35:7
Before they turn to the Lord the land is desolate, and the place is a burning desert. But when they turn to the Lord the place becomes a place of springs and fruitfulness. Note that it doesn’t matter what the sins were, turning to the Lord changes everything.
35:8
There will be a highway. This highway will lead to Zion, the City of God. The name of the highway is “the Way of Holiness”, and it will be for those walk “on that Way”. There is a way out of the mess we get ourselves into, but fundamental to getting out of the mess is returning to God. This means repenting. We have to acknowledge and repudiate our sins, turning away from them. And we have to turn to God, committing ourselves to His way. Remember that Jesus said “I am the Way”. The unclean and wicked fools will not journey on this road. The salvation of the gospel is not just a rescue in the sense of getting us out of a mess, rather it is a rescue in the sense of getting us off the wrong road and on to the right road. The road of rebellion against God is the wrong road, and there is no hope for society unless it will repent and turn to the Lord.
35:9,10
This way of Holiness is actually a way of safety, it will lead us safely through dangerous territory. Again, it is stated that only the redeemed will walk on it. We will enter Zion with singing, and everlasting joy will crown our heads, everlasting joy will be ours, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. In a time after this many would be dragged off to Babylon, then some time later some would return. This would be only a partial fulfillment of this prophecy, something much greater was to come.
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