Isaiah 35:8-10

2. SANCTIFIED

TEXT: Isaiah 35:8-10

8

And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed; the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.

9

No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10

and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

QUERIES

a.

What is the highway and The way?

b.

When is the everlasting joy to come?

PARAPHRASE

And a main thoroughfare shall be there in that rejuvenated wilderness. It shall be a road leading the redeemed directly to their destination, This will be called The Way of holiness, and sinners will not walk in this Way. It is reserved for those who desire to be sanctified unto the Lord. It will be a Way so clearly built and recognizable that even the inexperienced and those who have not known this Way before may not fail to comprehend it if they wish to learn of it. All dangers involved in traveling through the wastelands will be eliminated on this Way. Those whom the Lord purchases with a ransom-price will return to Him and to Zion rejoicing with songs about their redemption. Everlasting joy will crown their whole lives. They shall finally find the refreshment of their souls for which they have longed. All that would frustrate or hinder their travel will be made to disappear.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 35:8-9 THE WAY: Isaiah continues to wax eloquent concerning the great work of redemption Jehovah is going to bring to a climax in the Messianic age. Redemption-opposing, enslaving ideologies are going to be defeated by one great judgmental act of God from heaven (Isaiah 34). This occurred at the cross of Christ as we have already demonstrated from the N.T. God is going to take the desolation and waste caused by carnal, unbelieving programs of man and turn them into a blooming flower garden. God will provide an oasis of living water in the midst of this world-wide desert (Isaiah 35:1-7). Furthermore, as the text now being considered continues, God is going to provide a Way through this desolate wasteland of carnal confusion and chaos. The Hebrew word for way used here is maselul, which means a raised way. The roads in ancient times were mere trails for the most part. But a raised way would be a main thoroughfaredistinctly a road as compared to a path or trail. Instead of the wild confusion and chaos of human philosophies and schemes, God will provide His Way. It is the only Way characterized by holiness. Its uniqueness is that of the separateness of those who walk upon it. They are separated from uncleanness (spiritual and moral uncleanness). The spiritually stained and morally soiled will not travel this Way. Their exclusion will be of their own choice (Matthew 7:13-14) because Jesus is The Way (John 14:6). Jeremiah speaks of this Way (Jeremiah 6:16-17). This Way will be so unmistakably demonstrated or marked out by God that even the man who has never seen God's Way before will recognize this as His Way. The one with no experience in the Way of God will be able to comprehend and walk in it. It will not be complex or confusing. The Way became a favorite synonym for the Christian life in the early church (cf. Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 24:22). This Way would be one of safety, security and peacefulness. No dangerous beast (which, by the way, is a figure in Daniel and Revelation to symbolize human governments opposing God's redemptive work), nothing predatory would prey upon those who choose to walk in This Way.

Isaiah 35:10 THE WAYFARER: Those who travel this raised way will be the redeemed (Heb. goal) and the ransomed (Heb. padah). This certainly indicates the traveler on this way has been purchased with a price. The purchase or ransom occasions everlasting joy and results in sorrow and sighing fleeing away. The emphasis is on everlasting. It cannot, therefore, have its ultimate fulfillment in anything transitory or temporal such as a land or physical nation/kingdom. It is associated with coming to Zion. Zion, in its spiritual focus, is the church, not a mountain (Hebrews 12:22). Those who walk upon this Way are those purchased by the blood of Christ. The joy that shall be the crowning factor of their lives (upon their heads) is the joy Jesus brought (cf. John 15:11; John 16:22-24; John 17:13; Romans 14:17; 1 John 1:4, etc.). Walking on this Way of holiness, which is both clear and safe, will eliminate the need for sorrowing and sighing. Frustration is eliminated and hurt or damage is impossible (in the eternal sense) inasmuch as the traveler has been assured of reaching his destination because his price has been paid by Jehovah.

It is interesting that this glorious chapter, describing all the beauty, glory and gladness that is to come to the redeemed, is followed (after the historical interlude of Chapter s 36-39) by the introduction of Isaiah's great Servant section (Chapter s 40-53). All that is to come to the redeemed is a result of the work of the Suffering Servant of God (Isaiah 53), the Messiah.

This chapter brings to an impressive climax the whole section warning that emancipation for God's people is not from union with Egypt. Egypt, in reality, is in opposition to God's redemptive work, as are all human ideologies. Emancipation for God's people will be accomplished by God Himself in ransom and redemption. It is appropriated by those who wish it in traveling on God's Way.

QUIZ

1.

What is the literal meaning of highway in Isaiah 35:8?

2.

What connection does this section have to Isaiah 35:1-7?

3.

Where in the N.T. is the Way referred to?

4.

Why does the fact that the traveler upon this Way will be redeemed and ransomed point to a fulfillment in the N.T.?

5.

What joy is referred to in Isaiah 35:10?