Redeemed - Pt. 5

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. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. (Isaiah 35:5-9 ESV).

 

It is early deer season in most counties in Texas. While it has been a few years since I have taken to the woods and fields in pursuit of this wonderful obsession, I can remember many times when I have seen a deer leaping over a fence as it made its way through the woods. I’ve also been in the field enough to have seen young fawns exercising their newborn legs merely leaping in the air at play. They are an incredibly beautiful sight.

 

It has been a long time since I’ve been able to run, much less leap! But this is the picture of our reading today. Part of this picture of joy in Isaiah 35 was fulfilled one day when Peter and John went to the temple to pray and saw a lame man begging for money. “Look at us!” said Peter, and the man turned toward them. Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The man’s feet and ankles instantly became strong, and he jumped up and began to walk. Then he went along with them into the temple, “walking and jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:4-8).

 

Imagine young deer leaping about in the open and bounding over brooks and fallen trees in their woodland playground. That’s like a picture of people celebrating with the sheer joy of redemption and new life in Jesus, who has come to restore all things. “Gladness and joy will overtake them,” for they will no longer bear the crushing effects of sin and disease or any guilt, because Jesus bore it all on the cross.