(Pro 12:28 KJV) In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

The phrase “way (734) of righteousness (6666)” made me think of this verse from the NASB,

(Isa 35:8 NAS77) And a highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

In the KJV it is,

(Isa 35:8 KJV) And an highway (4547) shall be there, and a way (1870), and it shall be called The way (1870) of holiness (6944); the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

In spite of the similarities in English the words are different in the Hebrew but I have always liked the phrase “highway of holiness” and the ideas are parallel.  God has laid out a path for us to follow.  It deals with attitudes and action and through the law, the blood, grace and the work of the Holy Spirit He has made it possible to walk that way.

So?  Don’t kid yourself about sin and sloth.  There is a way to live so that we can live and a way to live so we will die.  Choose wisely.

(Proverbs 7:27 KJV)  Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

We used to sing a chorus that had the phrase “highway to heaven”.  The NASB has a phrase that I have always like, “Highway of Holiness”. 

(Isaiah 35:8 NAS77)  And a highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

In this verse we are warned about Sheol Street.  If we look at the KJV we could come up with “highway to Hell”. 

Sheol Street is in the wrong part of town.  It may be in the ritzy part.  It may be rural.  The point is that rebellion and sin are the guiding principles.

So?  Just as you can decide what route you take on a vacation, you decide which way your day goes.  Check the Map and plan accordingly. 

(Proverbs 16:17 KJV)  The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

This brings to mind what the NASB calls the Highway of Holiness.

(Isaiah 35:8 NAS77)  And a highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

I tend to think of this highway in terms of where it goes.  If I follow it I will have eternal life.  It is about goals.  There is another side to that journey.  It isn’t just where you are going but where you come from, where you depart.

As I move toward the Celestial City I leave behind the Sloth of Despond and all the other places mentioned in Pilgrim’s Progress.  I leave behind the attitudes and behaviors which were “evil” (7451b).  There is a promise implied here which is explained by the Apostle Paul.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So?  We have choices to make.  Right or left?  Participate or abstain?  Good or evil?  The decision we make determines if the road we take is a dead end or an escape route.

(Proverbs 19:12 KJV)  The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Both “roaring” (5099) and “dew” (2919) are temporary things which in moderation do not change anything.

Think about the roaring lion.  It is scary if he is not in a cage.  I would not want to meet one even if it is not roaring.  On the plus side the chances of me meeting a lion face to face are about the same as sitting down to lunch with a king.  So what do I take away from this today?

Think back to your nature lessons.  Lions hunt in packs.  Generally speaking, the lion that roars is not the lion that takes you down.  This could all be my creative imagination but I picture the female lions spread out in a crescent, hiding in the tall grass, out of sight.  I picture the one male lion walking out into the open and giving out with his best Tarzan roar.  The food panics and runs in the opposite direction right into the waiting jaws of death.

So?  Don’t panic when you hear the roar.  You know who it is.

(1 Peter 5:8 KJV)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

But keep in mind the other side of the promise.  Let me switch translations because I like the term “highway of holiness.”

(Isaiah 35:8-9 NASB)  A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.  No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there,

Let them roar.  Stay on the highway.  You don’t want to become lunch.

(Isaiah 35:8 NASB)  A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

In my last post and several other times I have referred to the "Highway of Holiness."  I thought I might give a little more on that topic.

We have three words for road in this verse:  "highway" (4547), "roadway" (1870) and "Highway" (1870).  They are all refering to the Highway of Holiness.  This is a beautiful picture of the life of a believer.  We are familiar with the talk of a “way” or a “path” in scripture.  We know the picture of the Christian walk.  This points out how important that way of living is.  We are called to righteousness.  We are called to be perfect as He is perfect.  We are called to obedience.  This is the Highway of Holiness.

The "unclean" (2931) will not "travel" (5674a) on it.  They won’t want to have anything to do with it except perhaps to admire it from afar.

It will be reserved for him who "walks" (1980) that way.  This is the simple word in the OT for walking.  It means to go, walk, come.  I think this infers that the walking will be done on purpose.  This is a reference to those who hunger and thirst, seek the narrow gate, who have made a conscious decision to follow the way the Lord leads.

"Fools" (191) will not be allowed to accidently "wander" (8582) {53:6} onto this way of Life.  You don't come to salvation accidentally.  You don't stay in the center of God's will by chance.  You are a fool if you do not apply yourself to what it made obvious to us.

So?  The road is there.  God has given us a road map.  Jesus has paid the toll.  It is still the road less traveled.  Take it.