Monday 08 December 2008

Background

This prophecy expects great things. The vision is more cosmicand eschatological (concerning the end of time) than that of otherchapters of the book. The poem resembles a prophetic announcementof salvation. It proclaims that God is coming to save. Unlike mostof the other prophecies, this chapter bears the marks of acomposition, rather than a spoken message. The language has alsomoved from beyond the traditional prophetic attention to specifichistorical events to more universal expectations. Its central themeis that the natural order will be dramatically transformed and thatthe "ransomed of the Lord" will come in joy to Zion (Israel).

The biblical use of the words 'redeem' and 'ransom' tend to beheard by modern readers in religious terms. In the Old Testamenthowever, the terms have political and economic meaning. In theexodus tradition (when the Israelites were freed from servitude inEgypt, documented in the book of Exodus), these terms mean actualrelease from physical slavery.

Isaiah 35 proclaims the good news of God's care for the people ofGod. Those who experience their lives as exiles, those who passthrough a wilderness, those who are weak or disadvantaged mayindeed shout for joy, for God will transform all things. The veryproclamation of these things may have the power to transformordinary lives and the realities of this world.

To Ponder

Troubling realities lie behind the message ofthis passage. Why do you think suffering still persists?

Reflect upon the news stories of recent days andlook for signs of the hope of Isaiah and of the end of sorrow.

What things in your life have you been enslavedby? How have you been released (redeemed) from them?