Promises – Isaiah 35

Bible Passage:  Isaiah 35

After the previous chapters on judgment and woes, it is a relief to read of some good things today.

In Chapter 34, Isaiah had spoken of the fate of arrogant nations and all who trusted in them.  This chapter today talks about the destiny of those who turn from that path to the path of unwavering trust in God.  What happens when God’s people trust in God instead of other people and nations?

The answer is beautifully describe in today’s chapter.

So this lesson is pretty obvious for me – though in practice – it is still something that I have to work at.

But I would like to focus on this verse:

A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.

~ Isaiah 35:8a

If you have been reading Isaiah, you would have noticed that Isaiah spoke of different roads or highways in the past. 

Like our expressways, these highways are for us to get from one destination to another. And previously, Isaiah spoke of God’s people being moved from one country to another…

There will be a highway for the remnant of His people
Who will be left from Assyria,
As it was for Israel
In the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.

~ Isaiah 11:16

On another occasion, Isaiah was very specific regarding its destination.

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.

~ Isaiah 19:23

But the key thing is that the highway that Isaiah speaks of today in Chapter 38 is not just for anyone.

The highway here is called the Way of Holiness.  Let’s read the part again…

⁸ A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray.
⁹ No lion shall be there,
Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there.
But the redeemed shall walk there,
¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

~ Isaiah 35:8-10

If we walk on the way of holiness, no harm shall come upon us there.

We will not be led astray.

We will be among those who are redeemed!

We will return to the house of God with joy, singing and praising God.

We will no longer experience any sorrow or sighing.

What a wonderful highway to walk upon!

We long for this day to come, don’t you?

But it is the way of Holiness.  And only the holy can walk on it. Are we ready yet today?

 

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