“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”
Lily. Judea flourishes under Ezechias: but the Church does more so after the coming of Christ, to whom these expressions conduct us. (Calmet) — The Gentiles shall be converted and flourish, as this text shews. (Worthington)
“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.”
Joy. The primitive Christians rejoiced in a good conscience, and in suffering for the truth.
“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.”
Knees. Ye prophets, comfort the people with these promises. (Calmet) — The apostles taught the Gentiles to do good. (Menochius)
“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. fearful: Heb. hasty”
Recompense. Christ will satisfy the justice of his Father. (Haydock) — He will redeem the world, and refute the false interpretations of the Bible. (Calmet) — He will bring the devil into subjection. (Menochius)
“Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”
Free. Our Saviour healed both soul and body, (Calmet) shewing by his works (John x.; Worthington) that he had fulfilled this prediction, Luke vii. 22., and Matthew xi. 5. — Waters. Baptism has sanctified the most wicked.
“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. grass: or, a court for reeds, etc”
Dragons. Sea monsters, chap. xxxiv. 13. (Calmet) — All shall be in proper order, neither too dry nor too wet. (Haydock)
“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. but: or, for he shall be with them”
Way, leading to Jerusalem. Idolaters, &c., shall not be there, chap. lii. 1. This was only verified (Calmet) in the Catholic Church, where, though some wicked may be found, the truth still prevails; and holiness can be obtained no where else. (Haydock) — This Church is unspotted, Ephesians v. 27. (Calmet) — Fools. The most simple may learn what is necessary for salvation, (Menochius) which will never be done by consulting Scripture alone. (Haydock)
“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:”
Lion. The devil’s power shall be repressed, so that none will be deluded except by their own fault. (Menochius)
“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.”
Sion. Before the defeat of Sennacherib, the roads were unsafe, chap. xxxviii. 8. (Calmet)