Isaiah 35:9, commentary and pictures

Isaiah 35 describes a raised highway of holiness prepared in a transformed wilderness where blind eyes are opened and the ransomed return to Zion with songs and lasting joy, and on that road no lion or ravenous beast is allowed to go up or be found while the redeemed walk openly and safely without straying. It promises the future gathering of God's people into the heavenly Canaan and restored earth, forever freed from the curse, after Christ's atoning work is finished and sin is blotted out. That way was opened by Christ through the sacrifice of His own life and blood, and He walked it first to smooth its rough places and now guides His followers as Shepherd and light toward the Father's home. It is a narrow, holy, royal path of obedience to God's commandments that shuts out pride, selfishness, deceit and worldly indulgence, and though it is steep and tried it can be walked victoriously. Remaining on it calls for faith, vigilance, prayer, self-denial and taking up the cross, with God's Word as lamp and the Spirit's strength at each step, and those who live this way teach it point by point to the young and shine as lights to draw others in.

Wording and Context

There is a highway set apart as the way of holiness, over which the unclean do not pass and on which wayfaring travelers, though simple, do not go astray. No lion is present there, and no ravenous or destructive beast goes up upon it or is found there at all. The way is therefore wholly safe from danger and from every devouring power.

But the redeemed walk there in safety, openly and without straying from the prepared narrow way. Their walking belongs to the secure gathering of the ransomed of the Lord, delivered forever from the bondage of the curse after the work of atonement is completed and sins are blotted out. It is a path from which they are not to be led away, and from which remembered words of loving guidance can keep the young from wandering.

The setting is God's transformation of the wilderness, when blind eyes are opened, deaf ears are unstopped, the lame leap, the dumb sing, waters break out in the desert, and parched ground becomes pools. Then the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy, obtaining joy and gladness while sorrow and sighing flee away. This belongs with the hope of the future restored land and the new earth also described in Revelation, and the honor for the transformation belongs to God whose work it is. The chapter as a whole confirms God's sure mercy, grace, and glory, and gives grounds for faith, hope, and assurance.

Future Restoration Promised

The absence of lions and ravenous beasts marks the future restored land where the redeemed walk in safety on the holy highway. That land is the heavenly Canaan where the ransomed of the Lord are safely gathered, forever delivered from the bondage of the curse. This is the new-earth hope also set forth in Revelation, belonging with the return to Zion, everlasting joy, and the fleeing away of sorrow. That gathering takes place after Christ's great work of atonement for humanity is completed and sins are forever blotted out, when the redeemed rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The promise is given for encouragement in the present fitting-up time for heaven, when full obedience to all of God's commandments is required and God's people are out of the cities. It calls every heart to lay up these words, accept Christ as Saviour and friend, take the offered salvation, and stand wholly on the Lord's side. It calls for consecrating every member of the family to God's service, drawing together rather than disbanding, and depending on Christ alone for salvation. The promised future state can also be fulfilled in this world as God transforms what is barren in people's lives. That transformation and its glory are God's own work, and the honor belongs to Him.

It is present truth to be proclaimed just now with assurance and power and cheer, with no dolorous note and no funeral hymns. It strengthens weak hands and feeble knees and tells the fearful to be strong and fear not, because God will come with vengeance and recompense and save. Then blind eyes are opened, deaf ears are unstopped, the lame leap and the dumb sing, wilderness waters break out and parched ground becomes pools. On the highway called the way of holiness the unclean do not pass and wayfaring travelers, though simple, do not err, and the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy, obtaining joy and gladness while sorrow and sighing flee away.

Christ Opens the Way

The way for the redeemed was opened and prepared by Christ through infinite sacrifice, by His giving up His own life and blood in the gift of God's only begotten Son, so that followers can obey God's commandments and be clothed with Christ's righteousness. It is a safe, prepared way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in without straying into unbelief or stumbling in darkness, where no ravenous beast threatens them, and following the Lord on it means choosing His guidance and standard rather than human opinion or self-directed ways. Those who walk there are purchased by Jesus by His own blood and are His property, and by making Christ a personal Saviour they cease leading others downward to thoughtlessness, irreverence, and despising the grace of God, and instead lead souls by example to see the Lord's claims, accept Jesus, and walk the heavenly path from the broad path that leads to destruction into this narrow royal path to heaven.

Christ traveled that path before His people, beat down its thorns and rough places, and made a smooth and passable way for feet to follow from youth as the path of the present Christian life. The journey is therefore one of choosing the suffering part of religion and following in Jesus' footsteps as a partaker with Christ in His sufferings, with the promise of being a partaker with Him in His glory. Though the journey may be rough, steep, tiring, and marked by trials and discouragement, it is not smooth and without trouble yet can be walked victoriously because He has gone before.

Christ guides the redeemed safely along it toward immortal life and the Father's home as true Shepherd, Instructor, and Righteousness, and His light guides their steps and, reflected by them, makes the path brighter until the end. In following Him they do not walk in darkness but have the light of life, stay on the way, and avoid by-paths and dangerous pitfalls, and it is their privilege to walk in its light as a path of peace, purity, and holiness. He is their refuge and shield as they travel this royal, safe way that leads souls out of darkness to heaven, while principalities and powers of darkness urge souls away from it and those who reject God's light leave it for another leader, Satan.

God's Word is the lamp to the path and the light to the feet that makes each point of truth clear and distinct, and the Bible alone makes clear this safe way that leads to life and the city of God rather than to perdition and death, which human wisdom cannot show. It is the plain way of scriptural truth where those loyal to God as they seek to know Him find sure footing toward eternal life, but Satan tries to obscure its light so they will not find or remain on it. Feet are kept in the right way to safety in this life and the life to come, and at last received into glory, by clinging to the pillars of faith built up by the three messages, making the Word of God the only guide and testing everything by the law and the testimony and rejecting whatever speaks not according to that Word because there is no light in it, trusting in the Lord rather than putting confidence in man or princes, connecting the soul with God by earnest prayer, depending implicitly on divine truth, refusing to lean to human understanding or follow sparks of human kindling, and diligently searching the Scriptures with much prayer before taking any step, forming any association, or accepting any teaching, especially amid peril, distractions, and many false claims to truth.

Character of the Holy Way

The way is a narrow, high, elevated, royal highway cast up for the ransomed to walk toward life and the city of God, set wholly apart from the broad road that leads to death and destruction. To choose it is to turn from sin and worldly pleasure and folly, to have the feet taken out of the broad path to destruction and placed in the narrow path to life. Those purchased by the blood of Jesus as His own property press on in it straight and narrow toward the kingdom, and by making Christ a personal Saviour they cease leading others downward to thoughtlessness, irreverence, and contempt for grace and instead lead souls by example to see the Lord's claims, accept Jesus, and walk the heavenly path. Turning the footsteps into it must be done in haste because of danger and peril, and abiding in it calls for disciplined minds, perfected Christian character, and humble consecrated work, while God puts His power upon those who come where He can work for them, putting away hateful feelings, and never forsakes a penitent humble soul who comes to Him.

It is the path of holiness, purity, peace, and righteousness, prepared for the redeemed to walk in its light in entire and willing thankful obedience to God and Christ. Walking there means yielding the will to the will of God, obeying His commandments, and making His standard of righteousness the aim of life, which is true sanctification. It is more than a royal road; it is a divine, authoritative pathway given to guide men to holiness and heaven, and to tamper with the Lord's standard and depart from His commandments is the worst rebellion and leaves that path. Thousands, yes millions, would be found walking in that path for the ransomed if they were not confused by the wine of Babylon. Satan strives to hedge up and block that path by every deception, working through members of the human family as his instruments just as he used the serpent in Eden.

The dangers and sinful influences of the downward road are absent there, and none can carry with them pride, self-will, deceit, dishonesty, passion, and carnal lusts. The way excludes the corrupt ways of the world, self-righteousness, and selfish indulgence and ambition, and requires leaving those burdens behind. Christians keep to this high path through obedience, simplicity, humility, self-control, and holy conduct, and they must not lower its standard by adopting the world's habits. Their distinct lives are to shine as a light to others.

Though precious and safe, it is not smooth and without trouble but narrow and marked by trials and discouragements, and the journey may be rough, steep, and tiring. The redeemed can still walk it victoriously through faith and determined effort to defeat the enemy. It is the path of the present Christian life to be studied and entered from youth, meaning the choice of the suffering part of religion and following in the footsteps of Jesus, who traveled it before, beat down its thorns and rough places, and made a smooth and passable way for feet to follow. To walk it as a partaker with Christ in His sufferings carries the promise of being a partaker with Him in His glory, for Christ guides safely along it toward immortal life, His light guiding each step and, reflected by His followers, making the path brighter until the end.

It is not a royal road but the low way of the cross leading to the crown, a narrow path where self must die and there is no self-glorying. Entrance upon it requires becoming humble as a little child, with no place for pride, contention, or envy, walking under the Holy One's guidance in thought, word, and deed. When the motive of life is to serve and honor Christ and bless humanity, even the dreariest paths of duty become bright parts of that cast-up way. There the children of God find countless opportunities for active ministry to those for whom Christ died, with Jesus standing close beside His instruments to meet the wants and necessities of every soul through them.

Turning to the truth and keeping the Sabbath is turning the feet into that royal path and royal highway prepared for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. So it was seen when the believers in Launceston who had turned their feet to this path were keeping the Sabbath.

Remaining on the Way

Remaining on this safe, elevated highway in the enemy's country calls for steadfast forward movement in faith, with fresh supplies of grace and truth at every step. The wisdom, strength, and courage needed to stay on it are given by the Holy Spirit, and those who cling to God's wisdom receive strength to keep going under Christ's guidance toward everlasting life. Keeping to the path means guarding against temptation, relying on revealed truth, and depending on Christ, even when the narrow way seems too restricted, for no danger will be found there to those who so depend. Walking in it also calls for humility and vigilance so the traveler is not turned aside from the way that leads to victory.

Walking there is entire obedience on the way of holiness, excluding the paths of the world, self-righteousness, and selfish indulgence. It is the narrow way of self-denial and self-sacrifice, taking up the cross and following Christ toward the Father's home in heaven. That purification from vanity and selfishness is shown even in dress, for a truly converted taste and grace expressed in dress mark the traveler being purified.

Satan labors to keep souls from finding or remaining on this way to the city of God by trying to obscure the light of God's word that guides them. He tries to obstruct the path of righteousness through cunning and deception, striving to hedge it up and block it by every species of deception. He works through members of the human family as his instruments today, just as he used the serpent in Eden, and he is full of plans and devices to lead feet into paths not cast up for them. Against that leading Jesus lifts His voice saying Follow Me, calling His sheep to hear His voice and not follow a stranger.

Apart from the true path cast up for the redeemed are crooked paths made by self-confident leaders who follow unsanctified desires, selfish motives, and worldly policy instead of God's way. When leaders walk in those false paths, the lame and weak follow supposing they are led by God and their judgment must be right, and are thus led astray. Close beside the track of truth lies a track of error, so that at first sight many feet are led astray while supposing they walk in the exalted way, and that deceptive track widens until all kinds of makeshifts and delusive things professedly called truth enter upon it. Departure from the path brings a person under Satan's deceptive reasoning with Satan as leader, and under his direction searching for scientific problems and erroneous sentiments, while extreme and unreasonable teachings also lead astray from the way of truth and hinder the discovery of truth.

Leaving the true path of righteousness and truth leading to heaven and future immortal life happens when a person is drawn away by his own lust, fixing the heart on some attractive earthly object and catching at Satan's bait, bribe, and snare until entrapped. No power in earth or hell can compel that sin and dishonor of holy faith. Staying on the path in happiness and peace under any circumstances means being true to God and to self, submitting the will to God, seeking truth rather than money and worldly ambition, and refusing to open the heart to Satan even as temptations grow stronger and more seductive near the end.

Staying on the path also requires receiving God's reproof and correcting course when wrong, for those who do so can be a channel of light, while choosing one's own way and refusing reproof is rejecting the path, following crookedness, and putting salvation at stake. It means turning from self-counsel to follow the counsel of the Spirit of God who guides feet in it, and those who refuse that counsel oppose the Holy Spirit, leave the path, lead other souls astray, and bring condemnation on themselves, losing the crown that fadeth not away. Self-deception and defects of character can cause people to miss the way of the redeemed. Remaining requires Christ abiding in the heart, with dependence on Him, watching, praying, and acting in harmony with His words in cooperation with divine agencies, for when dependence is lost and petition to the throne of grace ceases, satanic agencies seize the opportunity to separate the soul from the Lord, and evil angels make self-sufficient and self-righteous persons into channels to defile minds and lead others off the ransomed path into paths not cast up for them.

Those joined to the sacred work must remain on the safe path and keep others on it by looking to God, having transformation of character, holding eternal vigilance as the price of safety, seeking God's counsel in large and small matters, being emptied of vanity and self, and being converted and sanctified through truth brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul with a realization of the sacredness of God's work for the last times. Mere assent to truth is not enough, and without this they are turned from the safe path and turn others from it, imperil God's work, and bring discouragement upon the people. Entering the royal way of the Lord requires the constraining influence of the Spirit, and walking in it means having the heart set in order and bringing every practice — eating and drinking, dressing, advice, counsels, prescriptions, and example of nobility and true elevation of character — into accordance with the holy precepts of God's Word as a living representation of that way. Those in responsible positions in schools and health institutions must themselves walk there, for without walking there they cannot guide the feet of others in it nor feel obligation to lead associates into it, and ministers lead people to walk there by bringing things new and old from the treasure house of God's Word, giving line upon line and precept upon precept, sustained by continual personal Bible study that enables intelligent presentation of truth. Leading people into paths not prepared for the ransomed interposes between them and God and will be judged, and no one is to let anyone lead the ransomed away from this divinely appointed path where no predatory beast will be found.

Living the Way Today

Isaiah 35:9 is a precious promise for the future given to encourage the churches and to be claimed in times of spiritual lack and emergency. It is to be read when disappointed by the spiritual lack seen in churches and individuals, when meeting those unwilling to be helped and strengthened, and when finding halting and disaffection among believers. It applies even when evil angels in the form of believers work in the ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief, and when powers of evil assemble in meetings not to receive blessing but to counterwork the influences of the Spirit of God. In such times faith is to stay strong in God proved true in the past, no remark of strange spirits is to be taken up or repeated to confirm evil angels in their work, but the rich promises of God which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus and the words of Christ are to be repeated instead. Christ was the Instructor of those angels in their assemblies before they fell from their high estate, and He came to save souls brought under evil powers through Satan's temptations.

Leaning on His sure promise and taking hold of the mighty assurances given in Christ and His word, every soul with knowledge of present truth is to renew consecration, come up to a higher standard, bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies, communicate encouragement to others, and daily carry on the work the Redeemer undertook in behalf of humanity, seen in the life and death of Christ in what sacrifice heaven was willing to make that none perish but have everlasting life. The verse assures the redeemed that their way is safe from ravenous beasts, and those promises are to be trusted and shared with others.
The cast-up path for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in must be taught to children point by point, without superficial investigation and without crowding their minds with too much matter at once. God's Word is the lamp to the path and the light to the feet that makes each point of truth clear and distinct, Christ Himself has led the way on this highway as the true Shepherd, and in following Him the redeemed stay on the way and avoid by-paths and dangerous pitfalls, for it is their privilege to walk in its light as a path of peace, purity, and holiness. Not even the least child must be left to wander from it, and keeping children on that path depends on the teacher reflecting communion with God in the countenance and revealing the character and love of Jesus in daily life, with firm, dignified, cheerful, loving authority rather than sternness, gloom, or dictatorial exacting, because children copy the ways, practices, habits, and deportment they see far more than the words and lessons they hear. The loving words of Christ, remembered by children as they grow, can keep them from leaving that secure path where they walk without straying. The path of the ransomed is the right way in which children and youth are to be led, where no ravenous beast is found and where the redeemed walk safely.

Young people must be guided away from self-seeking and toward a life of Christlike service, for the way of the redeemed is safe from danger and is walked by those whom God has ransomed. Children are to be guided in that safe path through character-building and education in God's will, so they may enter God's city as conquerors. Those whose life is hid with Christ in God and who walk humbly with God can be beacon lights and examples whose holy influence, words, and life help other feet tread the royal path to heaven cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. Walking there means being faithful, pure, and holy in life, growing in excellence of character and devotion, in purity and holiness, living with an eye single to the glory of God, having a living connection with God, cultivating every grace of character to honor Him who gave His life, being bound together in holy faith with united influence wholly on the Lord's side, exerting a silent, prayerful influence that wins those who have not confessed Christ, works for the transformation of associates, and keeps the enemies of faith from triumphing, so that learning to like God's will makes doing it comparatively easy. The love of Christ exercises a constraining power to draw others into the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in.

The redeemed walk the path prepared for them by the Lord as a way of holy life, rather than choosing the wider, more convenient road, and their glad, willing obedience bears fruit and marks them as loyal to God. Those who follow Christ can walk that path without being led astray by others' errors; they are not compelled to copy them, but are responsible for setting a better example, and need not lose their spirituality or be led astray from that path even when surrounded by others' mistakes. The way for the redeemed is a path they walk without joining the world's corrupt ways, and Christians are to keep to this high path through obedience, simplicity, humility, self-control, and holy conduct, with distinct lives shining as a light to others. Christians are not to lower its standard by adopting the world's habits, but their distinct conduct on this high, safe path of humble obedience, simplicity, and self-control is to shine as a light to others. It is contrasted with the world's enticements to selfishness: the choice to follow that path free from danger shapes whether young people's lives bless or harm others.

The path of holiness is the way prepared for the Lord's redeemed to walk, from which young people can be drawn away gradually by ambition, indolence, skepticism, or self-indulgence, but they can return by confessing and forsaking their wrong course and renewing their faith in Christ. Those who turn back from skepticism and selfish ambition return to this path, where God's Spirit redirects their thoughts and their hopes reach toward heavenly things, and as God's Spirit changes their hearts and characters, their desires reach toward heavenly things. Receiving Him as personal Saviour and living by the Word enables the redeemed to walk in this prepared path of life with Christ. The road where the redeemed walk is the return to Bible truth and former love after leaving truth for self-honor into skepticism and infidelity, and God's chastening through affliction leads wanderers to seek the old paths, the mist of skepticism is swept away, and those who repent enter that road where God is first and last and best in everything, love of money and selfish ambition no longer rule, the Spirit's work on the heart is prized above gold and human praise, thoughts are directed by the Spirit into new channels, character is transformed, and desires reach toward heavenly things.

Turning the footsteps into the high pathway of holiness prepared for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in toward immortal life must be done in haste because of danger and peril, and staying in it calls for disciplined minds, perfected Christian character, and humble consecrated work, for God puts His power on those who come where He can work for them, putting away hateful feelings, and He does not forsake a penitent humble soul who comes to Him. The Sandersons are urged to keep to this straight and narrow safe path and press on toward God's kingdom. It is the narrow path of holiness and narrow way that leads to life, and people must choose to follow it rather than be driven into it, turning from a wrong course to walk it. Walking there is by clinging to the pillars of faith built up by the three messages, making the Word of God the only guide and testing everything by the law and the testimony, rejecting whatever speaks not according to that Word because there is no light in it, trusting in the Lord rather than putting confidence in man or princes, connecting the soul with God by earnest prayer, depending implicitly on divine truth, trusting the Lord with all the heart, refusing to lean to human understanding or follow sparks of human kindling, and diligently searching the Scriptures with much prayer before taking any step, forming any association, or accepting any teaching, so as to be led in the right way by God's counsel to safety in this life and the life to come and at last received into glory, especially amid peril, distractions, and many false claims to truth.

Those who walk the narrow way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord without swerving are those who have repented of sins and are converted, and they are safe only as they devote heart and soul to the work of God instead of resting in self-confidence, working as Christ gave example, doing all possible in the service of the Redeemer to develop a Christlike character, and suffering if need be rather than yielding to Satan's claims and demand. Those who walk that way to God's city follow Christ's example and teaching, live with pure principles and godly conduct, and diligently work out their salvation while God works in them to will and do what pleases Him. Those on the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in must never consent to leave it under any circumstances, not even in appearance, but be steadfast and immovable in Christian obligations and to God. The road for the ransomed where no dangerous beast can threaten them is the way of obedience to Christ, followed willingly and with thankfulness toward God's city by following Christ's example and the directions of Scripture, living out faith in godly conduct, safe from destructive evil. That way is a daily path away from darkness and unbelief, walked by following God's word and turning from sin, and humbly and trustingly as the Lord's ransomed seek to save perishing souls.