서론
無標題
英文原文
As after a prediction of God's judgments upon the world (Isa 24:1-23) follows a promise of great mercy to be had in store for his church (Isa 25:1-2), so here after a black and dreadful scene of confusion in the foregoing chapter we have, in this, a bright and pleasant one, which, though it foretel the flourishing estate of Hezekiah's kingdom in the latter part of his reign, yet surely looks as far beyond that as the prophecy in the foregoing chapter does beyond the destruction of the Edomites; both were typical, and it concerns us most to look at those things which they were typical of, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of heaven. When the world, which lies in wickedness, shall be laid in ruins, and the Jewish church, which persisted in infidelity, shall become a desolation, then the gospel church shall be set up and made to flourish. I. The Gentiles shall be brought into it, Isa 35:1,2,7. II. The well-wishers to it, who were weak and timorous, shall be encouraged, Isa 35:3,4. III. Miracles shall be wrought both on the souls and on the bodies of men, Isa 35:5,6. IV. The gospel church shall be conducted in the way of holiness, Isa 35:8,9. V. It shall be brought at last to endless joys, Isa 35:10. Thus do we find more of Christ and heaven in this chapter than one would have expected in the Old Testament.
1-4
The Blessings of the Gospel (720 BC)
福音的福分 (720 BC)
¹ 曠野和乾旱之地必因他們歡喜；沙漠也必快樂，又像玫瑰開花。
² 必開花繁盛，以喜樂和歌唱歡欣；利巴嫩的榮耀、迦密和沙崙的美必要賜給它；他們必看見耶和華的榮耀，並我們神的華美。
³ 你們要堅固無力的手，穩固發軟的膝。
⁴ 要對那心怯的人說：你們要剛強，不要懼怕；看哪，你們的神必來施報應，就是神帶著報應而來；他必來拯救你們。
在這幾節中，我們看到：
I. 荒涼之地開花。在前一章我們看到一個人口稠密、果實纍纍之國變為可怕的曠野；這裡我們取而代之看到一個曠野變為美地。當猶大地從亞述軍隊手中得釋放之時，那些因他們的蹂躪和暴行而變為曠野的地區開始恢復，重新顯得宜人，並如玫瑰開花。當外邦列國——長期如曠野一般、不向神結果子——接受了福音，喜樂便隨之而來（詩67:3,4，96:11,12）。當基督在撒瑪利亞被傳開，那城就大有歡喜（徒8:8）；那些坐在黑暗中的人看見了大而可喜的光，於是他們便開花了——就是說，結出豐盛果子的盼望；因為那正是傳福音之人的目標（約15:16），要去結果子（羅1:13，西1:6）。花雖不是果，且常流產歸於無有，卻是為著果子。歸信之恩使那原是曠野的靈魂以喜樂和歌唱歡欣，並開花繁盛。這開花的曠野必得著利巴嫩的榮耀——在於其香柏樹的堅固與雄偉——以及迦密和沙崙的美——在於五穀和牛群。凡是任何制度中寶貴的，都被帶入福音。猶太教會的一切美都被納入基督教會，並在其完美中顯出，正如使徒在希伯來書書信中詳細說明的。摩西制度中一切優美可羨的，都被轉入福音的制度之中。
II. 神的榮耀彰顯：他們必看見耶和華的榮耀。 神要在他對人類的恩典和慈愛上比以往更加彰顯自己（因為那正是他的榮耀和華美），並要賜他們眼睛去看見，賜他們心腸受感動。這正是使曠野開花的那一切。我們越憑信心看見耶和華的榮耀和我們神的華美，便越喜樂、越結果子。
III. 軟弱和膽怯者得鼓勵（賽35:3,4）。神的先知和傳道人憑其職分特別受託，要堅固無力的手，安慰那些尚不能從亞述軍隊所加的驚嚇中恢復的人——以神如今要施憐憫歸回他們的確據。這正是福音的目的，1. 堅固那些軟弱的人並堅固他們——那無力的手，既不能做工也不能爭戰，連在禱告中也難以舉起；那發軟的膝，既不能站立也不能行走，不適合那擺在前頭的路程。福音為我們預備了使人剛強的思考，並向我們指出力量為我們所藏之處。在真基督徒中有許多手軟膝弱、不過是在基督裡為嬰孩的人；但我們有責任堅固弟兄（路22:32），不僅要包容軟弱的人，更要盡力堅固他們（羅15:1，帖前5:14）。我們也有責任堅固自己，舉起那垂下來的手（來12:12），運用神所賜的力量，並加以發揮。2. 激勵那些膽怯灰心的人：要對那些心怯的人說——因自己的軟弱和仇敵的強大——那些急躁的人（原文如此），一聽見警報便要逃走、放棄事業的人，那些在急忙中說*「我們被剪除、我們完了」的人（詩31:22）——福音中有足夠的內容可以平息這些恐懼；它對他們說，也讓他們對自己和彼此說：你們要剛強，不要懼怕。 懼怕是軟化人的；我們越努力抵擋它，在行事和受苦上便越剛強；而為鼓勵我們努力，那對我們說你們要剛強*的那一位，已將我們的幫助安置在一位全能者之上。
IV. 確據賜下，保證一位拯救者的臨近：「你們的神必來施報應。神要為你們向你們的仇敵出現，要報應他們的損害和你們的損失。」 彌賽亞要在時候滿足之時來到，向黑暗的權勢報應，擄掠他們，將他們明顯示眾，以豐盛的安慰報應那些在錫安哀哭的人。他必來拯救我們。 舊約的聖徒正是藉著這盼望堅固了他們無力的手。他還要在末了之時再來，在火焰中降臨，向那擾亂他百姓的人報應患難，向那受患難的人賜安息——那安息不僅是一切患難的終結，更是對一切患難的充分賞賜（帖後1:6,7）。那些為神的約櫃心戰、為他在世上的教會掛慮的人，可以以此平息他們的恐懼：神必親自接管這工。你們的神必來，他是為你們申訴、承認你們利益的那一位，就是神自己——惟獨為神的那一位。
英文原文
The Blessings of the Gospel (720 BC)
¹ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
² It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
³ Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
⁴ Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
In these verses we have,
I. The desert land blooming. In the foregoing chapter we had a populous and fruitful country turned into a horrid wilderness; here we have in lieu of that, a wilderness turned into a good land. When the land of Judah was freed from the Assyrian army, those parts of the country that had been made as a wilderness by the ravages and outrages they committed began to recover themselves, and to look pleasantly again, and to blossom as the rose. When the Gentile nations, that had been long as a wilderness, bringing forth no fruit to God, received the gospel, joy came with it to them, Ps 67:3,4,96:11,12. When Christ was preached in Samaria there was great joy in that city (Ac 8:8); those that sat in darkness saw a great and joyful light, and then they blossomed, that is, gave hopes of abundance of fruit; for that was it which the preachers of the gospel aimed at (Joh 15:16), to go and bring forth fruit, Ro 1:13, Col 1:6. Though blossoms are not fruit, and often miscarry and come to nothing, yet they are in order to fruit. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness to rejoice with joy and singing, and to blossom abundantly. This flourishing desert shall have all the glory of Lebanon given to it, which consisted in the strength and stateliness of its cedars, together with the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, which consisted in corn and cattle. Whatever is valuable in any institution is brought into the gospel. All the beauty of the Jewish church was admitted into the Christian church, and appeared in its perfection, as the apostle shows at large in his epistle to the Hebrews. Whatever was excellent an desirable in the Mosaic economy is translated into the evangelical institutes.
II. The glory of God shining forth: They shall see the glory of the Lord. God will manifest himself more than ever in his grace and love to mankind (for that is his glory and excellency), and he shall give them eyes to see it, and hearts to be duly affected with it. This is that which will make the desert blossom. The more we see by faith of the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God the more joyful and the more fruitful shall we be.
III. The feeble and faint-hearted encouraged, Isa 35:3,4. God's prophets and ministers are in a special manner charged, by virtue of their office, to strengthen the weak hands, to comfort those who could not yet recover the fright they had been put into by the Assyrian army with an assurance that God would now return in mercy to them. This is the design of the gospel, 1. To strengthen those that are weak and to confirm them—the weak hands, which are unable either to work or fight, and can hardly be lifted up in prayer, and the feeble knees, which are unable either to stand or walk and unfit for the race set before us. The gospel furnishes us with strengthening considerations, and shows us where strength is laid up for us. Among true Christians there are many that have weak hands and feeble knees, that are yet but babes in Christ; but it is our duty to strengthen our brethren (Lu 22:32), not only to bear with the weak, but to do what we can to confirm them, Ro 15:1, 1Th 5:14. It is our duty also to strengthen ourselves, to lift up the hands which hang down (Heb 12:12), improving the strength God has given us, and exerting it. 2. To animate those that are timorous and discouraged: Say to those that are of a fearful heart, because of their own weakness and the strength of their enemies, that are hasty (so the word is), that are for betaking themselves to flight upon the first alarm, and giving up the cause, that say, in their haste, "We are cut off and undone" (Ps 31:22), there is enough in the gospel to silence these fears; it says to them, and let them say it to themselves and one to another, Be strong, fear not. Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it the stronger we are both for doing and suffering; and, for our encouragement to strive, he that says to us, Be strong has laid help for us upon one that is mighty.
IV. Assurance given of the approach of a Saviour: "Your God will come with vengeance. God will appear for you against your enemies, will recompense both their injuries and your losses." The Messiah will come, in the fulness of time, to take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to spoil them, and make a show of them openly, to recompense those that mourn in Zion with abundant comforts. He will come and save us. With the hopes of this the Old-Testament saints strengthened their weak hands. He will come again at the end of time, will come in flaming fire, to recompense tribulation to those who have troubled his people, and, to those who were troubled, rest, such a rest as will be not only a final period to, but a full reward of, all their troubles, 2Th 1:6,7. Those whose hearts tremble for the ark of God, and who are under a concern for his church in the world, may silence their fears with this, God will take the work into his own hands. Your God will come, who pleads your cause and owns your interest, even God himself, who is God alone.
5-10
The Blessings of the Gospel (720 BC)
福音的福分（主前720年）
⁵ 那時瞎子的眼必睜開，聾子的耳必開通。
⁶ 那時瘸子必跳躍像鹿，啞巴的舌頭必能歌唱；因為曠野必發生水，旱地必有江河湧流。
⁷ 發光的沙要變為水池，乾渴之地要變為泉源；在野狗躺臥之處，必有青草、蘆葦和蒲草。
⁸ 在那裏必有一條大道，稱為聖路；污穢的人不得經過，必專為贖民行走；行路的人雖愚昧，也不致迷失。
⁹ 在那裏必沒有獅子，猛獸也不得上這路，在那裏必找不着；只有贖民必走這路。
¹⁰ 耶和華救贖的民必歸回，歌唱來到錫安，永遠的喜樂歸到他們頭上，他們必得着歡喜快樂，憂愁歎息盡都逃避。
那時——當你們的神來到，就是基督來到，要在世上建立他的國度之時（眾先知都為此作見證，尤其在他們論到教會暫時得拯救的預言接近尾聲之處；這位福音先知尤其如此）——那時要期待大事。
I. 在自然和恩典兩個領域中都要行出奇事——在人子身上所行的憐憫奇事，足以證明向我們而來的無非是神。1. 在人的身體上要行奇事（Isa 35:5,6）：瞎子的眼必睜開；這是我們主耶穌在世上時常常行的，一說話便成，他甚至使一個生來瞎眼的重見光明（Mt 9:27, 12:22, 20:30, Joh 9:6）。靠他的大能，聾子的耳也開通了，只一句話。以法大——開了吧（Mk 7:34）。許多瘸子的肢體得著完全的恢復，不但能走，更能跳躍，並且喜樂得不能自禁地跳躍，如那瘸子一般（Ac 3:8）。啞巴也得以說話，那時他們自然禁不住因喜樂而歌唱（Mt 9:32,33）。基督行這些神蹟為要證明他是神所差來的（Joh 3:2）；不但如此，憑自己的權能、奉自己的名而行，更證明他是神，就是那起初造人的口、聽的耳、看的眼的同一位。他要向約翰的門徒證明他神聖的使命，正是藉着這類神蹟——這經文便因此應驗了。2. 在人的靈魂上要行更大的奇事。藉着基督的道和靈，那些屬靈上瞎眼的人得蒙光照（Ac 26:18），那些對神的呼召充耳不聞的人得以樂意聆聽——如此呂底亞，主開導她的心，使她留心聽（Ac 16:14）。那些對一切善事無能為力的人，藉着神的恩典不但能以勝任，更積極投入，奔跑神命令的道路。那些啞口不知如何論到神或對神說話的人，既蒙開通心竅得以認識他，便因而開口傳揚他的讚美。啞巴的舌頭必因喜樂而歌唱——因神救恩的喜樂。嬰孩和吃奶的口中必建立起讚美。
II. 聖靈要從上澆灌下來。必有水和江河——活水的江河；當我們的主論到這些作為應驗聖經（且極可能是應驗這處聖經）時，福音書作者告訴我們，他這話是指着聖靈說的（Joh 7:38,39），這位先知也是如此說（Isa 32:15）；此處亦然（Isa 35:6），在曠野——人最想不到之處——必有水發生。這應驗於聖靈降在聽道的外邦人身上之時（Ac 10:44）；那時生命的泉源開了，從中流出江河，豐沛地澆灌全地。這水被說成發生，表明對外邦世界一種可喜的意外，彷彿將他們帶入了一個新世界。其蒙福的果效是發光的沙要變為水池（Isa 35:7）。那些勞苦擔重擔的——在罪疚的重擔下、被神烈怒的知覺所灼傷的——在福音中尋得安息、甦醒和豐盛的安慰。在乾渴之地——從前沒有水、沒有典章之處（Ps 63:1）——必有泉源，就是福音的事奉，並藉此有各樣福音典章在其純潔和豐盛中的施行，這是使神的城歡喜的河（Ps 46:4）。在野狗的住處——那些選擇住在焦灼烤乾之地（Isa 34:9,13）的——這些水必流入並驅逐它們，以致野狗躺臥之處必有青草、蘆葦和蒲草——大量有用的出產。如此當基督教會在外邦諸城——那些許多世紀以來是野狗（或更恰當地說是魔鬼）的住處之處，如巴比倫（Re 18:2）——被建立並大大興旺之時；當偶像廟宇的性質被改變、歸於基督教的事奉之時，野狗的住處便成了結實的田地。
III. 信仰和敬虔的道路要被鋪開：此處稱為聖路（Isa 35:8）——既是聖潔敬拜之路，也是聖潔行事為人之道。聖潔是人的本性和意志的正直，與神的本性和意志相符。聖潔之路是人當在其中行走並奮力前進的那條宗教本分的道路，眼目專注於神的榮耀和自己享受他的福樂。我們的神來拯救我們時，必藉着他的福音為我們標出這條路，如同從前從未描述過的那樣。1. 這是一條指定的路；不是一條容忍的路，而是一條大道——一條我們受神權威指引、在其中受神權柄保護的路。這是王的路，是萬王之王的路，在其中我們或遭埋伏，卻不能被阻斷。聖路就是神誡命之路；它（如大道通常那樣）是古道（Jer 6:16）。2. 這是一條專屬的路，是神要把他所揀選的帶到自己面前的那條路，但污穢的人不得經過——既不能玷污它，也不能攪擾其中行走的人。這是一條與眾不同的路，有別於世界的路，因為它是一條從世界中分別出來、不與世界同行的路。這路必專為那些主為自己分別出來的人（Ps 4:3）而設，為他們保留：贖民必走這路，他們在這些喜悅之路上所得的滿足，必不受邪惡世界的攪擾。污穢的人不得經過，因為這是一條清潔的路；在其中行走的是在道上無瑕疵的人，他們脫離世上從情慾來的敗壞。3. 這是一條正直的路：行路的人，雖愚昧，也不致在其中迷失——就是那些選擇在其中行走的旅客，即使在別的事上領悟力薄弱，也必從神的道和靈在這路上得到如此明確的指引，以致不致在其中迷失；不是說他們在自己的為人上毫無錯失，或全不犯錯，而是他們不致犯下任何致命的偏離，不致偏離到不能恢復、不能順利到達旅程終點的地步。那些在窄路上的人，雖然有的偏入這條小徑、有的偏入另一條——不全都同樣正確，卻終必在同一終點相遇——然而決不會再落入寬路上；真理的靈必引導他們進入一切他們所必需的真理。注意，通天之路是一條坦途，容易命中。神揀選了世上愚拙的，使他們有智慧以致得救。知識對明白人是容易的。4. 這是一條安全的路：在那裏必沒有獅子，猛獸也不得上這路（Isa 35:9）——沒有傷人或毀壞的。那些緊靠這路的人，便在吼叫的獅子撒但夠不着之外，那惡者摸不着他們。那些行在聖潔之路上的人，可以存聖潔的安全和心靈的安寧前進，知道沒有甚麼能真正傷害他們；他們必免受惡事的驚嚇。在希西家日子，就是十支派被擄之後不久，神因那些殖民地的居民不悅，在他們中間差遣獅子（2Ki 17:25）。但猶大持守她的正直，所以那裏必沒有獅子。那些行在聖潔之路上的人，必須與污穢的人和貪婪的人分別出來，必須從這彎曲的世代中救出自己；既盼望自己是贖民中的一員，就當與那些必走這路的贖民同行。
IV. 這條路的終點是永遠的喜樂（Isa 35:10）。這如今寶貴的平安應許，不久必以無盡的喜樂和靈魂的安息作結。這裏有給錫安居民的好消息——給疲乏人安息：耶和華救贖的民——因此理當跟隨他無論往何處去（Re 14:4）——必歸回，來到錫安，1. 在爭戰的教會中事奉和敬拜神：他們必從巴比倫中救出自己（Zec 2:7），必尋求往錫安的路（Jer 50:5），並尋得這路（Isa 52:12）。神必為他們開一扇逃脫被擄的門，且是一扇有效的門，雖有許多反對。他們必加入福音教會，那錫安山、那永生神的城邑（Heb 12:22）。他們必帶着得脫巴比倫的歡樂和讚美之歌而來——在那裏他們每逢追念錫安就哭泣（Ps 137:1）。那些憑信心成為福音錫安公民的，可以歡歡喜喜地走路（Ac 8:39）；他們必在主的道上歌唱，並常常讚美他。他們因基督耶穌喜樂，他們知罪的憂愁和記號也因神聖安慰的大能而退去。哀慟的人有福了，因為他們必得安慰。2. 在得勝的教會中看見並享受神；那些在聖潔之路上、在救贖主引導下行走的人，終必來到錫安——天上的錫安——必一同來到，必全體一同獻上，毫無瑕疵，在基督榮耀降臨之時大有喜樂（Jude 1:24, Re 7:17）；他們必唱着歌來。當神的百姓從巴比倫歸回錫安時，他們是哭泣着來的（Jer 50:4）；但他們來到天堂時，必唱新歌，那是無人能學的（Re 14:3）。當他們進入主的喜樂時，那喜樂必是這世界的喜樂從不能是的——永遠的喜樂，沒有攙雜、沒有間斷、沒有終止。它不但充滿他們的心，使他們自己得著完全而永遠的滿足，更要歸到他們頭上——如恩典的飾物和榮耀的冠冕，如勝利的花環。他們的喜樂必是可見的，不再如這世上是隱藏的事；它必被宣揚，以榮耀神並彼此勉勵。他們那時必得著在天這一邊絕不能期望的喜樂和快樂；憂愁歎息必永遠逃避，如夜晚的陰影在日頭升起之前消散。如此，這些關乎亞述入侵的預言，為要在那災禍中支持神的百姓，並引導他們在得拯救時將喜樂指向更高之事而作結。我們對永生的喜樂盼望和展望，當吞沒這現今一切憂愁和一切喜樂。
英文原文
The Blessings of the Gospel (720 BC)
⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
⁶ Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
⁷ And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
⁸ And a 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.
⁹ 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:
¹⁰ 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.
"Then, when your God shall come, even Christ, to set up his kingdom in the world, to which all the prophets bore witness, especially towards the conclusion of their prophecies of the temporal deliverances of the church, and this evangelical prophet especially—then look for great things."
I. Wonders shall be wrought in the kingdoms both of nature and grace, wonders of mercy wrought upon the children of men, sufficient to evince that it is no less than a God that comes to us. 1. Wonders shall be wrought on men's bodies (Isa 35:5,6): The eyes of the blind shall be opened; this was often done by our Lord Jesus when he was here upon earth, with a word's speaking, and one he gave sight to that was born blind, Mt 9:27,12:22,20:30, Joh 9:6. By his power the ears of the deaf also were unstopped, with one word. Ephphatha—Be opened, Mk 7:34. Many that were lame had the use of their limbs restored so perfectly that they could not only go, but leap, and with so much joy to them that they could not forbear leaping for joy, as that impotent man, Ac 3:8. The dumb also were enabled to speak, and then no marvel that they were disposed to sing for joy, Mt 9:32,33. These miracles Christ wrought to prove that he was sent of God (Joh 3:2), nay, working them by his own power and in his own name, he proved that he was God, the same who at first made man's mouth, the hearing ear, and the seeing eye. When he would prove to John's disciples his divine mission he did it by miracles of this kind, in which this scripture was fulfilled. 2. Wonders, greater wonders, shall be wrought on men's souls. By the word and Spirit of Christ those that were spiritually blind were enlightened (Ac 26:18), those that were deaf to the calls of God were made to hear them readily, so Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, so that she attended, Ac 16:14. Those that were impotent to every thing that is good by divine grace are made, not only able for it, but active in it, and run the way of God's commandments. Those also that were dumb, and knew not how to speak of God or to God, having their understandings opened to know him, shall thereby have their lips opened to show forth his praise. The tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy, the joy of God's salvation. Praise shall be perfected out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.
II. The Spirit shall be poured out from on high. There shall be waters and streams, rivers of living water; when our Saviour spoke of these as the fulfilling of the scripture, and most probably of this scripture, the evangelist tells us, He spoke of the Spirit (Joh 7:38,39), as does also this prophet (Isa 32:15); so here (Isa 35:6), in the wilderness, where one would least expect it, shall waters break out. This was fulfilled when the Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles that heard the word (Ac 10:44); then were the fountains of life opened, whence streams flowed, that watered the earth abundantly. These waters are said to break out, which denotes a pleasing surprise to the Gentile world, such as brought them, as it were, into a new world. The blessed effect of this shall be that the parched ground shall become a pool, Isa 35:7. Those that laboured and were heavily laden, under the burden of guilt, and were scorched with the sense of divine wrath, found rest, and refreshment, and abundant comforts in the gospel. In the thirsty land, where no water was, nor ordinances (Ps 63:1), there shall be springs of water, a gospel ministry, and by that the administration of all gospel ordinances in their purity and plenty, which are the river that makes glad the city of our God, Ps 46:4. In the habitation of dragons, who chose to dwell in the parched scorched ground (Isa 34:9,13), these waters shall flow, and dispossess them, so that, where each lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes, great plenty of useful productions. Thus it was when Christian churches were planted, and flourished greatly, in the cities of the Gentiles, which, for many ages, had been habitations of dragons, or devils rather, as Babylon (Re 18:2); when the property of the idols' temples was altered, and they were converted to the service of Christianity, then the habitations of dragons became fruitful fields.
III. The way of religion and godliness shall be laid open: it is here called the way of holiness (Isa 35:8) the way both of holy worship and a holy conversation. Holiness is the rectitude of the human nature and will, in conformity to the divine nature and will. The way of holiness is that course of religious duties in which men ought to walk and press forward, with an eye to the glory of God and their own felicity in the enjoyment of him. "When our God shall come to save us he shall chalk out to us this way by his gospel, so as it had never been before described." 1. It shall be an appointed way; not a way of sufferance, but a highway, a way into which we are directed by a divine authority and in which we are protected by a divine warrant. It is the King's highway, the King of Kings' highway, in which, though we may be waylaid, we cannot be stopped. The way of holiness is the way of God's commandments; it is (as highways usually are) the good old way, Jer 6:16. 2. It shall be an appropriated way, the way in which God will bring his own chosen to himself, but the unclean shall not pass over it, either to defile it or to disturb those that walk in it. It is a way by itself, distinguished from the way of the world, for it is a way of separation from, and nonconformity to, this world. It shall be for those whom the Lord has set apart for himself (Ps 4:3), shall be reserved for them: The redeemed shall walk there, and the satisfaction they take in these ways of pleasantness shall be out of the reach of molestation from an evil world. The unclean shall not pass over it, for it shall be a fair way; those that walk in it are the undefiled in the way, who escape the pollution that is in the world. 3. It shall be a straight way: The wayfaring men, who choose to travel in it, though fools, of weak capacity in other things, shall have such plain directions from the word and Spirit of God in this way that they shall not err therein; not that they shall be infallible even in their own conduct, or that they shall in nothing mistake, but they shall not be guilty of any fatal misconduct, shall not so miss their way but that they shall recover it again, and get well to their journey's end. Those that are in the narrow way, though some may fall into one path and others into another, not all equally right, but all meeting at last in the same end, shall yet never fall into the broad way again; the Spirit of truth shall lead them into all truth that is necessary for them. Note, The way to heaven is a plain way, and easy to hit. God has chosen the foolish things of the world, and made them wise to salvation. Knowledge is easy to him that understands. 4. It shall be a safe way: No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast (Isa 35:9), none to hurt or destroy. Those that keep close to this way keep out of the reach of Satan the roaring lion, that wicked one touches them not. Those that walk in the way of holiness may proceed with a holy security and serenity of mind, knowing that nothing can do them any real hurt; they shall be quiet from the fear of evil. It was in Hezekiah's days, some time after the captivity of the ten tribes, that God, being displeased with the colonies settled there, sent lions among them, 2Ki 17:25. But Judah keeps her integrity, and therefore no lions shall be there. Those that walk in the way of holiness must separate themselves from the unclean and the ravenous, must save themselves from an untoward generation; hoping that they themselves are of the redeemed, let them walk with the redeemed who shall walk there.
IV. The end of this way shall be everlasting joy, Isa 35:10. This precious promise of peace now will end shortly in endless joys and rest for the soul. Here is good news for the citizens of Zion, rest to the weary: The ransomed of the Lord, who therefore ought to follow him wherever he goes (Re 14:4), shall return and come to Zion, 1. To serve and worship God in the church militant: they shall deliver themselves out of Babylon (Zec 2:7), shall ask the way to Zion (Jer 50:5), and shall find the way Isa 52:12. God will open to them a door of escape out of their captivity, and it shall be an effectual door, though there be many adversaries. They shall join themselves to the gospel church, that Mount Zion, that city of the living God, Heb 12:22. They shall come with songs of joy and praise for their deliverance out of Babylon, where they wept upon every remembrance of Zion, Ps 137:1. Those that by faith are made citizens of the gospel Zion may go on their way rejoicing (Ac 8:39); they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, and be still praising him. They rejoice in Christ Jesus, and the sorrows and signs of their convictions are made to flee away by the power of divine consolations. Those that mourn are blessed, for they shall be comforted. 2. To see and enjoy God in the church triumphant; those that walk in the way of holiness, under guidance of their Redeemer, shall come to Zion at last, to the heavenly Zion, shall come in a body, shall all be presented together, faultless, at the coming of Christ's glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24, Re 7:17); they shall come with songs. When God's people returned out of Babylon to Zion they came weeping (Jer 50:4); but they shall come to heaven singing a new song, which no man can learn, Re 14:3. When they shall enter into the joy of their Lord it shall be what the joys of this world never could be everlasting joy, without mixture, interruption, or period. It shall not only fill their hearts, to their own perfect and perpetual satisfaction, but it shall be upon their heads, as an ornament of grace and a crown of glory, as a garland worn in token of victory. Their joy shall be visible, and no longer a secret thing, as it is here in this world; it shall be proclaimed, to the glory of God and their mutual encouragement. They shall then obtain the joy and gladness which they could never expect on this side heaven; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away for ever, as the shadows of the night before the rising sun. Thus these prophecies, which relate to the Assyrian invasion, conclude, for the support of the people of God under that calamity, and to direct their joy, in their deliverance from it, to something higher. Our joyful hopes and prospects of eternal life should swallow up both all the sorrows and all the joys of this present time.
正如預言了神對世界的審判之後（賽 24:1-23），隨之而有為他教會所存留大憐憫的應許（賽 25:1-2）；照樣在上一章黑暗可怖的混亂景象之後，本章我們有一幅光明而喜樂的景象。這景象雖然預言希西家在他在位後期其國度的興盛，卻必定前瞻到遠超於此的事——正如上一章的預言也遠超過以東人的毀滅一樣；兩者都是預表，而我們最當留意的，乃是它們所預表的事——基督的國與天國。當那臥在惡者手中的世界被夷為廢墟，當那固執不信的猶太教會成為荒場之時，福音的教會必被設立並興盛起來。一、 外邦人必被帶入其中，賽 35:1,2,7。二、 那軟弱膽怯、卻心向這教會的人必得鼓勵，賽 35:3,4。三、 神蹟必在人的靈魂與身體上施行，賽 35:5,6。四、 福音的教會必被引導行在聖潔的路上，賽 35:8,9。五、 它至終必被帶入無盡的喜樂，賽 35:10。如此，我們在本章中所看見的關於基督與天國的事，比人對舊約聖經所期待的還多。