Chapter 34
Things get really bloody really fast in this chapter. What do we make of this comprehensive bloodbath? Here it must be said that there is good news in God’s complete victory. God’s enemies will not, ultimately, stand. He will vanquish them forever. “No Kingdom There” becomes a sneering name for all who oppose the LORD (34:12) (NRSV Oxford Annotated notes, p. 911 OT).
Chapter 35
From the devastation wrought in chapter 34 and the comprehensive destruction comes hope and life—even in the desert. This chapter almost anticipates the “homecoming” of the exiles by the hand of Cyrus of Persia.
The words “He will come and save you” (35:4) resonate with the pronouncement of what the Messiah Emmanuel will do (cf. Matthew 1:21). Not only will the crippled, blind and deaf be made whole, but the whole creation will burst forth in abundance (35:5-7).
This chapter is the reading for the third Sunday of Advent.
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