The King's Highway

THE KING’S HIGHWAY

Pastor Kevin W. Burden

Carter Creek Baptist Church

For Sunday AM, August 10, 2008

Isaiah 35:7-10 “And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Isaiah is serving the Lord in a very difficult time.

• The people of Israel have turned their backs on the Lord.

• They are facing chastisement because of their sins.

• The nation is under attack by the brutal Assyrian army.

• The people are terrified and obviously concerned about their future.

• In the midst of these difficult circumstances, Isaiah stands before them as a prophet of hope and comfort.

He writes to tell the people that a better day is coming.

• He seeks to comfort them by speaking about their coming King.

• This chapter is part of that prophecy of hope and comfort.

Isaiah is looking ahead to the Millennial Kingdom of the Messiah.

• Isaiah sees a time of peace, joy and prosperity.

• A brief look at the first seven verses of this chapter provides some insight into why it will be such a blessed time for Israel.

V 1 – “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”

• When Israel returned to their land in 1948, it was a barren waste land.

• Today Israel is a green oasis of prosperity and abundant agriculture.

V 2 – “It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.”

• These were the most beautiful places in Israel; their beauty will return.

V 3-4 – “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save...”

• The Israelites are comforted with the promise of this coming kingdom and deliverance them from their tormentors.

V 5-6a – “..the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing:…“

• Physical infirmities and deformities will be healed; they will praise the Lord for His blessings and grace.

V 6b-7 – “…for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.”

• The deserts and dry places will be transformed into lush pools of water.

• The phrase “parched ground” can be translated “mirage.”

V 8-10 – “An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

• Because of the Assyrian invasion, it was not safe to travel the roads.

• The day will come when safety will be restored to the land.

• The people will once again be able to go to Jerusalem to worship.

• A super highway will pass through the land during the reign of Christ.

• These words brought great comfort to the people of Israel.

While Isaiah writes about a real road that will exist in the future, I want to speak to you about a spiritual road that exists today. I want to show that the blessings Israel is looking forward to – are experienced by the saints of God today. The spiritual application…