Glad Wilderness

Isaiah 35:1 says that the wilderness will be glad. This could be a simple personification of a wilderness blossoming and coming to fertility. But in context, the passage is talking about the return from exile. Perhaps the wilderness is the desolated land of Israel, which rejoices at Yahweh’s return and the return of Yahweh’s people, who will dress and keep her. This fits with NT Wright’s suggestion that the groaning of the creation under the curse is relieved by the redemption of the sons of God (Rom 8), those who will be the new and faithful rulers of the creation.