1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
The day will come when drought and war will be over and even the desert will bloom again. This happened after the return from Babylon.
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.
It’s hard sometimes to not fear. We see all that is going on around us, and it can be scary.
But we do know that God is always in control. Nothing happens without His knowledge. And, ultimately, He will take care of us.
This doesn’t mean we won’t have hard times or even persecution, but compared with the glory that awaits those that love and serve Him, this is nothing.
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 an hart (deer), and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Then, when the desert blooms, the sick will be healed. The good nutrition that comes with peace and plenty will end many, if not most, illnesses.
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.
Dragon legends from around the world say they liked to live in swampy areas. So, these useless swamps will become lush pasture land.
8 And an 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.
The promise of return to Zion.