RTW 2023

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God.

Isaiah 35:1-2

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Isaiah 34:10

• Lebanon: Hebrew meaning– “Place Of Whiteness” (from the snow on mountains)
• “In the Bible (the) Lebanon is known as the source of building materials; wood forSolomon’s temple (1 Kings 5:6), stones for Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 5:14-18), and wood for Ezra’s temple (Ezra 3:7). Lebanon is also known for its blossoms (Nahum 1:4) and wine (Hosea 14:7).” Lebanon meaning (Abarim Publications)
• Lebanon was a symbol for wealth, strength, luxury, thriving, and beauty.
• Isaiah 10:33-34: Assyria is compared to Lebanon, but God will cut down the forest of Lebanon (Assyria) and instead, “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” (Isaiah 11:1)
• The pride of Edom would be destroyed (Isaiah 34) but God brought new life in the desert, streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 35).
• The conflict between Edom (pride) and Israel (new life) began years before Isaiah, and would continue, in some form, into the New Testament (Herod: descendant of Edomites; Jesus: descendant of David)
• https://www.gotquestions.org/Edom-in-the-Bible.html
• https://www.gotquestions.org/cedars-of-Lebanon.html
• https://www.gotquestions.org/Lebanon-in-the-Bible.html

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We can reflect the glory of God, and bring healing and justice and life for others, or we can be cut down in our arrogance and in our lack of care and help for others. We can represent something beautiful or something wasting in the desert.