The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing. (Isaiah 35:10)Chapters 34 and 35 are seemingly out of place in this portion of Isaiah. Most of Isaiah 1-39 deals with the challenges of the 8th century BC, whereas these chapters anticipate the return from exile almost 200 years later. While the original portions of the book are credited to Isaiah ben Amoz (the same Isaiah who had the incredible vision in chapter 6), other portions are often attributed to followers of Isaiah who wrote in his name centuries later. This was not an unusual (or unethical) practice in ancient times.
The question for us, since we were not around to read the original writings of Isaiah ben Amoz, or to have a conversation with those who may have subsequently written in his name is: What does the finished form of these writings say to us? After all, we benefit from the complete Isaiah as part of our biblical canon. We must read the book in its entirety, rather than get too caught up with the individual details. Let's not miss the forest for the trees.
We have received an Isaiah in which the writers look beyond the troubles of 701 BC (the Assyrian seige) and 586 BC (destruction by Nebuchadnezzar) to the eventual and inevitable fall of Babylon. Remember, Isaiah always looks beyond judgment to restoration.
If there's trouble on your horizon, anticipate God's grace not far behind.
What are you afraid of?
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