And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
The verse commands that a clear highway be built up for God's people by taking every obstacle and stumbling block out of their path so they can walk without stumbling and inherit His holy mountain. It is given with the promise that the high and holy One who inhabits eternity dwells with the humble and contrite to revive and heal them when they humble themselves in repentance. The stumbling blocks to be removed are sin, especially unconfessed sin, wrong principles and conduct, selfishness, pride, and dependence on men instead of God. The way is prepared by deep humiliation, thorough repentance, confession to God and to one another, forsaking sin, and seeking Him earnestly with justice and restoration faithfully carried out. When the blocks are taken away, cleansing from unrighteousness follows, the salvation of God is seen going forth as a burning lamp, His glory is revealed, and sinners are converted under the moving of His Spirit.
Chapter Context and Promise
Isaiah 57 is full of precious instruction that means much to God's people and carries a lesson to be learned, and it is to be read and studied carefully and prayerfully in order to become wise unto salvation. Isaiah 55 through 58 are to be diligently studied by pastors and people, to arouse them from spiritual stupidity. The call in the cities to those professing present truth is to wake up and give to others what the Lord has given them, to arise and shine because their light is come, and in giving the precious light of the gospel message they will see the glory of God with full assurance that angels will impress the minds of those for whom they labor.
The verse is comfort and encouragement, part of the open encouragement found in Isaiah 55 through 58. It sets forth an open door where a person can enter and meet with God, with the promise that earnest seeking will find Him. Entering through that door requires the meekness shown in Christ's life and character, humbling the heart before God and standing in right relation to Him.
Those who put their trust in God shall possess the land and inherit His holy mountain, and shall join the call to build up the way and take the stumblingblock out of the way of His people. That call is compassion toward those whose course has grieved God and grieved His people, with the promise that if they humble their hearts and confess and forsake their sins, God will not leave them to become the sport of Satan's temptations. The work of clearing the way and removing whatever causes stumbling belongs with the Holy Spirit's work.
Worth in God's sight does not come from being rich in the wealth of the world. The Lord acknowledges, values, and honors the meek and the contrite.
The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, dwells in the high and holy place with the one who is of a humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. When His people humble themselves in repentance, confessing and forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, He will lead and heal them and return to them to cooperate with them.
Meaning of Preparing Way
The verse is a command to build up and prepare the way for God's people by clearing it and taking every obstacle and stumblingblock out of it so they can walk without stumbling and inherit His holy mountain. It is a mission to reach neglected places and people, removing whatever hinders them from coming to God. The obstacles are bound up with sin, so that when the people humble themselves in repentance, confess and forsake the sins that stirred His wrath, God will lead and heal them and fulfill His word to those kept clean, pure, humble and contrite, dwelling with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite. Clearing the way means counteracting influences and human restrictions that hinder God's servants from following the Spirit's leading and hold back the present message, including barriers that presidents of conferences and other influential leaders place in the way of medical missionary work moving forward.
It means faithful stewards of grace must tenderly, earnestly and perseveringly lift the voice in the warning God gives and proclaim His message for His people. It is made ready by careful and earnest seeking of the Lord and coming to the Bible, searching its pages with softened hearts and unprejudiced minds unbiased by personal opinions to hear what God speaks out of His Word, with much earnest prayer for His grace and spiritual enlightenment. The prepared way is the King's highway to be cleared now, with rubbish, stones, and stumbling blocks taken up and placed aside so the King may enter in among His people. Clearing the King's highway is the work of open acknowledgment and confession among God's people here and now, taking the stumbling-blocks of unconfessed sin out of the way, refusing no longer to confess for fear of hurting position and influence but making a decided change to the spirit of confession.
That clearing is done by taking up the stumbling blocks placed in the pathway of others and placing oneself in right relation to God, putting away every sin that would hinder cooperation with God and with brethren, with hearts searched prayerfully when laborers of experience put forth special effort in a community where believers live. It means exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being and working while the day lasts before the night comes when no one can work, showing ownership to God by having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable sacrifice as reasonable service. When so cleared, cleansing from unrighteousness follows, the salvation of God is seen and goes forth as a lamp that burneth, the glory of the Lord is revealed, and the deep moving of the Spirit of God is felt on human hearts and goes through their midst.
The path cast up is the true straight way the ransomed of the Lord are to walk to eternal life, and God's word is light and a guide along that way which Satan makes desperate efforts to obstruct. God's people must choose and practice God's way and words instead of their own wisdom, selfish motives, unsanctified desires, and worldly policy. Leaders who hold fast their own wisdom and judgment make crooked paths for their own feet and for others' feet, leaving stumbling blocks instead of removing them, so the lame and weak who trust them follow false paths and are led astray, and leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes but for the mistakes of followers. Preparing the way is thorough work of removing every stumbling block and clearing the way for God, reaching neglected places and people by removing what hinders them from coming to God, and removing obstacles that hinder spiritual preparation and salvation.
What Stumbling Blocks Are
Stumbling blocks are sin, and above all unconfessed sin that must be taken out of the way by open acknowledgment and confession, with decided change of attitude instead of refusing to confess for fear of hurting position, influence, or experience. They are wrong principles and harmful actions that have caused others to stumble and must be taken away before continuing in entrusted responsibilities, wrongs that obstruct repentance and restoration so that pardon may come, and wrong conduct of professed Christians that turns sincere people away from becoming Christians. A stumbling stone is a hindrance bringing sadness to oneself and others, and avoiding repeated failure requires learning from past experience and removing such hindrances through grace.
The stumbling block is covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride, and dependence on men instead of God, shown by dearth of means and eating out the vitals of God's people, to be met by deep humiliation, repentance, confession, forsaking the sins that stirred wrath, seeking God individually, denying self, and giving alms. It includes a contentious, wrathful spirit to be laid aside in becoming meek and humble, and envy and jealousy as barriers to God's work to be put away with earnest seeking of God and humility before He opens the way and advances the work.
Marking out a path for oneself and supposing to be saved by one's own righteousness acts as a stumbling block and hinders the Lord's work, calling for thorough change without delay, lest those who persistently hinder be removed and destroyed suddenly without remedy. Men also stand in their own way and hedge up with rubbish the way that should be made clear, and the prepared way enlightens blind minds and opens understanding so they see this.
God removes stumbling blocks by tearing off false coverings and sweeping away lies, ridiculous reports, and misrepresentations against Sabbathkeepers and the truth that disgust unbelievers and turn souls away. When the deception is exposed the deceived will see they were vilely deceived, and the honest who were turned from the truth will yet have opportunity to come to knowledge of the truth, while the one who laid the stumbling block will meet all the evil done when slumbering wrath is aroused.
Leaders who hold fast their own wisdom and judgment instead of choosing and practicing God's way and words over selfish motives, unsanctified desires, and worldly policy make crooked paths for their own feet and others' feet. They leave stumbling blocks instead of removing them, so the lame and weak who trust them follow false paths and are led astray, and leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes but for the mistakes of followers.
In church administration the stumbling blocks are opposition, lack of cooperation, and human restrictions and counteracting influences that hinder God's servants from following the Spirit's leading and hold back the present message. Presidents of conferences, ministers, and influential brethren in responsible places are commanded to remove them, especially where they hinder medical missionary work from moving forward aright by withholding talent, strong willing hands, wise discriminating management, and full sanction and cooperation, and instead to supply those things and seek unity of action. Removing stumbling blocks also means cleansing the publishing office from unrighteousness by restoring God's standard and removing corrupt irreligious principles, and not restricting work in the Southern field to established regular lines but helping workers without delay.
For the young the prepared path is the right way with obstacles removed, where obstacles include books and ideas that teach false principles or misrepresent God's character. Preparing the way means giving instruction leading toward truth rather than placing such ideas before them as worthy of attention.
How the Way Is Prepared
The way is cleared by deep humiliation before God, thorough repentance, confession to Him, forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, and seeking Him individually, so that justice, judgment and restoration are faithfully carried out and wrongs blocking repentance and restoration are removed that the repentant may be pardoned and healed and led. Compassion is extended to those whose course has grieved God and His people, with the promise that if they humble their hearts and confess and forsake their sins they will not be left to become the sport of temptation but He will dwell with the contrite and humble to revive them. The stumblingblock removed in this humbling includes covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride and dependence on men instead of God, and when the work is done He cooperates with His people.
Clearing the highway is open acknowledgment and confession among His people here and now, laying hearts open before Him in earnest united prayer. No one is to refuse to confess for fear of hurting position, influence or experience, but all are to make a decided change of attitude to the spirit of confession, righting wrongs while it is not too late. In that light which He gives, everything preventing the love for one another that should exist is cleared away, so that with courage and faith and hope His people hold fast, stand firm on the platform of eternal truth, press into the light, and the King may enter in among them.
Preparation is obtained low at the foot of the cross by removing stumbling blocks at once without delay. There is to be no conferring with flesh and blood and no waiting until everything is understood, but taking the one step of obedience that is seen in order to see the next step, and kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late. In this God-aided work a sight is given of personal weakness and inefficiency and of the glory and majesty of Christ.
The way is prepared by humbling proud hearts, becoming meek and lowly, laying aside a contentious wrathful spirit, surrendering fully to God, standing on the platform of eternal truth, and confessing faults brother to brother with broken hearts and contrite spirits. The contentious, wrathful spirit itself is part of the obstruction to be taken away. Refusal of that heaven-given opportunity for confession and repentance, with hearts braced against the Holy Spirit, lets the adversary block surrender so the battle is lost and the blessing and worldwide victories that would have followed are missed, leaving only awakening shame unless there is repentance and confession in the time granted.
The verse calls for increased faith and decided trust in God, emptying the heart of all self-sufficiency and self-confidence and exalting the Lord alone. There is no limit to His power, while looking to man and leaning on an arm of flesh is to lean on weakness, so confidence is not to be placed in self and one's own work is to be viewed with distrust. The promise belongs to those who educate the mind to contemplate heavenly things and drink of pure streams so that the water of life springs up within, to whom He reveals His glory because He dwells with the humble and contrite to revive their spirit and heart.
That preparation is made by thinking of Jesus and His merits and love, calling to mind things worthy of recognition and praise. It means being sharp to recognize good in others rather than seeking defects and dwelling on mistakes, not seeking recognition for self, criticizing self, speaking words freighted with good, and working constantly to strengthen one another in the most holy faith.
The way is made ready by careful earnest seeking of the Lord and coming to the Bible, searching its pages with softened hearts and unprejudiced minds unbiased by personal opinions to hear what He speaks out of His Word, with much earnest prayer for grace and spiritual enlightenment. Where believers live, they have a most solemn obligation when a special effort is put forth to do all in their power to open the way for Him to work by searching their hearts prayerfully and putting away every sin that would hinder cooperation with Him and with brethren. To those kept clean, pure, humble and contrite He fulfills His word to dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite.
Taking up the stumbling blocks means having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable reasonable service. It means exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being, denying self, giving alms, and working while the day lasts before the night comes when no one can work. As faithful stewards of grace, His people are tenderly, earnestly and perseveringly to lift the voice in the warning He gives, bearing clear-cut living testimony of warning, reproof and rebuke that breaks up tame discourses and carnal security, stirs hearts to conversion, and awakens men out of deep sleep.
Results and Mission Application
When the stumbling blocks of unconfessed sin are taken out of the way by open acknowledgment and confession, with a decided change of attitude instead of refusing to confess for fear of hurting position and influence, cleansing from unrighteousness follows and the salvation of God is seen and His glory revealed. Clearing the King's highway by removing rubbish and stones and clearing away obstacles lets the deep moving of the Spirit of God be felt on human hearts and go through their midst, so that salvation goes forth as a lamp that burneth. This clearing is done by laying hearts open before God in earnest united prayer and making open confession without fear of spoiling experience, righting wrongs while it is still not too late, and receiving light that clears away everything preventing love for one another, so that with courage and faith and hope His people hold fast and stand firm on the platform of eternal truth and press into the light to see His glory. It belongs to the work of all who claim a living connection with God, that obstacles be cleared so glory can be revealed and sinners converted.
Then lips touched as by the live coal bear clear-cut living testimony of warning, reproof, and rebuke that breaks up tame commonplace discourses and carnal security, stirs hearts to conversion, and awakens men out of deep sleep. This preparation is needed where ministers and people are far from God, in Battle Creek and Oakland and in all churches, after deep humiliation, repentance and confession to God, forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, seeking God individually, denying self, and giving alms to remove covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride, and dependence on men instead of God. If the heaven-given opportunity for confession and repentance is refused and hearts brace against the Holy Spirit, Satan works to block surrender, the battle is lost, and the blessing and worldwide victories that would have followed are missed. Those who resist will face awakening shame unless they repent and confess in the time granted, humbling proud hearts, becoming meek and lowly, surrendering fully to God, standing on the platform of eternal truth, and confessing faults brother to brother with broken hearts and contrite spirits.
Those whose souls are lifted up unto vanity are graciously called to come and clear the highway by removing every stumblingblock and making a thorough work of change and no longer hindering the Lord's work, for marking out a path for oneself and supposing to be saved by one's own righteousness acts as a stumblingblock. Unless they change their attitude they will be removed, for the work is to be delayed no longer and they will be destroyed suddenly without remedy, yet the call shows there is no pleasure in the death of the unrighteous after long bearing with stubborn, obdurate hearts that refused warnings and did not glorify His name. False coverings are torn off and lies, ridiculous reports, and misrepresentations against Sabbathkeepers and the truth that disgust unbelievers and turn souls away are swept away, so that when deception is exposed the deceived see they were vilely deceived and the honest who were turned from the truth yet have opportunity to come to knowledge of the truth. The one who laid the stumbling block will have to meet all the evil done when wrath that has slumbered is aroused and visits him.
The verse foretells presenting the warning message to the world and explaining reasons for faith, with camp meetings affording opportunity to give people desired information and arousing slumbering senses to see how far they have departed from the Lord's ordinances by adopting worldly policy and conforming to worldly principles in transgression against the law. It includes the need for means for this presentation, including establishing sanitariums in different parts of the world as an educating power to reform people and restore in them the moral image of God, so that through knowledge of the Word men become converted and in turn use means and ability to extend knowledge of the truth. Those in cities professing present truth are to wake up and give to others what the Lord gave them, and arise and shine because their light is come, and as they give the precious gospel light they will see God's glory with full assurance that angels will make impressions on minds of those for whom they labor. The way is prepared and made clear by earnest work of ministers, doctors, and others in responsible positions as teachers, enlightening blind minds and opening understanding so men see they are standing in their own way and hedging it up with rubbish that should be made clear.
Strength comes not from numbers but from a few devoted Christians who walk with God, take firm hold of Thus saith the Lord answering I will, place themselves in right relation to God, and clear the King's highway now by taking up stumbling blocks placed in others' pathway. Those who do this will not yield to perverted appetite but will receive and impart light, keep the commandments, and claim His promise with confidence that He is responsible for them, while He turns His face from those who refuse to receive and impart light. God's workers must now prepare the King's highway for His coming by exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being and working while the day lasts before night comes when no one can work. Taking up the stumblingblock means showing ownership to God by having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable sacrifice as reasonable service, with preparation to stand in the day of the Lord obtained low at the foot of the cross by righting wrongs while it is not too late. It means removing stumbling blocks at once without delay, without conferring with flesh and blood and without waiting until everything is understood, taking the one step of obedience seen in order to see the next step, and kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late, which gives sight of personal weakness and inefficiency and of Christ's glory and majesty.
The verse commands that a clear highway be built up for God's people by taking every obstacle and stumbling block out of their path so they can walk without stumbling and inherit His holy mountain. It is given with the promise that the high and holy One who inhabits eternity dwells with the humble and contrite to revive and heal them when they humble themselves in repentance. The stumbling blocks to be removed are sin, especially unconfessed sin, wrong principles and conduct, selfishness, pride, and dependence on men instead of God. The way is prepared by deep humiliation, thorough repentance, confession to God and to one another, forsaking sin, and seeking Him earnestly with justice and restoration faithfully carried out. When the blocks are taken away, cleansing from unrighteousness follows, the salvation of God is seen going forth as a burning lamp, His glory is revealed, and sinners are converted under the moving of His Spirit.
Chapter Context and Promise
Isaiah 57 is full of precious instruction that means much to God's people and carries a lesson to be learned, and it is to be read and studied carefully and prayerfully in order to become wise unto salvation. Isaiah 55 through 58 are to be diligently studied by pastors and people, to arouse them from spiritual stupidity. The call in the cities to those professing present truth is to wake up and give to others what the Lord has given them, to arise and shine because their light is come, and in giving the precious light of the gospel message they will see the glory of God with full assurance that angels will impress the minds of those for whom they labor.
The verse is comfort and encouragement, part of the open encouragement found in Isaiah 55 through 58. It sets forth an open door where a person can enter and meet with God, with the promise that earnest seeking will find Him. Entering through that door requires the meekness shown in Christ's life and character, humbling the heart before God and standing in right relation to Him.
Those who put their trust in God shall possess the land and inherit His holy mountain, and shall join the call to build up the way and take the stumblingblock out of the way of His people. That call is compassion toward those whose course has grieved God and grieved His people, with the promise that if they humble their hearts and confess and forsake their sins, God will not leave them to become the sport of Satan's temptations. The work of clearing the way and removing whatever causes stumbling belongs with the Holy Spirit's work.
Worth in God's sight does not come from being rich in the wealth of the world. The Lord acknowledges, values, and honors the meek and the contrite.
The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, dwells in the high and holy place with the one who is of a humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. When His people humble themselves in repentance, confessing and forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, He will lead and heal them and return to them to cooperate with them.
Meaning of Preparing Way
The verse is a command to build up and prepare the way for God's people by clearing it and taking every obstacle and stumblingblock out of it so they can walk without stumbling and inherit His holy mountain. It is a mission to reach neglected places and people, removing whatever hinders them from coming to God. The obstacles are bound up with sin, so that when the people humble themselves in repentance, confess and forsake the sins that stirred His wrath, God will lead and heal them and fulfill His word to those kept clean, pure, humble and contrite, dwelling with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite. Clearing the way means counteracting influences and human restrictions that hinder God's servants from following the Spirit's leading and hold back the present message, including barriers that presidents of conferences and other influential leaders place in the way of medical missionary work moving forward.
It means faithful stewards of grace must tenderly, earnestly and perseveringly lift the voice in the warning God gives and proclaim His message for His people. It is made ready by careful and earnest seeking of the Lord and coming to the Bible, searching its pages with softened hearts and unprejudiced minds unbiased by personal opinions to hear what God speaks out of His Word, with much earnest prayer for His grace and spiritual enlightenment. The prepared way is the King's highway to be cleared now, with rubbish, stones, and stumbling blocks taken up and placed aside so the King may enter in among His people. Clearing the King's highway is the work of open acknowledgment and confession among God's people here and now, taking the stumbling-blocks of unconfessed sin out of the way, refusing no longer to confess for fear of hurting position and influence but making a decided change to the spirit of confession.
That clearing is done by taking up the stumbling blocks placed in the pathway of others and placing oneself in right relation to God, putting away every sin that would hinder cooperation with God and with brethren, with hearts searched prayerfully when laborers of experience put forth special effort in a community where believers live. It means exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being and working while the day lasts before the night comes when no one can work, showing ownership to God by having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable sacrifice as reasonable service. When so cleared, cleansing from unrighteousness follows, the salvation of God is seen and goes forth as a lamp that burneth, the glory of the Lord is revealed, and the deep moving of the Spirit of God is felt on human hearts and goes through their midst.
The path cast up is the true straight way the ransomed of the Lord are to walk to eternal life, and God's word is light and a guide along that way which Satan makes desperate efforts to obstruct. God's people must choose and practice God's way and words instead of their own wisdom, selfish motives, unsanctified desires, and worldly policy. Leaders who hold fast their own wisdom and judgment make crooked paths for their own feet and for others' feet, leaving stumbling blocks instead of removing them, so the lame and weak who trust them follow false paths and are led astray, and leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes but for the mistakes of followers. Preparing the way is thorough work of removing every stumbling block and clearing the way for God, reaching neglected places and people by removing what hinders them from coming to God, and removing obstacles that hinder spiritual preparation and salvation.
What Stumbling Blocks Are
Stumbling blocks are sin, and above all unconfessed sin that must be taken out of the way by open acknowledgment and confession, with decided change of attitude instead of refusing to confess for fear of hurting position, influence, or experience. They are wrong principles and harmful actions that have caused others to stumble and must be taken away before continuing in entrusted responsibilities, wrongs that obstruct repentance and restoration so that pardon may come, and wrong conduct of professed Christians that turns sincere people away from becoming Christians. A stumbling stone is a hindrance bringing sadness to oneself and others, and avoiding repeated failure requires learning from past experience and removing such hindrances through grace.
The stumbling block is covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride, and dependence on men instead of God, shown by dearth of means and eating out the vitals of God's people, to be met by deep humiliation, repentance, confession, forsaking the sins that stirred wrath, seeking God individually, denying self, and giving alms. It includes a contentious, wrathful spirit to be laid aside in becoming meek and humble, and envy and jealousy as barriers to God's work to be put away with earnest seeking of God and humility before He opens the way and advances the work.
Marking out a path for oneself and supposing to be saved by one's own righteousness acts as a stumbling block and hinders the Lord's work, calling for thorough change without delay, lest those who persistently hinder be removed and destroyed suddenly without remedy. Men also stand in their own way and hedge up with rubbish the way that should be made clear, and the prepared way enlightens blind minds and opens understanding so they see this.
God removes stumbling blocks by tearing off false coverings and sweeping away lies, ridiculous reports, and misrepresentations against Sabbathkeepers and the truth that disgust unbelievers and turn souls away. When the deception is exposed the deceived will see they were vilely deceived, and the honest who were turned from the truth will yet have opportunity to come to knowledge of the truth, while the one who laid the stumbling block will meet all the evil done when slumbering wrath is aroused.
Leaders who hold fast their own wisdom and judgment instead of choosing and practicing God's way and words over selfish motives, unsanctified desires, and worldly policy make crooked paths for their own feet and others' feet. They leave stumbling blocks instead of removing them, so the lame and weak who trust them follow false paths and are led astray, and leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes but for the mistakes of followers.
In church administration the stumbling blocks are opposition, lack of cooperation, and human restrictions and counteracting influences that hinder God's servants from following the Spirit's leading and hold back the present message. Presidents of conferences, ministers, and influential brethren in responsible places are commanded to remove them, especially where they hinder medical missionary work from moving forward aright by withholding talent, strong willing hands, wise discriminating management, and full sanction and cooperation, and instead to supply those things and seek unity of action. Removing stumbling blocks also means cleansing the publishing office from unrighteousness by restoring God's standard and removing corrupt irreligious principles, and not restricting work in the Southern field to established regular lines but helping workers without delay.
For the young the prepared path is the right way with obstacles removed, where obstacles include books and ideas that teach false principles or misrepresent God's character. Preparing the way means giving instruction leading toward truth rather than placing such ideas before them as worthy of attention.
How the Way Is Prepared
The way is cleared by deep humiliation before God, thorough repentance, confession to Him, forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, and seeking Him individually, so that justice, judgment and restoration are faithfully carried out and wrongs blocking repentance and restoration are removed that the repentant may be pardoned and healed and led. Compassion is extended to those whose course has grieved God and His people, with the promise that if they humble their hearts and confess and forsake their sins they will not be left to become the sport of temptation but He will dwell with the contrite and humble to revive them. The stumblingblock removed in this humbling includes covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride and dependence on men instead of God, and when the work is done He cooperates with His people.
Clearing the highway is open acknowledgment and confession among His people here and now, laying hearts open before Him in earnest united prayer. No one is to refuse to confess for fear of hurting position, influence or experience, but all are to make a decided change of attitude to the spirit of confession, righting wrongs while it is not too late. In that light which He gives, everything preventing the love for one another that should exist is cleared away, so that with courage and faith and hope His people hold fast, stand firm on the platform of eternal truth, press into the light, and the King may enter in among them.
Preparation is obtained low at the foot of the cross by removing stumbling blocks at once without delay. There is to be no conferring with flesh and blood and no waiting until everything is understood, but taking the one step of obedience that is seen in order to see the next step, and kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late. In this God-aided work a sight is given of personal weakness and inefficiency and of the glory and majesty of Christ.
The way is prepared by humbling proud hearts, becoming meek and lowly, laying aside a contentious wrathful spirit, surrendering fully to God, standing on the platform of eternal truth, and confessing faults brother to brother with broken hearts and contrite spirits. The contentious, wrathful spirit itself is part of the obstruction to be taken away. Refusal of that heaven-given opportunity for confession and repentance, with hearts braced against the Holy Spirit, lets the adversary block surrender so the battle is lost and the blessing and worldwide victories that would have followed are missed, leaving only awakening shame unless there is repentance and confession in the time granted.
The verse calls for increased faith and decided trust in God, emptying the heart of all self-sufficiency and self-confidence and exalting the Lord alone. There is no limit to His power, while looking to man and leaning on an arm of flesh is to lean on weakness, so confidence is not to be placed in self and one's own work is to be viewed with distrust. The promise belongs to those who educate the mind to contemplate heavenly things and drink of pure streams so that the water of life springs up within, to whom He reveals His glory because He dwells with the humble and contrite to revive their spirit and heart.
That preparation is made by thinking of Jesus and His merits and love, calling to mind things worthy of recognition and praise. It means being sharp to recognize good in others rather than seeking defects and dwelling on mistakes, not seeking recognition for self, criticizing self, speaking words freighted with good, and working constantly to strengthen one another in the most holy faith.
The way is made ready by careful earnest seeking of the Lord and coming to the Bible, searching its pages with softened hearts and unprejudiced minds unbiased by personal opinions to hear what He speaks out of His Word, with much earnest prayer for grace and spiritual enlightenment. Where believers live, they have a most solemn obligation when a special effort is put forth to do all in their power to open the way for Him to work by searching their hearts prayerfully and putting away every sin that would hinder cooperation with Him and with brethren. To those kept clean, pure, humble and contrite He fulfills His word to dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite.
Taking up the stumbling blocks means having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable reasonable service. It means exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being, denying self, giving alms, and working while the day lasts before the night comes when no one can work. As faithful stewards of grace, His people are tenderly, earnestly and perseveringly to lift the voice in the warning He gives, bearing clear-cut living testimony of warning, reproof and rebuke that breaks up tame discourses and carnal security, stirs hearts to conversion, and awakens men out of deep sleep.
Results and Mission Application
When the stumbling blocks of unconfessed sin are taken out of the way by open acknowledgment and confession, with a decided change of attitude instead of refusing to confess for fear of hurting position and influence, cleansing from unrighteousness follows and the salvation of God is seen and His glory revealed. Clearing the King's highway by removing rubbish and stones and clearing away obstacles lets the deep moving of the Spirit of God be felt on human hearts and go through their midst, so that salvation goes forth as a lamp that burneth. This clearing is done by laying hearts open before God in earnest united prayer and making open confession without fear of spoiling experience, righting wrongs while it is still not too late, and receiving light that clears away everything preventing love for one another, so that with courage and faith and hope His people hold fast and stand firm on the platform of eternal truth and press into the light to see His glory. It belongs to the work of all who claim a living connection with God, that obstacles be cleared so glory can be revealed and sinners converted.
Then lips touched as by the live coal bear clear-cut living testimony of warning, reproof, and rebuke that breaks up tame commonplace discourses and carnal security, stirs hearts to conversion, and awakens men out of deep sleep. This preparation is needed where ministers and people are far from God, in Battle Creek and Oakland and in all churches, after deep humiliation, repentance and confession to God, forsaking the sins that stirred His wrath, seeking God individually, denying self, and giving alms to remove covetousness, selfishness, self-indulgence, pride, and dependence on men instead of God. If the heaven-given opportunity for confession and repentance is refused and hearts brace against the Holy Spirit, Satan works to block surrender, the battle is lost, and the blessing and worldwide victories that would have followed are missed. Those who resist will face awakening shame unless they repent and confess in the time granted, humbling proud hearts, becoming meek and lowly, surrendering fully to God, standing on the platform of eternal truth, and confessing faults brother to brother with broken hearts and contrite spirits.
Those whose souls are lifted up unto vanity are graciously called to come and clear the highway by removing every stumblingblock and making a thorough work of change and no longer hindering the Lord's work, for marking out a path for oneself and supposing to be saved by one's own righteousness acts as a stumblingblock. Unless they change their attitude they will be removed, for the work is to be delayed no longer and they will be destroyed suddenly without remedy, yet the call shows there is no pleasure in the death of the unrighteous after long bearing with stubborn, obdurate hearts that refused warnings and did not glorify His name. False coverings are torn off and lies, ridiculous reports, and misrepresentations against Sabbathkeepers and the truth that disgust unbelievers and turn souls away are swept away, so that when deception is exposed the deceived see they were vilely deceived and the honest who were turned from the truth yet have opportunity to come to knowledge of the truth. The one who laid the stumbling block will have to meet all the evil done when wrath that has slumbered is aroused and visits him.
The verse foretells presenting the warning message to the world and explaining reasons for faith, with camp meetings affording opportunity to give people desired information and arousing slumbering senses to see how far they have departed from the Lord's ordinances by adopting worldly policy and conforming to worldly principles in transgression against the law. It includes the need for means for this presentation, including establishing sanitariums in different parts of the world as an educating power to reform people and restore in them the moral image of God, so that through knowledge of the Word men become converted and in turn use means and ability to extend knowledge of the truth. Those in cities professing present truth are to wake up and give to others what the Lord gave them, and arise and shine because their light is come, and as they give the precious gospel light they will see God's glory with full assurance that angels will make impressions on minds of those for whom they labor. The way is prepared and made clear by earnest work of ministers, doctors, and others in responsible positions as teachers, enlightening blind minds and opening understanding so men see they are standing in their own way and hedging it up with rubbish that should be made clear.
Strength comes not from numbers but from a few devoted Christians who walk with God, take firm hold of Thus saith the Lord answering I will, place themselves in right relation to God, and clear the King's highway now by taking up stumbling blocks placed in others' pathway. Those who do this will not yield to perverted appetite but will receive and impart light, keep the commandments, and claim His promise with confidence that He is responsible for them, while He turns His face from those who refuse to receive and impart light. God's workers must now prepare the King's highway for His coming by exercising every capability with the strength of the whole being and working while the day lasts before night comes when no one can work. Taking up the stumblingblock means showing ownership to God by having the heart purified from all dross, bringing thoughts and affections into obedience to His will, making the whole being a holy temple for His indwelling, clearing away all hindrances, and offering acceptable sacrifice as reasonable service, with preparation to stand in the day of the Lord obtained low at the foot of the cross by righting wrongs while it is not too late. It means removing stumbling blocks at once without delay, without conferring with flesh and blood and without waiting until everything is understood, taking the one step of obedience seen in order to see the next step, and kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late, which gives sight of personal weakness and inefficiency and of Christ's glory and majesty.