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简体中文
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)
简体中文
福音的福分（主前720年）
¹ 旷野和干旱之地必然欢喜；沙漠也必快乐，又像玫瑰开花。 ² 必开花繁盛，乐上加乐，而且欢呼；黎巴嫩的荣耀、并迦密与沙仑的华美，必赐给它。人必看见耶和华的荣耀，我们神的华美。 ³ 你们要使软弱的手坚壮，无力的膝稳固。 ⁴ 又要对那忧心的人说：你们要刚强，不要惧怕。看哪，你们的神必来报仇，必来施行极大的报应；他必来拯救你们。
在这些经文里我们看见：
一、荒凉之地开花。在上一章我们看到一个人丁旺盛而肥沃的国家变成了可怖的旷野；此处相反，旷野变成了美地。犹大地脱离亚述军队之后，那些因他们的蹂躏暴行而成为旷野的地土开始恢复，重新悦人眼目，如玫瑰开花。当外邦各国——长久以来如同旷野，不结出任何果子归给神——领受福音时，喜乐也随福音临到他们（诗 67:3,4,96:11,12）。基督在撒玛利亚被传开时，「那城里大有欢喜」（徒 8:8）；坐在黑暗中的人看见了大而可喜的光，那时他们便开花，就是说，结出丰盛果子的指望油然而生；因为传福音之人的目标正是在此（约 15:16），要「去结果子」（罗 1:13，西 1:6）。花朵虽不是果子，常常败落归于无有，却是为着果子。使人归正的恩典使那原是「旷野」的灵魂「乐上加乐，而且欢呼」，并「开花繁盛」。这开花的旷野要得着「黎巴嫩一切的荣耀」——就是香柏树的力量与挺拔，又得「迦密与沙仑的华美」——就是五谷和牲畜。任何制度中所有有价值的，都汇集于福音之中。犹太教会一切的华美都纳入了基督教会，并在其完全中显明，正如使徒在希伯来书信中所详论。摩西律例中一切美好可羡慕的，都迁移到福音的典章之中。
二、神的荣耀显明出来：「人必看见耶和华的荣耀。」神要在他对世人的恩典和慈爱上，比以往更清楚地彰显自己（因为那是他的荣耀和华美），并要赐他们眼睛看见，赐他们心肠受当有的感动。这就是使旷野开花的原因。我们越凭信心看见耶和华的荣耀和我们神的华美，就越发喜乐、越发结果子。
三、软弱和胆怯的人得勉励（赛 35:3,4）。神的先知和传道人因他们职分的缘故，特别受托付要「使软弱的手坚壮」，安慰那些因亚述军队而惊魂未定、至今不能恢复的人，向他们保证神如今必以怜悯回到他们中间。这正是福音的目的：1. 坚固那软弱的、并使他们稳固——软弱的手，无力做工、无力争战，连祷告也几乎抬不起来的手；无力的膝，无力站立、无力行走，不配摆在前面的赛程的膝。福音为我们预备了坚固人的思考，又指明力量为我们存在何处。在真基督徒中，有许多手软膝弱、在基督里还是婴孩的人；但我们有责任坚固弟兄（路 22:32），不仅包容软弱的人，更要尽力坚固他们（罗 15:1，帖前 5:14）。我们也有责任坚固自己，举起「垂下来的手」（来 12:12），善用神所赐的力量，并努力运用。2. 激励那胆怯灰心的人：「要对那忧心的人说」——他们因自己的软弱和仇敌的强壮而忧心，他们是「急忙的」（原文如此），是一听见警报就想逃命、就要放弃事业的人，他们急忙说：「我们被剪除、完了」（诗 31:22）——福音里有足够的内容能止息这些惧怕；福音对他们说，也当让他们对自己、对彼此说：「你们要刚强，不要惧怕。」惧怕使人软弱；我们越发抵挡它，就越能在做和受两方面刚强；为勉励我们努力抵挡，那对我们说「要刚强」的，已为我们把帮助放在一位全能者身上。
四、保证救主临近：「你们的神必来报仇。神必为你们向你们的仇敌显现，报应他们所行的伤害和你们所受的损失。」弥赛亚到了时候满足，必来向黑暗的权势报仇，掳掠他们，明明地羞辱他们，并以丰盛的安慰报应那些在锡安哀痛的人。「他必来拯救我们。」旧约的圣徒就是用这盼望坚固他们软弱的手。他必在世界末了再来，在火焰中降临，向那扰乱他百姓的人报应患难，向那受扰乱的人报应安息——这安息不仅是他们一切患难的终结，更是他们一切患难的充分赏赐（帖后 1:6,7）。凡「为神的约柜心里担忧」、关切他在世上之教会的人，可以用这话止息他们的惧怕：神必亲手做这工。你们的神必来，他是为你们申冤、认你们利益的那一位，就是神自己，那独一为神的。
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.
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The Blessings of the Gospel (720 BC)
简体中文
福音的福分（公元前720年）
⁵ 那时瞎子的眼必睁开，聋子的耳必开通。 ⁶ 那时瘸子必跳跃如鹿，哑巴的舌头必能歌唱；因为在旷野必有水发出，在沙漠必有江河涌流。 ⁷ 发光的沙要变为水池，干渴之地要变为水泉；野狗躺卧之处，必有青草、芦苇和蒲草。 ⁸ 在那里必有一条大道，一条路，称为圣路；污秽人不得经过，必专为赎民行走；行路的人虽愚昧，也不至失迷。 ⁹ 在那里必没有狮子，猛兽也不上去，在那里必遇不见；唯有赎民必行走其中。 ¹⁰ 耶和华救赎的民必归回，欢呼来到锡安；永远的喜乐必归到他们头上；他们必得着欢喜快乐，忧愁叹息尽都逃避。
「『那时』，你们的神必来到，就是基督，要在世上建立他的国度——众先知都为此作见证，尤其在他们预言教会属世拯救的末了处，这位传福音的先知更是如此——『那时当期望大事。』」
一、在自然之国和恩典之国中，都必行出奇事——在人子身上所行的怜悯之奇事，足以证明来到我们这里的，无非是神。 1. 在人的身体上必行出奇事（赛35:5,6）：「瞎子的眼必睁开」；我们的主耶稣在世时，常常以一句话成就这事，又使一个「生来」瞎眼的重见光明（太9:27；12:22；20:30；约9:6）。借着他的大能，聋子的耳也开通了，也是一句话成就的：「『以法大』——『开了吧』」（可7:34）。许多瘸腿的人得着了肢体的功用，恢复得如此完全，不但能走，更能「跳跃」，而且因其中喜乐之大，他们禁不住跳跃欢喜，正如那个瘸子（徒3:8）。哑巴也得着了说话的恩赐，那时他们自然愿意歌唱欢乐（太9:32,33）。基督行这些神迹，为要证明他是神所差来的（约3:2）；不，他更是用自己的能力、奉自己的名行这些事，证明他就是神——就是那起初造人口、造能听的耳、能看的眼的同一位。当他要向约翰的门徒证明他的神圣使命时，他就是借着这一类的神迹作的，这话也因此应验了。 2. 在人的灵魂上必行出更大奇事。借着基督的话和圣灵，那属灵上瞎眼的人得蒙光照（徒26:18），那对神的呼召充耳不闻的人得以欣然听见，正如吕底亚——「主」「开导了她的心」，使她「留心听」（徒16:14）。那对一切善事都无能为力的人，靠着神的恩典，不但能以行善，更积极投入其中，奔走神诫命的道路。那原是哑巴、不知如何论神、又不知如何向神祷告的，既蒙开导得以认识他，也就因此得以开口传扬他的赞美。哑巴的舌头也必因喜乐而歌唱——神救恩之乐。「从婴孩和吃奶的口中，建立了赞美。」
二、圣灵必从高处浇灌下来。「必有水和江河」——活水的江河；当我们的救主论到这些作为圣经的应验——极可能就是这段经文的应验——之时，传福音的告诉我们，「他指着圣灵」（约7:38,39），这位先知也是如此（赛32:15）；所以在这里（赛35:6），「在旷野」——人最想不到之处——「必有水发出」。这事应验在「圣灵降临在外邦人身上，就是那些『听见道』的人身上」（徒10:44）之时；那时生命的泉源开启了，从其中流出的江河丰丰富富地滋润了大地。这些水被说是「发出」，表明外邦世界所受的惊喜，仿佛把他们带入了一个新世界。其福果乃是「发光的沙要变为水池」（赛35:7）。那些劳苦担重担、受罪担所压、被神的忿怒之感所灼烧的人，在福音中找到了安息、舒畅和丰盛的安慰。在「干渴无水之地」，没有水也没有律例（诗63:1），那里必有「水泉」——福音的事奉，并借着它，得着一切福音律例在其纯洁和丰盛中的施行，那「使神的城欢喜的江河」（诗46:4）。「野狗」选择住在干旱焦灼之地（赛34:9,13），这些水必流入，将其驱逐，所以「野狗躺卧之处，必有青草、芦苇和蒲草」——极大丰盛的有用出产。当基督教会在外邦的各城里被建立、大大兴旺之时，正是如此；那些城邑多年来本是野狗、不，更可以说是魔鬼的住处，如巴比伦（启18:2）；当偶像庙宇的性质被改变，归为基督教的事奉所用，那时野狗的住处就变为结果子的田地。
三、宗教和敬虔的道路必被开通：这里称之为「圣路」（赛35:8），既是圣洁敬拜之道，也是圣洁为人之道。圣洁乃是人性与意志的正直，与神的本性和旨意相合。「圣路」就是人在其中当行、并当奋力前行的宗教本分之道，眼目注视神的荣耀和自己以他为乐的福分。「当我们的神来拯救我们时，他必借他的福音为我们规划出这条路，是前所未曾描述过的。」 1. 它必是所定规的道；不是一条得过且过的路，而是「一条大道」，是我们受神权柄所指引、受神保证所保护的路。这是王的大道，万王之王的大道，在其中我们虽可能被埋伏，却不能被阻挡。「圣路」就是神诫命的道路；它（正如大道通常如此）是「古道」（耶6:16）。 2. 它必是分别归己的道，是神要领他自己选民到他面前所走的道，但「污秽人不得经过」它，既不能玷污它，也不能扰乱其中行走的人。这是一条与众不同的道，与世界之道有别，因为它是与世界分别、不效法世界的道。「它必专为那些」（主所「分别为圣归他自己」的，诗4:3）保留给他们：「唯有赎民必行走其中」，他们在这「愉快之路」上所得的满足，必脱离恶世的搅扰。「污秽人不得经过」，因为它必是清洁的大道；在其中行走的是「行为完全、遵行耶和华律法的人」，他们「脱离了世上从情欲来的败坏」。 3. 它必是正直的道：「行路的人」，就是选择在其中行走的人，「虽愚昧」——在别的事上悟性迟钝——「也不至失迷」，因为他们在其中必从神的话和圣灵得着清楚指引；这并不是说他们在自己的行为上毫无错误，也不是说他们毫无失误，而是他们不致犯任何致命的错误，不至于如此走迷以至于不能重新找回路，并安然到达旅程的终点。那些在窄路上的人，虽然有的走入这条路、有的走入那条路——并非全都同样正确，但至终都在同一个终点相遇——却永不再堕入宽路；真理的圣灵必引导他们进入他们所需要的一切真理。注意，往天国的路是一条平坦的路，容易寻见。「神拣选了世上的愚拙人」，使他们「有智慧以致得救」。「聪明的人容易得知」（箴14:6）。 4. 它必是安全的道：「在那里必没有狮子，猛兽也不上去」（赛35:9），「无一人伤害毁灭」。紧贴这路的人，便脱离了撒但那吼叫狮子的触及范围，那恶者也就摸不着他们。在圣洁之道上行走的人，可以存着圣洁的稳妥和心灵的宁静前行，知道没有什么能真正伤害他们；他们必因恶事的惧怕而得安息。在希西家的日子，十支派被掳之后一段时间，神因不悦于所迁居该处的殖民，「在那里」打发「狮子」进入他们中间（王下17:25）。但犹大守住了自己的正直，所以「在那里必没有狮子」。在「圣路」上行走的人，必须与不洁和凶残的人分别出来，必须「救自己脱离这弯曲的世代」；既盼望自己也是赎民之一，就当与「必行走其中」的赎民同行。
四、这路的终点必是永远的喜乐（赛35:10）。这如今宝贵的平安应许，不久必结束于无尽的喜乐和灵魂的安息。这里对锡安的居民宣告了喜信，叫疲倦的人得安息：「耶和华救赎的民」，因此当跟随他无论他往何处（启14:4），「必归回，欢呼来到锡安」， 1. 为要在争战的教会中事奉敬拜神：他们必从巴比伦自救出来（亚2:7），「寻求往锡安的大道」（耶50:5），并「寻见路」（赛52:12）。神必为他们开一扇逃脱被掳的门，这门虽有许多仇敌反对，却必是有效的门。他们必加入福音的教会，那「锡安山」，那「永生神的城邑」（来12:22）。他们必带着欢乐赞美的诗歌来，为脱离巴比伦而欢乐——他们在那里每逢「追想锡安」就哭泣（诗137:1）。那些因信成为福音锡安公民的，可以「欢欢喜喜地走路」（徒8:39）；他们必在耶和华的道中歌唱，并要不住地赞美他。他们以基督耶稣为乐，他们知罪的忧伤和记号也因神安慰的大能而逃避无踪。那哀痛的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。 2. 为要在得胜的教会中看见并享受神：那些在救赎主的引导下行在「圣路」上的人，至终必来到锡安——天上的锡安；他们必成群来到，必都被一同献上，「无瑕无疵、欢欢喜喜站在他荣耀之前」（犹24；启7:17）；他们必唱着歌来。当神的百姓从巴比伦归回锡安时，他们是「哭泣」来的（耶50:4）；但他们到天堂时必唱新歌，那是无人能学的（启14:3）。当他们「进入主的喜乐」之时，那喜乐必是今世之乐所永不能及的——「永远的喜乐」，无掺杂、无间断、无止境。它不但要充满他们的心，使他们得着完全而永久的满足，更「归到他们头上」，作为恩典的装饰和荣耀的冠冕，作为得胜的记号而戴的花环。他们的喜乐必是显明的，不再如在这世上那样是隐藏的事；它必被宣扬，为神的荣耀和彼此的勉励。那时他们必得着在这边天堂所永不能指望的喜乐和快乐；「忧愁叹息尽都逃避」，如夜间的黑影在日出之前消散。这样，这些关乎亚述入侵的预言就此告终，为要在那灾难之下扶持神的百姓，并引导他们在脱离那灾难的喜乐中，仰望更高之事。我们对永生的喜乐盼望和前景，当吞没现今一切忧伤和喜乐。
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.
正如在论到神对世界的审判之后（赛24:1-23），紧接着就有应许说他为教会存留了丰盛的怜悯（赛25:1-2）；照样，在前一章那黑暗可畏的混乱景象之后，本章我们看见了一幅光明喜乐的景象。这景象虽是预言希西家王在位后期其国度的繁荣，却必定远超于此，正如前一章的预言也远远超出了对以东人的毁灭一样；两者都是预表性的，而我们最当留意的，正是它们所预表的那一切——即基督的国与天国。当卧在恶之中的世界被夷为废墟，当执意不信的犹太教会成为荒场时，福音的教会就必被建立起来，并且大大兴旺。一、外邦人必被领入其中（赛35:1,2,7）。二、那些同情并祝愿它兴盛、却软弱胆怯的人，必得着鼓励（赛35:3,4）。三、无论在人灵魂上还是身体上，都必有神迹行出来（赛35:5,6）。四、福音的教会必被引导行在圣洁的道路上（赛35:8,9）。五、它至终必被领进那永无穷尽的喜乐之中（赛35:10）。这样看来，本章里关于基督与天国的内容，比人在旧约中所预期的还要多。