Isaiah 62:10, commentary and pictures

The verse is a command to go through the gates and make a clear, raised highway for the people by removing stones and lifting a banner to guide them. It belongs to the worldwide announcement that the Lord's salvation, reward and work are coming, to gather a holy, redeemed, sought-out people who will not be forsaken when Christ takes them home. God has opened that straight and narrow highway at great cost through Christ, high above the world, entered by faith alone and walked in obedience, holiness, humility and keeping His commandments, with no place for sin upon it. Clearing it means taking every stumbling block out of the way by thorough repentance, confession to God and to one another, pardon given and received, laying aside harsh speech, criticism, selfishness and division, and walking in contrite humility and unity. The banner to be lifted is God's unchanging standard of truth, righteousness and right, held high by publishing and planting the light in new places and cities, by daily life that keeps the commandments, and by urgent missionary work of teaching, healing and soul-winning because darkness covers the earth and the end is near.

Verse Context and Promise

The command is to go through the gates and prepare the way of the people by casting up the highway, gathering out the stones, and lifting up a standard for the people. It calls for removing what obstructs their passage so the path is made clear and ready for others. This is the work Christ carries out through those who follow His example and join Him in work and prayer, clearing obstacles from the highway and raising a standard for the people. In the closing work God thus gathers a people from the world to serve Him in righteousness, while the powers of heaven work to fulfill His purposes. Preparing the way in this sense requires dwelling with God in a contrite and humble spirit, learning meekness and lowliness, letting the heart break in tenderness, becoming as a little child, laying aside wrath and severe and harsh and contentious speech, and speaking only words subdued by the Spirit.

The preparation belongs to the proclamation to the ends of the earth that the Lord's salvation and reward are coming with His work before Him. It accompanies the announcement that salvation is coming and that God's people are redeemed and no longer forsaken, a prophecy that gave hope to those who recognized Christ's mission. The church is summoned to join in proclaiming salvation to the world so that triumph may come, and the light borne by God's people was meant to lead others to Him throughout the whole world.

Its outcome is a gathered people who are called holy, redeemed, sought out, and a city not forsaken. The highway imagery points to the redeemed being gathered and prepared for Christ's return, when He will take them to their eternal home. Those reached by the proclamation to the end of the world, with reward and work before Him, are called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out, a city not forsaken.

The passage is a word from the Lord and a reason to praise Him. It belongs with the call to bear a clear testimony to the world in faith, hope, courage and assurance, with righteousness and praise springing forth before all nations until the earth is filled with His glory. The verse stands with the command to search the Scriptures because they testify of Christ, and with His sorrow that those He longed to save will not come to Him for life. The chapter speaks decisively to leaders bearing responsibilities and to God's people, calling them to heed God's words, stop complaining and evil works, repent, be reformed and converted, so that the Lord will manifest power in the conviction and conversion of souls.

Highway for the Redeemed

God has cast up a precious highway for His ransomed people to walk in toward the gates of the city of God and heaven. Christ has opened this path at great cost to Himself and leads those who follow Him fully in the way of holiness. It is precious though narrow, and cannot be entered while carrying worldly burdens, pride, or self-importance. It is marked by trials and discouragements, yet faith and determined effort to defeat the enemy make it a victorious way, to be followed without making it harder through doubts, gloomy fears, or burdensome cares. The light of the midnight cry shines along it so travelers will not stumble, and they remain safe while they keep their eyes fixed on Jesus.

The highway is straight and narrow, raised high above the world, leading away from sin and pleasure and folly. It is the path of faith alone, provided by God and complete without human works or penance. Even the most hardened sinner who truly repents is welcomed upon it, but sin has no place on it. The landmarks God has given must never be removed, and the banner of truth must never be lowered or dropped, for truth stands firmly established on the eternal Rock, a foundation that storm and tempest can never move. As soon as influence leads away from the path the Lord has cast up, prosperity ceases because God is no longer guide, and nothing is to be united with the solemn message for the last days that would hide the peculiar features of faith.

Walking it is a life of faith, obedience, holiness, purity, simplicity, meekness, humility, excellence of character and devotion, lived with an eye single to the glory of God in imitation of Christ. It is far above all worldly schemes and practices, and those who walk in it must show by their works the purity of their principles, proving the genuineness of their profession by a well-ordered life and godly conversation because they have a heaven to win. They strive to walk in the footsteps of Christ with His life and teaching ever before them, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling lest they fail to perfect Christian character, while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. They walk it by studying Scripture and taking God's promises into their hearts, as Jesus did when He met temptation with the words of God, and learning the ways of the Lord and contemplating the plan of salvation keeps the feet from stumbling on the dark mountain of unbelief or straying from that holy way. The love of Christ draws others into that prepared way by a constraining power, as believers cooperate with Christ through silent, prayerful influence to win those who have not yet confessed Him and work for the transformation of those with whom they associate, and when students learn to like God's will, walking in that way becomes comparatively easy.

Each step is guided by the light of God's Word as truth and light serving as a lamp to the feet. Each advance on that path requires fresh supplies of grace and truth. Satan makes desperate efforts to obstruct the path, working through human beings and deception.

Those on it must not step down from that high path to meet worldlings at their standard in extravagant dress, fashion, indulgence of appetite or self-indulgence, but must keep the contrast between the two classes sharp and positive. Their lives and daily conduct, holding appetite under the control of reason, maintaining simplicity in dress, and engaging in holy conversation, are to shine as a light on the pathway of those in false habits to correct them and break Satan's spell over worshippers of fashion. Following Christ keeps a person on that path, and even amid surrounding faults, errors and spiritual dangers, no other person has power to lead him astray from it, so none need lose spirituality nor copy the mistakes and faults seen in professed Christians. No one is compelled to copy the errors, mistakes and faults of professed Christians; one who sees them is responsible before God and before men to set a better example, and must not make the faults of others an excuse for his own defects or copy the very objectionable traits he condemns. When life is directed toward serving and honoring Christ and blessing others, even its hardest duties become a bright way to walk, for the path to the crown leads through the cross and requires humility rather than self-exaltation.

Children and youth stand at the parting of the ways before this cast-up way, with the world's enticements to self-seeking and self-indulgence calling them away from that path, and whether their lives shall be a blessing or a curse depends upon the choice they make. They are to be led in it as the right way by those who claim to be reformers. Guiding feet in that way means educating children to take hold of character building for their present good, peace and happiness, to fear God and keep His commandments in the present life, so they may enter the gates of the city of God as conquerors. It requires elevating the standard of righteousness in schools and giving instruction after God's order, cleansing institutions for the education of youth as Christ cleansed the temple and banishing everything with a defiling influence. It requires expelling books that keep false principles, false reasoning, the sophistries of Satan, and pagan and infidel sentiments before the mind, and filling their place with instruction that imparts substantial knowledge, treasures right sentiments in the heart, and governs conduct by right precepts, for to present the sentiments of unbelievers and dissolute men as valuable knowledge because they come from men the world admires as great thinkers misrepresents God's character, places Him in a false light, and displeases God. Children may stray from that path in after years, but the memory of Christ's loving words and blessing when mothers brought them to Him, recalled and repeated to them, keeps them from straying from it.

Clearing Obstacles from Highway

Clearing the King's highway is taking out the stumbling blocks, rubbish and stones that hinder others, and this is done through purified hearts, obedient lives and unselfish service as workers make ready for Christ's coming. It is forsaking sin and clinging to God, removing whatever obstructs advance in God's work so His Spirit can move mightily. It is placing self in right relation to God by obedience to His commandments and firm hold on His Word, refusing perverted appetite, receiving and imparting the light given, and claiming His promise so that He takes responsibility for and blesses His people, while He turns His face from those who refuse this work. All connected with God's work must do this clearing in real, genuine faith and trust without losing faith, and when it is done the salvation of God will be seen.

The clearing is accomplished by prayer and confession of sin, bringing renewal of spiritual life and resurrection from apparent death. No sin is to be covered up, but transgressions are to be confessed, pardon and forgiveness received, and the people drawn closer and closer to God. This means repenting of sins before God and before brethren, asking pardon and being willing to give pardon, and pleading with God until pardon is known and received, which He will give, and then the light shining from Christ's face shines upon His people. Covering sin lessens the sense of its sinfulness and keeps a person continuing in the same course, while God receives everyone who confesses and forsakes sins, crucifying self by departing from iniquity. Unconfessed sins are the stumbling blocks that keep the King from entering among His people, and acknowledging sin and changing attitude clears the way for His presence, salvation and revealed glory. Covered sin must be put away, reports against brethren refused, faults confessed directly and pardon received, so hearts are made ready.

What must be laid aside is a spirit of wrath, severe words, harsh manner of speech, criticism, a contentious readiness for battle, and the war garments must be taken off. Taking up reports against brethren and brooding over wrongs must cease, with selfishness gotten rid of, wrongs done to others faced, everything made straight, and self placed where Christ can work. Opposition is to be met clad only in the robe of Christ's righteousness rather than in Saul's armor, bringing no charges against brethren and refusing to dictate to others. When the highway is thus cleared by thorough repentance and genuine conversion, God can use the person as His missionary and medical missionary, as His helping hand ready to do His will to His glory, but if the same course is continued heaven will be lost.

Preparing the way requires dwelling with God in a contrite and humble spirit, learning meekness and lowliness from Christ, letting the heart break in tenderness before Him, becoming as a little child, and speaking no word unsubdued by His Spirit. Each is to take an appointed place and do the appointed work, with heavenly insight revealing Christ's standard of piety and how far faith and practice fall short of it. This clearing is to be done in the assembled company watched by heaven and angels, that deep movings of the Spirit may be felt on human hearts and the Spirit may go through the midst.

It includes striving with all the power of Christ's grace to remove every obstruction to unity, reaching a higher standard in meetings, setting others to work, and making direct appeals with earnest, humble, broken prayer, with manifestation of the Holy Spirit and borne testimonies, as God who commanded light to shine out of darkness shines in hearts to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Clearing the highway and taking up the stones means acknowledging errors and removing obstacles that continually obstruct progress, as at the Berrien Springs conference where Dr. Kellogg should have received the light and encouragement Christ gave him, acknowledged his errors, and removed what God had forbidden instead of carrying matters in his own way. Had he done so it would have brought him great blessing and opened the way for unity and advance moves, while refusal required standing apart until changed.

Those who stand between the people and God's light and message must step aside rather than resist or block its advance, and if they do not God will remove them, a call applying to leaders who oppose new light as leaders did when a message came to the Jews. In the South the work was held back a year by those in positions of trust through unbelief and doubt and by blocking the wheels through misconstruing and misinterpreting the workers' words, and such obstruction must now be removed. Those standing with stones in their hands ready to block the way are not needed in that difficult field, and if they can do nothing but hinder they must get out of the way and go elsewhere so workers determined to surmount difficulties can advance.

When the way is thus cleared the Spirit moves through the midst and God's salvation is seen going forth as a burning lamp with richest blessing. The power of the Spirit then comes with Pentecostal energy which the Lord has promised to send as the all-conquering power. This is needed now because severe trial is coming in only a little while, and only daily renewal of grace step by step up the ladder of perfection in the way that leads to heaven and holiness and God will stand.

Lifting the Standard

The standard to be lifted for the people is God's standard of truth and righteousness and right, firmly established on the eternal Rock that storm and tempest can never move. The landmarks He has given must never be removed, and the banner of truth must never be lowered or dropped from the hands nor united with anything that would hide the peculiar features of faith for the last days. As soon as influence leads away from the path the Lord has cast up, prosperity ceases because God is no longer guide.

Lifting it means holding truth high before the world by the publishing work, which holds up truth and announces that salvation comes. It is to be lifted higher now as never before through an evangelizing ministry of books and periodicals carrying the light of truth, giving the last gospel message as a witness to all the world. That literature proclaims the third angel's message so it is heard by all the world, showing that the end of all things is at hand and showing a people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The standard planted in different places is a starting point from which light reaches others, and in every city that standard is to be planted and a memorial established so the warning message can be heard. As God's standard-bearers, believers always show their colors, and canvassers go forth with the word of the Lord so that those who obey the commandments and teach others to obey them see souls converted, with one soul truly converted bringing others to Christ and the work advancing into new territory.

It means revealing in daily life that God's commandments are kept, holding appetite under the control of reason, maintaining simplicity in dress, and engaging in holy conversation. Christians walk a high highway of obedience marked by simplicity, meekness and humility in imitation of Christ, and must not step down from that path to meet worldlings at their standard in extravagant dress, fashion and indulgence of appetite, but must keep the contrast sharp and positive. Their lives and daily conduct thus shine as a light on the pathway of those in false habits to correct them and break Satan's spell over worshippers of fashion. Walking in that cast-up way requires a converted taste seen in dress, with outward adorning always in harmony with inward peace and holiness, marked by self-denial and sacrifice, directing love for beauty first to the highest imperishable beauty, the meek and quiet spirit, priceless in value and loveliness above all outward adorning.

It means taking a decided stand for truth and righteousness, calling things by their right names and no longer calling unrighteousness righteousness. It means having no fellowship with worldly practices that have perverted the faith of privileged ones and refusing to bind up with worldly elements. It requires leaders who love and fear God and Christ and know God by experience, with those who lack that knowledge removed from responsibility.

The standard is to be lifted higher and still higher by advancing and adding new territory, entering fields that have never heard the truth and using money as fast as it comes in to carry the work forward. The truth must go to every station and every township, and this work must be done as fast as possible. It is applied to entering the cities and bringing the truth to their people rather than waiting for them to come, planting a memorial in every city. It is to be wisely proclaimed in the highways and byways because time is short, including reaching the higher classes through institutions such as sanitariums, and angels of God go before those who do this work to bring about great good. That lifting calls people to be converted and to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.

Keeping it lifted means holding God's cause high before the people without being faint-hearted or discouraged. It is a duty laid on a worker in peril when Satan is watching for opportunity to dishonor God's cause and the worker is in danger of wrecking faith through self, calling for courage and continued faithfulness. It is sustained by guardian care, with an angel preserving the worker again and again from self. Setting a high standard for the work means bringing in workers who love God and humanity, are self-denying and self-sacrificing, and face hardships bravely, and those who lift the standard high in this saving work before calamity takes the unconverted away will be strengthened and blessed by God.

Preparing Way in Mission

The command wakes from careless indifference to unceasing activity because darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, while many wander far from Christ in the wilderness of sin as strangers from the covenant of promise. The long-neglected work begins in the family, communing with God until imbued with His Spirit, then reaching beyond the family to others in need to bestow the grace received. Believers' steps are to be on a prepared way, not the path followed by the world, representing Christ through good works and helping prepare the way for souls to come to Him. Truth in Jesus, spoken with love and lived out, can save souls, so words must come from a sanctified heart and kindness and the Spirit of Christ must shape speech and life. Preparing the way and lifting the standard means clearing every hindrance and proclaiming to the end of the world that salvation comes with reward and work before Him, until righteousness goes forth as brightness and salvation as a burning lamp before Gentiles and kings. Watchmen are never to hold their peace day nor night and are to give God no rest till Jerusalem is made a praise in the earth, when God's people are called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out, a city not forsaken.

Christ carries out this preparing, clearing, and standard-raising through those who follow His example, as they prepare the way for the people, clear obstacles from the highway, and raise a standard for them. This work accompanies the proclamation of salvation to the ends of the earth and the gathering of a redeemed, holy people who are called holy and sought out. The church is summoned to join Christ in His work and prayer for triumph, so that people may come to be known as the Lord's holy and redeemed people.

Consecrated workers fulfill the call by going out to prepare the way for people to receive the truth and to win souls in new places. Now is the time to prepare a highway for the King by advancing and adding new territory to God's kingdom, using money as fast as it comes in to carry the work forward. Lifting up the standard higher and still higher means entering fields that have never heard the truth and entering every station and township, and this must be done as fast as possible. The standard planted in different places is a starting point from which light reaches others, presenting the work of preparing a way and raising a standard so truth can spread. Clearing and preparing the way means removing restraints that obstruct the truth and sending missionaries into the cities without delay, guided by God through prayer and faith. God's people are to go out to the people, prepare the way by clearing obstacles, and raise the standard of truth by entering the cities and bringing truth to their people rather than waiting for them to come.

The Southern field is to be built up, placing no obstruction in the way of those willing to work, making straight in the desert, which is the dark places of the earth, a highway for God by ploughing the field and removing the stones. In the Southern field, especially Nashville, the King's highway is cleared when workers seek God's counsel and refuse influence from those opposed to the Lord, so truth can shine forth there and people with gifts can become a source of light throughout the South. The work in the South goes forward by clearing the King's highway from obstruction by those in positions of trust who through unbelief and doubt and through misconstruing and misinterpreting the words of workers have held the work back a year and blocked the wheels. Those who stand with stones in their hands ready to block the way are not needed in that difficult field, and if they can do nothing but hinder they must get out of the way and go elsewhere, so workers determined to surmount difficulties can advance. Clearing the King's highway and lifting the standard also means doing personal evangelistic work in Washington, Baltimore, and other large cities with a clear, decisive gospel message. The King's highway is to be cleared with wisdom and righteousness so that Jewish people have every opportunity to come to the light, and clearing the way for God's people means faithful, practical efforts to support sharing truth in different places by using resources for the cause rather than keeping them for private interests, so nothing obstructs the work or brings God's displeasure.

That city work combines teaching and healing, with ministers and medical missionaries going forth equipped for service. The standard is to be lifted higher now as never before through an evangelizing ministry of books and periodicals carrying the light of truth, proclaiming the third angel's message so it is heard by all the world. Literature gives the last gospel message as a witness to all the world, showing that the end of all things is at hand and showing a people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Canvassers as standard-bearers must always show their colors by revealing in life that they keep God's commandments, going forth with the word of the Lord, and those who obey and teach others to obey will be rewarded by seeing souls converted, with one soul truly converted bringing others to Christ so the work advances into new territory. A high standard is to be set for the canvassing work by bringing in workers who love God and humanity, are self-denying and self-sacrificing, and face hardships bravely. When experienced laborers put forth special effort in a community where believers live, those believers have a most solemn obligation to do all in their power to open the way for the Lord to work by searching their hearts prayerfully and putting away every sin that would hinder cooperation with God and brethren.

The urgency rests on darkness covering the earth, on time being short, on the end of all things being at hand, and on severe trial coming in only a little while. The standard is to be lifted by wisely proclaiming truth in the highways and byways because time is short, including reaching the higher classes through institutions such as sanitariums, with angels going before to bring about great good. Lifting the standard high means calling people to be converted and to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near before calamity takes them away unconverted, and those who lift it high in this saving work will be strengthened and blessed. Only daily renewal of grace step by step up the ladder of perfection in the way that leads to heaven and holiness and God will stand.