The Way Of Holiness

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 8th October service and hymns are below.

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Our principal verses are:

Isa 35:8  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.

Isa 35:9  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:

Isa 35:10  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.

 The Way Of Holiness

Isaiah thirty-five is a passage full of rich treasures. Hawker says, ‘This chapter is as full of blessed promises to God’s church, as the former was full of threatenings to God’s enemies’. The prophet lifts his hearers’ gaze from the wrath of God with its razor sharp judgment to the salvation of God with its blessings of grace. Isaiah lightens his message and softens the vision with encouragements for renewal, refreshment and peace. He plants the promise of spiritual fruitfulness, cultivates the prospect of holy worship and flourishing service, sweetens the air with the fragrance of praise as roses bloom in a desert breeze.

God will come and save you

The chapter is a prediction of the glory and blessedness of the Gospel church, and of the mercies supplied by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah’s kingdom and Christ’s victories are manifested in Christ both subduing His enemies and nurturing His church. The weak, feeble and fearful people of God, long tried and tested under the heel of oppressors, are promised deliverance and salvation. When Isaiah tells us ‘God … will come and save you’ we understand the Lord Jesus coming both to redeem us from our sin and fit us for His presence.

A message for the ages

Gospel preachers in Isaiah’s mould repeat the gospel message of hope and confidence to God’s elect in every age. When Christ comes ‘the eyes of the blind shall be opened’. When grace is preached ‘the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped’. When the Spirit moves in quickening power ‘then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing’ praises to the Lord. Such spiritual transformation excels the flowering of a desert. Hard, dry, barren and infertile hearts are ploughed, sown, watered and tended under gospel ministry. What once was the habitation of dragons is greened with reeds and rushes and made fit for saints.

Pools in the desert

We often become concerned for the state of the church, the dangers we perceive and the wickedness of the world around us. We wonder if the gospel of free grace is going to survive and if the preaching of God’s sovereignty in salvation will continue. Let us not be afraid. The Lord makes dry ground become a pool in the desert. He brings forth springs of water in a thirsty land. He will raise up gospel preachers wherever He has elect to be gathered and little ones to feed. Every chosen child of God will hear the message that transforms souls.

A highway of holiness

A road is revealed, a highway of holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Way. He supplies every necessary mercy for needy sinners, every grace for troubled souls, every assistance in the believer’s journey to glory. These blessings are not primarily material but spiritual, blessings revealed in the gospel such as imputed righteousness, complete pardon, wisdom, redemption, liberty, holiness and peace. Not all blessings come equally at all times but as we hear the gospel, attend to the word of truth and deepen our experience of the Saviour then all these things will be added, blessing upon blessing, grace for grace.

Fools shall not err

This highway cannot be mistaken. It is exclusive to the elect of God and not one of these wayfaring travellers will err in finding it. Here the redeemed and the ransomed of the Lord travel with confidence. The unclean do not pass by this way. Nor can lions or ravenous beasts hinder the Lord’s little flock. The true church travels with holiness of heart and the song of redemption on their lips, anticipating everlasting joy. Zion’s pilgrims and only Zion’s pilgrims populate the paths of grace.

A highway of high praises

Let us take up these positive, praiseworthy themes as God’s elect who have been taught not to err from the truth but to ‘rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice’. We sing the song of the redeemed in our soul. We sing in times of trouble. We sing as we cross the threshold of death and enter Christ’s heavenly courts. Just like the Old Testament pilgrims who travelled to Zion to worship we have every right and justification to sing songs of praise, worship and thanksgiving to our Saviour as we ascend into His presence.

Amen

Our hymns are below.

Hymn 1 

Gadsby selection 59

The Jubilee. Lev. 25. 8-18; Isa. 35. 10; 61. 1-3

C. Wesley                                 148th

1
Blow ye the trumpet, blow
The gladly solemn sound!
Let poor insolvents know
To earth’s remotest bound:
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

2
Exalt the Lamb of God,
The sin-atoning Lamb;
Redemption by his blood,
To burdened souls proclaim:
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

3
Ye slaves in Sinai’s cell,
Your liberty receive;
And safe in Jesus dwell,
And blest in Jesus live:
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

4
The gospel-trumpet hear,
The news of pardoning grace;
Ye happy souls, draw near,
Behold your Saviour’s face:
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

5
Jesus, our great High Priest,
Has full atonement made;
Ye weary spirits, rest;
Ye mournful souls, be glad!
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

Hymn 2

Gadsby selection 291

“Be strong, fear not.”  Isa. 35. 3, 4;  Rom. 8. 31

Rozzell                                     C.M.

1
How prone the mind to search for ill,
To fancy mighty woes!
Shortly the cup of life will fill,
And rob it of repose.

2
Creatures of fear, we drag along,
And fear where no fear is;
Our griefs we labour to prolong!
Our joys in haste dismiss.

3
Spirit of power, thy strength impart;
This fearful spirit chase
Far off, and make my feeble heart
Thy constant dwelling-place.

4
O if to me thy strength be given,
If thou be on my side,
Then hell as soon shall conquer heaven
As I can be destroyed.

Isaiah tells us of God who saves and a Way of holiness. This points to the Lord Jesus Christ who is a Saviour who enables, a Saviour who secures, a Saviour who gladdens and a Saviour who finishes. He is a Saviour to trust in time and for eternity.

8 October 2023