Isaiah 35:1,2 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Under the figure of a barren land, and a wilderness, is set forth the ruined state of man's nature by the fall; than which, nothing can be more forlorn. The prophet represents it as most desolate. But by the coming of Christ, who ariseth as the sun, with healing in his wings, fruitfulness, gladness, and joy, take place of the barrenness and poverty. The Hebrew expression is very strong, it shall flourishing flourish, or blossoming blossom. I do not presume to say so, and speak decidedly upon the passage, but I humbly conceive, that a flourishing flourish means the graces of the Church shall be so much in Christ, and from Christ, in the union and oneness between him and his people; that the blossoming blossom will be unceasingly kept up, and remain alive in him; as the branch in the vine. And if the Hebrew expression be supposed to imply this, the Reader will observe, that there is more in it, than in all the most flourishing circumstances of a church or people, where the source and cause is not from within in Jesus, but from without, from any other auspicious circumstances. Colossians 3:3-4; John 15:4-5. I only detain the Reader to remark, with what holy joy ought we of the Gentile Church, to read this blessed scripture, which hath a peculiar reference to the poor wilderness state of the heathen world! Song of Solomon 8:5; Acts 11:18.