Isaiah 35:2 - Exposition

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing ; rather, with dancing and singing . Dancing and singing were the ordinary manifestations of religions joy ( Exodus 15:1 , Exodus 15:20 , Exodus 15:21 ; 11:34 ; 21:19-21 ; 2 Samuel 6:5 , 2 Samuel 6:14 , 2 Samuel 6:15 ; Psalms 30:11 , etc.), and would naturally follow the great deliverance of the Church from the power of its enemies. The clause is a touch of realism intruded into a prolonged metaphor or allegory, and is quite in the manner of Isaiah (comp. Isaiah 14:7 ; Isaiah 26:1 ; Isaiah 30:32 , etc.). The glory of Lebanon … the excellency of Carmel and Sharon ; i.e. productiveness of all kinds, of abundant harvests, fruits, and flowers, and forest trees (comp. Isaiah 10:18 , Isaiah 10:19 , Isaiah 10:33 , Isaiah 10:34 ; Isaiah 32:15 ) — a resumption and prolongation of the metaphor in verse 1. They shall see the glory of the Lord . The culminating joy and delight and blessedness of the Church shall be the vision of God—either the spiritual perception of his presence ( Matthew 5:8 ; Romans 1:20 ) or the actual beatific vision ( 1 Corinthians 13:12 ; Revelation 21:11 , Revelation 21:23 ; Revelation 22:4 ), the first during the probation period, the second in the state of final bliss.