Those the Lord has rescued 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 eighth
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 warnings 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 in 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 siege) 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!
TODAY’S MEDITATION
What are you afraid of?
Imagine God coming to your rescue.
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