Isaiah

This can go deep.

It’s beautiful.

So many references.

Flowers.

God will display His glory.

The lame will leap like deer.

Lions will not lurk there. They will leap.

35 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
² Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
the splendor of our God.

³ With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
⁴ Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”

⁵ And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
⁶ The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!

Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.

It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.

It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.

⁹ Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
¹⁰ Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Jerusalem^[a]singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them! ⁹ With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers? ¹⁰ What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord’s direction? The Lord himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”

Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.^[d]”

This is what the Lordsays: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”

Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, ⁶ and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

⁵ Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!

Godspeed