How do we prepare the way of the Lord—what I call “the Way of Jesus”?

Handel paraphrased Isaiah 40:2-3 KJV: “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ey mountain and hill made low: the crooked straight and the rough places plain:

As with so many passages in prophetic poems and poetic songs, the poetry can be admired based on both its literal references and its figurative meanings.

Isaiah wrote in the context of Israelites returning to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. He was assuring the Jews in captivity in Babylon that the LORD would make a way for them to return to the Promised Land.

Nowadays, we use gigantic earthmoving equipment to build interstates that enable us to travel great distances at high speeds because we level mountains and hills, straighten curves, and smooth rough places. No such technologies existed then. Humans and animals did their best to make easier ways to travel.

Such are the literal ways of understanding this passage from Isaiah. What are the figurative ways to apply the passage today to following the Way of Jesus?

In Isaiah 44:4, the LORD says—

Do not be afraid . . .

For I will pour out my Spirit

The Spirit of the LORD is the power that levels mountains and hills, straightens curves, and smooths rough places as we return to our Promised Land (the place where we bless all people (Genesis 12:3)) in the Way of Jesus, using love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

In the Bible, we first meet the Spirit of the LORD in the First Chapter of Genesis.

In this Chapter, “God created [Humanity] in his own image”; saw all that he had made”; and saw “it was very good”. (Genesis 1:31).

And no wonder! Because the fruit of the Spirit of the LORD is: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

As I say in the theme of my book Lighting the World:

You are the light of the world.

“[L]et your light shine before [people],

that they may see your good deeds

and praise your Father in heaven.”

“Not by might nor by power,

but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty,

(Matthew 5:14,16; Zechariah 4:6)

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you believe that God keeps us from being afraid by pouring out his Spirit upon us? Why? How?

Do you believe that we light the world thru good deeds done—not by might nor by power—but by the Spirit of the LORD Almighty? Why? How?

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For related ideas, please read my book Lighting the World and my blogs “Jesus Embodies Hesed—The Vision of Isaiah”; “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Fulfilling the Law of Moses and the Prophets”; “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Sowing the Ideals of the Law of Moses and the Prophets”; and “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Saving Lost Sheep, Lost Coins, and Lost Sons”.