Single lesson
Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion
Isaiah 35:1–10
Isaiah 35 gives a hopeful prophecy about change. Dry places become full of life, frightened people are told to be strong, and Yahweh’s rescued people travel safely to Zion with lasting joy.
Before you teach
This passage is written as prophecy and teaching. It speaks about wilderness, weak and fearful people, healing, a holy road, and Yahweh’s ransomed ones returning to Zion. The movement of the passage goes from dry land and fear to rescue, safety, and joy.
Explain the central teaching of Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion, using two details from the reading. Isaiah 35 teaches that Yahweh will bring rescue, holiness, safety, and joy to his people.
Welcome: Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion
5 minIntroduce “The Glory of Zion” and locate Isaiah 35:1–10. Isaiah 35 teaches that Yahweh will bring rescue, holiness, safety, and joy to his people. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:6, Isaiah 35:10
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe passage begins with wilderness, dry land, and desert, but these empty places are pictured as glad and blossoming. Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon are named as places of splendour, showing rich beauty. The main point is not the land by itself, but that people will see Yahweh’s glory and the excellence of God.
Next, the passage describes blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped, the lame leaping, and the mute singing. At the same time, water breaks out in the wilderness and streams appear in the desert. The prophecy joins personal restoration with the renewal of dry, thirsty land.
Finally, Isaiah describes a highway called ‘The Holy Way’. It is marked by cleanness and safety. The unclean and wicked fools do not go there, and dangerous animals are absent. Instead, the redeemed and Yahweh’s ransomed ones walk there, return to Zion singing, and receive everlasting joy as sorrow flees.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Glory of Zion”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:2, Isaiah 35:5, Isaiah 35:6, Isaiah 35:7, Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 35:9, Isaiah 35:10
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What changes in the first part of the passage show that this is a picture of great renewal?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Isaiah 35 teaches that Yahweh will bring rescue, holiness, safety, and joy to his people. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:2, Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 35:9, Isaiah 35:10
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Glory of Zion” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:6, Isaiah 35:10
Closing: return to The Glory of Zion
3 minRevisit Isaiah 35:1–10. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Glory of Zion and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:6, Isaiah 35:10
Questions to explore
What changes in the first part of the passage show that this is a picture of great renewal?
Look for the movement from wilderness and dry land to blossoming, singing, and seeing Yahweh’s glory.
Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:2
Why are weak and fearful people told not to be afraid?
The answer is given directly in the message spoken to them about what God will do.
Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4
What makes the Holy Way different from an ordinary road?
Notice who may travel there, what is not found there, and how the journey ends.
Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 35:9, Isaiah 35:10
Make, think or respond
Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Isaiah 35:1–10. Use “The Glory of Zion” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Isaiah 35: The Glory of Zion connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Glory of Zion” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Isaiah 35:1–10. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Isaiah 35:1–10. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Isaiah 35
1 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2 It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
4 Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there.
9 No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there.
10 Then Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.