's the only way He works (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
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