Pause to Praise: Hope in Isaiah 35

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

In our most trying times, are we not thankful to see a glimmer of hope just ahead, glimmer that can become glorious? Let’s search and study today from the International Gospel Hour. Join us, please.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:19

Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:44

Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings and hello everyone. Let’s talk about hope, a glimmer of hope that can become glorious, and we’re going to do so as we begin with the reading of Isaiah 35. The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, Be strong, do not fear. Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With the recompense of God He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For water shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the highway of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks this road, although a fool, shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it. It shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. May the Lord always bless us with the reading and the hearing and the application of His Word. You know, some have called Isaiah 35 the most beautiful passage in the entire Bible. And in this time of Isaiah, we move from a desecration from chapter 34 to a restoration and hope in chapter 35. With all that is ahead for rebellious Israel, here is a pause to praise. To remind them that God will deliver them and is with them. So let’s learn something written aforetime as Paul would refer in Romans 15 and verse 4. And we’ll be back with that study in just a moment.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:17

Hello, friends. The Previous Shows tab is available at our website, internationalgospelhour.com, and also available on several podcast platforms. Maybe we are on your favorite podcast site. Just search for International Gospel Hour and you can find previous broadcasts. They’re always there 24-7 for you to listen or even to download, either at our website or your favorite podcast site. Check it out today.

SPEAKER 01 : 3:47

Isaiah chapter 35, a glimpse of hope, but oh, such division and trouble that’s going on. Dealing with indignation and invasion, but yet God says to rejoice. Let’s think about those trying times as they were facing during the times of Isaiah, and let’s learn some things today. How about when we are faced with all these troubles and struggles today? From verses 1 and 2, let’s grasp a greater view of God. You know, when one is in the desert, it’s hard to see the blossoms, but sometimes captivity helps one see clearly, and sometimes suffering helps us to seek better things. One’s view of God must help one to see ahead of one’s circumstances. In Jeremiah’s time, the pinning of the lamentation in Lamentations 3, 22 and 25, or through verse 25, through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. So friends, if you want your life to change, you’ve got to change your view of God. And if your view of God is wrong, then your worldview is wrong. We need to grasp a greater view of God when the divisions, the struggles, and when we feel hopeless. Second, let’s help those who have lost their song, if you will. In verses 3 and 4, those who have lost their joy in singing say, To focus on strengthening others. You know, Psalm 90 and verse 9 reminds us that all our days have passed away in His wrath. We finish our years like a sigh. Man who is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble. Job 14 and verse 1. But oh, think of the strength of the passages from Philippians chapter 2 verses 1 through 4. Written to the church, therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, which the answer to all those ifs would be, they are there. Paul says, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. And then put that into action, verses 3 and 4. That nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others. You know, this is a time to think that when we’re suffering and we’re facing challenges, and those, the children of Israel, could look around and see others facing it as well, to help those who have lost their song, if you will, to strengthen the weak hands, make firm the feeble knees, etc. There are others who are hurting. I recall reading a book a number of years ago called The President’s Club, which spoke of presidents after they had served as presidents of the United States and how they were able to help one another. I was reading about President Bush, or Bush One as we refer to him, President George Bush, when he lost his re-election to Bill Clinton. When he lost his election to President Clinton, he stated how it hurt, hurt, hurt. But tomorrow would be another day he would rise up and he would comfort those who were hurting as well. The graciousness that he brought forth in that transition spoke volumes. He was concerned of helping others with their hurt more than his hurt. Friends, we must always be willing to help someone else. There’s always a solution, a deliverance through God. Give them a plan within the pause here, if you will. Help refresh individuals. Be close enough to listen. Let’s continue our thoughts. Let’s learn from verses 5 and 6 of Isaiah 35 that setbacks are temporary. Let’s keep that in mind. God has never forsaken His faithful. Whereas in the book of Isaiah, chapters 1 through 39, He warns them because of their wickedness and their departure, they’re going off into captivity. But in chapters 40 through 66, He does remind them, I will not forget you. I will bring you back. Let’s have the assurance of Psalm 118, verse 6, The Lord is on my side, I will not fear, what can man do unto me? And Hebrews 13, verse 6, So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear, what man shall do unto me? Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, verses 16-18 says, Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day, for our light affliction which is but for a moment. And then verses 7 through 10, when he reminds them of something better. Let’s learn from that that there is a greater future in heaven, and to long for that. One doesn’t have desolation, but rather restoration. One doesn’t see vengeance, but victory. And God has always instructed us in the right way. For Jesus himself said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me. And Jesus, in his teaching early in his ministry, in Matthew 7, 13 and 14, enter ye in at the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. And through this text, the prophet Isaiah gives a wonderful look at the church that would to come, the way of holiness. that church that exists through the promise of Jesus Christ, Matthew 16, 18, and the purchase of that church by His blood, Acts 20 and verse 28, and where everyone today can be a part of the church we read of in the New Testament. Friends, this gives us reason to pause and praise God for what is there. We’d like to share with you our Bible study by mail. We offer this each broadcast, or most of our broadcasts. We offer all of our broadcasts, some type of Bible study. This one is by mail. It’s a booklet that we think will be of help to you. And here is our J-Web with those details.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:40

An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address and just say God and man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. God-And-Man.com We’d love to hear from you.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:49

Friends, I credit this study of Isaiah 35 to a beloved young preacher by the name of Parker Webster. Heard him deliver this in a lesson some time ago, and I like to, from time to time, talk about a sermon I have heard. And so I want to thank Parker for that study, and it is my honor to share that with you today. We appreciate you listening to our broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour. We’ll share with you material at no cost, and we’re thankful to help you. And we’ll study together here at another time. But for now, thanks again for joining me today. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

SPEAKER 03 : 12:27

God be with you till we meet again.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:34

Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.

SPEAKER 03 : 12:46

God be with you till we meet again.