Passage: Isaiah 35:8-10The Ransomed Shall Return.
8 And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they 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;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Journal:
Isaiah has used the picture of a "highway" [or road or path] previously [Isaiah 11:16], and will do so again [Isaiah 40:3; 62:10]. Here, this "Way of Holiness" is representative of a journey to the kingdom of Christ to come. It will be a place of complete holiness since it will be a place that is free of sin.
How do we know if we are on that highway? For one, we will have a love for holiness. Certainly, our human limitation will make our reflection of this love quite uneven and occasionally distorted; yet, our life will be characterized by this pursuit of holiness. It is the "sanctification" of the saints. It is the maturation of God's children, as the "ransomed of the LORD [will] return and come to Zion with singing."
Next, the highway will consist solely of travelers that are covered by the atoning blood of Christ. Sinners indeed, and yet sinners that are not shackled and restrained by sin that is debilitating and unforgiven. It is this freedom from sin that allows one to travel on this "Way of Holiness." This great freedom is not obtainable by human effort, but has been obtained for the redeemed by God Himself. This is a pleasant quest indeed. [". . . everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."]
Heard 'Round the House:
Jill and I went on a date Saturday night, leaving the kids at my mom's house and spending the night in a hotel. We then got up on Sunday morning and attended Easter services at my mom's church. Song [age nine] had the following hot sport's opinion [or I guess hot sports question] about our intentions with this little excursion --Song: Mommy, can I go with you and Daddy?
Mommy: No, Song. This is a date for Daddy and Mommy. You kids are going to stay at NaNa's.
Song: Mommy, will you and Daddy being doing that thing that grown ups do after they get married?
Mommy: Song, why do you need to know?
Song: You know, will you be sleeping without your pajamas on?
