Two central themes emerge in Isaiah; global judgment upon sinners and the redemption of God’s people. Just as sure as judgment is coming, so redemption is coming because Christ is coming!
In Isaiah 35, the prophet says “the Lord has a sword” and “the Lord has a day of vengeance.” The entire chapter describes a terrifying scene of destruction and slaughter. It is meant to be terrifying, for the most terrifying place on earth to be is in the hands of an angry God!
Isaiah 36, however, pictures a vastly different scene. Here we see the earth coming alive and the glory of the Lord settling upon a land and upon a people. Here we see the weak strengthened and the fearful becoming courageous. Here we see the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the mute singing, and the lame leaping. For here we see the glorious inheritance of the redeemed!
35:8, 10 “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness . . . And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” To meet Christ as your Judge is terrifying. To meet Christ as your Redeemer is everlasting joy! This is the Way of Holiness! Holy people have encountered the Holy God. They live holy lives, and one day they will live forever in holy places!
Shall you meet a Judge or a Redeemer? That question is answered by answering this question: Is your life characterized by sin and evil for self pleasure or do you pursue holiness to the glory of God?
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