◄ Isaiah 35:2 ►
It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
Study Bible
It will bloom profusely

The wilderness described in Isaiah 35:1 will undergo a real and dramatic transformation under God’s restoring power. Barren places will become fruitful, displaying the life and abundance that flow from the Lord’s blessing. Israel’s return from judgment and exile forms an immediate backdrop, while the complete renewal reaches forward to the Messianic kingdom.

Hos 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom…
Isa 27:6 In the days to come, Jacob will take root.…

and rejoice with joy and singing.

Creation is pictured as joining God’s redeemed people in celebrating His salvation. Joy and song accompany deliverance throughout Scripture, and Isaiah’s vision anticipates the gladness of those who return to Zion with everlasting joy (Isaiah 35:10).

Isa 12:6 Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you…
Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;…

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

Lebanon’s famed cedar forests represented grandeur, strength, and beauty. God will grant such richness to land formerly marked by drought and desolation, revealing that no condition of ruin is beyond His power to restore.

Isa 60:13 The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its cypress…
Psa 92:12-13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.

Carmel’s fruitful heights and the fertile plain of Sharon were well-known images of agricultural abundance in the land of Israel. Their beauty will characterize the restored wilderness, showing the fullness of God’s provision for His people and His land.

Isa 33:9 The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is ashamed…
Sng 7:5 Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, the hair of your head…

They will see the glory of the LORD,

The redeemed will behold God’s manifest majesty in the restoration He accomplishes. The glory once revealed in the tabernacle and temple is ultimately displayed in Jesus Christ, and it will be openly known when the Lord completes His saving purposes.

Psa 97:6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples…
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed…

the splendor of our God.

God’s holiness, power, and beauty stand behind the promised renewal. The flourishing land will testify that the God of Israel reigns, keeps His covenant, and will bring His people into the joy of His presence.

Psa 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty…
Hab 3:3-4 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Lebanon
Known for its majestic cedar trees, Lebanon symbolizes strength and beauty. In biblical times, its wood was highly prized for building and decoration.

2. Carmel
A mountain range in Israel, Carmel is associated with fertility and lushness. It is also the site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal.

3. Sharon
A fertile plain in Israel, Sharon is known for its beauty and abundance, often symbolizing prosperity and divine blessing.

4. The LORD
The central figure in this passage, representing God's presence, glory, and power.

5. The Splendor of our God
Refers to the manifestation of God's majesty and divine attributes, which are revealed to His people.
Teaching Points
The Promise of Restoration
Isaiah 35:2 promises a future restoration where the barren will become fruitful. This is a reminder of God's power to transform our lives and circumstances.

The Joy of God's Presence
The joy and singing in this verse highlight the response of creation to God's presence. As believers, we are called to rejoice in the Lord always, recognizing His work in our lives.

The Revelation of God's Glory
The passage emphasizes that God's glory will be revealed. We should live with the expectation of witnessing God's glory in our lives and the world around us.

The Beauty of Holiness
The imagery of Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon points to the beauty that comes from holiness and righteousness. We are encouraged to pursue a life that reflects God's splendor.

Hope in God's Promises
This verse assures us of the fulfillment of God's promises. We can trust in His faithfulness and look forward to the ultimate restoration He has planned.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon enhance your understanding of God's promise in Isaiah 35:2?

2. In what ways can you experience and reflect the joy and singing mentioned in this verse in your daily life?

3. How does the promise of seeing the glory of the LORD in Isaiah 35:2 encourage you in your current circumstances?

4. What connections can you draw between the restoration described in Isaiah 35:2 and the new creation promised in Revelation 21?

5. How can you actively pursue the beauty of holiness in your life, as symbolized by the splendor of Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 40:5
This verse speaks of the revelation of God's glory to all people, similar to the promise in Isaiah 35:2 that the glory of the LORD will be seen.

Psalm 96:12-13
These verses describe creation rejoicing before the LORD, echoing the joy and singing mentioned in Isaiah 35:2.

Song of Solomon 2:1
The reference to the "Rose of Sharon" connects to the imagery of beauty and abundance in Isaiah 35:2.

Revelation 21:23
This verse describes the glory of God illuminating the New Jerusalem, paralleling the splendor of God mentioned in Isaiah 35:2.
Sermons
Changed Circumstances Following the Return of Divine FavorR. Tuck Isaiah 35:1, 2
Transformation by the TruthW. Clarkson Isaiah 35:1, 2, 5-7
Christianity Finally TriumphantJ. Parsons.Isaiah 35:1-10
Christmas BlessingsJosiah Batsman, M. A.Isaiah 35:1-10
Glories of the Messianic AgeE. Johnson Isaiah 35:1-10
Life Out of DeathJ. R. Miller, D. D.Isaiah 35:1-10
NativityW. Jones, M. A.Isaiah 35:1-10
The Blessings of the GospelG. F. Pentecost, D. D.Isaiah 35:1-10
The Desert BlossomingA. Smellie, M. A.Isaiah 35:1-10
The RoseW. Houghton, M. A.Isaiah 35:1-10
The RoseP. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 35:1-10
The Transformative Field and Force of the GospelHomilistIsaiah 35:1-10
The Wilderness Made GladJames Foote, M. A.Isaiah 35:1-10
TransformationJ. Kay.Isaiah 35:1-10
People
Isaiah
Places
Carmel, Edom, Lebanon, Sharon, Way of Holiness, Zion
Topics
Abundantly, Beauty, Bloom, Blossom, Carmel, Delight, Excellence, Excellency, Flourish, Flourishing, Flowering, Full, Glory, Greatly, Honour, Joy, Lebanon, Lebanon's, Majesty, Power, Pride, Profusely, Rejoice, Rejoicing, Rose, Sharon, Shout, Shouting, Singing, Songs, Splendor, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 35:2

     1045   God, glory of
     1193   glory, revelation of
     1403   God, revelation

Isaiah 35:1-2

     2378   kingdom of God, characteristics
     4402   plants
     8146   renewal, natural order
     8287   joy, experience

Isaiah 35:1-10

     4209   land, spiritual aspects
     4824   famine, spiritual
     8149   revival, nature of

Isaiah 35:2-3

     5162   lameness

Library
What Life's Journey May Be
'The redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.'--ISAIAH XXXV 9,10. We have here the closing words of Isaiah's prophecy. It has been steadily rising, and now it has reached the summit. Men restored to all their powers, a supernatural communication of a new life, a pathway for our journey--these have been the visions of the preceding …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Miracles of Healing
'Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.'--ISAIAH xxxv. 5,6. 'Then'--when? The previous verse answers, 'Behold, your God will come, He will come and save you.' And what or when is that 'coming'? A glance at the place which this grand hymn occupies in the series of Isaiah's prophecies answers that question. It stands at the close of the first part of these, and is the limit of …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Mirage or Lake
'For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.' ISAIAH xxxv. 6, 7. What a picture is painted in these verses! The dreary wilderness stretches before us, monotonous, treeless, in some parts bearing a scanty vegetation which flourishes in early spring and dies before fierce summer heats, but for the most part utterly desolate, the sand blinding the eyes, the ground cracked and gaping as if …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The King's Highway
'And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there.'--ISAIAH xxxv. 8, 9. We can fancy what it is to be lost in a forest where a traveller may ride round in a circle, thinking he is advancing, till he dies. But it is …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Effects of Messiah's Appearance
The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. H ow beautiful and magnificent is the imagery, by which the Prophet, in this chapter, represents the effects of MESSIAH'S appearance! The scene, proposed to our view, is a barren and desolate wilderness. But when He, who in the beginning said, Let there be light, and there was light, condescends to visit this wilderness, the face of nature is …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Weak Hands and Feeble Knees
But my text, especially commands the minister to deal tenderly with those of Christ's people who are in such a condition, and these are not a few, for although religion changes the moral temperament of men, it does not change the physical. A man who is weak in health before conversion will probably be as weak afterwards, and many a spirit that has a tendency to despondency, has exhibited that tendency after conversion. We do not profess that the religion of Christ will so thoroughly change a man …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

The Pathway of the Holy
 An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness.' (Isaiah xxxv. 8.) One would think that Isaiah was speaking of two separate roads, for his prophetic eye sees 'a highway and a way' along which the course of God's people runs. Perhaps we may interpret the prophet's distinction as referring to the higher and lower paths along some of the roadways in the Holy City; but he makes it quite plain that the course of the truly godly may be correctly described as 'The …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Highway of Holiness
One of the things that we must learn if we are to live the victorious Christian life is its utter simplicity. How complicated we have made it! Great volumes are written, all sorts of technical phrases are used, we are told the secret lies in this, or that and so on. But to most of us, it is all so complicated that, although we know it in theory, we are unable to relate what we know to our practical daily living. In order to make the simple truths we have been considering even clearer, we want in …
Roy Hession and Revel Hession—The Calvary Road

The Blessed Country
"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."--Is. xxxv. 1. C. P. C. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 O glad the wilderness for me, And glad the solitary place, Since Thou hast made mine eyes to see, To see Thy Face. Not heavenly fields, but desert sands Rejoice and blossom as the rose; For through the dry and thirsty lands Thy River flows. O Way beside that living tide. The Way, the Truth, the Life art Thou; I drink, and I …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

Light and Sound
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."--Is. xxxv. 5. C. P. C. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Thou glorious Lord! mine eyes at last unsealed Behold Thee now-- In sudden radiance to my soul revealed, Light, sight, art Thou. One moment--and the night has passed away, Unbarred the prison; And I pass forth to God's eternal day, The dead arisen. One moment--and I see Thy glorious Face Look down on me, Unutterable love that fills all space, Where'er I …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

Oil and Wine
Gerhard Ter Steegen Is. xxxv. 10 There is a balm for every pain, A medicine for all sorrow; The eye turned backward to the Cross, And forward to the morrow. The morrow of the glory and the psalm, When He shall come; The morrow of the harping and the palm, The welcome home. Meantime in His beloved hands our ways, And on His Heart the wandering heart at rest; And comfort for the weary one who lays His head upon His Breast. …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

John's Doubts and Christ's Praise
'And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19. And John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou He that should come? or look we for another? 20. When the men were come unto Him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto Thee, saying, Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another? 21. And in the same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind He gave sight. 22. Then Jesus, answering, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

John's Doubts of Jesus, and Jesus' Praise of John
'Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. And said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another? 4. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. 7. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Hedge of Thorns and the Plain Way
A sermon (No. 1948) delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain."--Proverbs 15:19. You must have noticed how frequently godly people almost wear out their Bibles in certain places. The Psalms, the Gospel of John, and parts of the Epistles are favourite portions, and are thumbed in many an old believer's Bible till the fact is very noticeable. There are certain sheep-tracks …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Healed by Divine Power
I have now to relate what to me is one of the most important events of my life. Up to this time I had been a hopeless invalid. The doctors could not cure me. Under the care of some, my health would improve for a short time; but others would not undertake to do anything for me. After inquiring into my condition, they would say that it would be as easy to make a world as to restore me to health. I remember especially that this remark was made by the doctor who was attending me shortly before my healing. …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

Blind Bartimeus
Mark 10:52 -- "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." When the apostle Peter was recommending Jesus of Nazareth, in one of his sermons to the Jews, he gave him a short, but withal a glorious and exalted character, "That we went about doing good." He went about, he sought occasions of doing good; it was his meat and drink to do the works of him that sent him, whilst the day of his public administration …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Last Journey and Death, 1858 --Concluding Remarks.
We are now arrived at the closing scene of John Yeardley's labors. The impression which he had received, during his visit to Turkey in 1853, of the opening for the work of the Gospel in the Eastern countries, had never been obliterated; it had rather grown deeper with time, although his ability to accomplish such an undertaking had proportionately diminished. This consideration, however, could not satisfy his awakened sympathies, and, according to his apprehension, no other course remained for him …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

How Christ is to be Made Use of as Our Life, in Case of Heartlessness and Fainting through Discouragements.
There is another evil and distemper which believers are subject to, and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements, which make them so heartless that they can do nothing; yea, and to sit up, as if they were dead. The question then is, how such a soul shall make use of Christ as in the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting, and win over those discouragements: for satisfaction to which we shall, 1. Name some of those discouragements which occasion this. 2. Show what Christ …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

In Judaea
If Galilee could boast of the beauty of its scenery and the fruitfulness of its soil; of being the mart of a busy life, and the highway of intercourse with the great world outside Palestine, Judaea would neither covet nor envy such advantages. Hers was quite another and a peculiar claim. Galilee might be the outer court, but Judaea was like the inner sanctuary of Israel. True, its landscapes were comparatively barren, its hills bare and rocky, its wilderness lonely; but around those grey limestone …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Christian Behavior
Being the fruits of true Christianity: Teaching husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., how to walk so as to please God. With a word of direction to all backsliders. Advertisement by the Editor This valuable practical treatise, was first published as a pocket volume about the year 1674, soon after the author's final release from his long and dangerous imprisonment. It is evident from the concluding paragraph that he considered his liberty and even his life to be still in a very …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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