Isaiah 33-35
Dear RTB’ers,
The STS introductory note is helpful for today’s reading – Isaiah 33 tells of Israel’s fear of the coming Assyrian invasion, then joy when the Assyrians are defeated, followed by another End Times prophecy in the second half of the chapter. Isaiah 34 gives us a picture of God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies, using Edom as an example. Finally, Isaiah 35 offers another future prophecy. 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. (vv. 35:5-6a)
Some 700 years later Jesus is surely citing Isaiah when John the Baptist’s disciples ask Him if He is the Messiah: Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:2-5) Note that Jesus offered even more than Isaiah had predicted! Seven centuries – that’s a long wait for that Messianic prophecy to be fulfilled. And now we’ve been waiting some twenty centuries for Jesus to return. Another long wait! Can we hold out a little longer…??
Blessings!