Renew: a bloomin’ desert

One of Isaiah’s favorite poetic images is that of streams in a desert, vibrant vegetation growing where previously nothing could be sustained.

Maybe I love the image all the more because I live in a desert. We get a few inches of rain in the spring and the brown hills get a greenish tint to them. One such spring, Brian was admiring them, comparing the hills to those of Ireland. To which I replied, “Honey, you need to get out more.” Our spring hills look as similar to Ireland as my house does to the Queen of England’s castle. But then he’s a little color blind, so maybe to him our hills and Ireland’s are one and the same.

So today I’m posting one of my favorite “bloomin’ desert” passages, a whole chapter, in fact. I know. A whole chapter. Of poetry. On a blog. How boring.

But just try it. It’s beautiful; a perfect picture of the renewal our Rescuer brings. I’m telling you, I just can hardly wait for this day. There is so much more that could be said of this chapter, but tonight I’ll let God’s words speak for themselves:

Isaiah 35

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
   and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
   the majesty of our God.

 Strengthen the weak hands,
   and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
   ”Be strong; fear not!
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 unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
   and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
   and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
   and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
   the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

 And a highway shall be there,
   and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
   It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
   even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
   nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they 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;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
   they shall obtain gladness and joy,
   and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.