Exposition by Max A Forsythe
A few years ago, there was a parody of Mr Roger's Neighborhood on one comedy show. In the city neighborhood, the Rogers like character demonstrated the safe way to go in an out of an inner city apartment. A big deal was made of the numerous locks and bolts. While this was done for comical effect, the sad commentary on modern urban life was dramatically evident.
I was reminded of the root meaning of the Hebrew word "Shalom" which was somewhat popular to the Peace generation of the sixties. That word "Shalom" originally described a peaceful society where one could go in and out the front door of their home without fear. That type of peace has been rare in history. Whenever European kings were successful in bringing such peace, the residents were sometimes likely to give the keys of the city to their honored king. Such a scene was played out in the musical Camelot where a bucket of keys was pressed upon King Arthur because it was no longer necessary to lock anything up.
Such peace was ours in this century in the country and rural villages. Some houses were even built without locks on the doors in a few places. Many houses were protected in the summer with barely a latch on the screen door to keep the family dog or cat from bringing home friends. We have also a record from ancient Egypt. There is a carved stone stele which is the single record we have of one Pharaoh. The carving says only that a woman could walk anywhere in his kingdom without fear. This rare type of peace is that which the prophet has in mind here in this song of praise which will one day be sung in the heavenly city of God.
That city of God is described as a strong city, safe and secure by His own salvation. Verse two seems to hint that the city is not yet occupied. Those who come to the city may call out so that the righteous nation may enter. And that nation is the one that keeps faith. Until that great day when the eternal city is opened for the faithful, Isaiah promises that the Lord will keep them in perfect peace. But there is a condition there in verse three.
See it, those whose minds are steadfast, because of trusting in the Lord. These next four verses set forth the certain ground of hope for the faithful whose minds are focused on the Lord. How pitiful are those whose moods and beliefs swing with the swaying of mere human opinion. I wrote a note to one of my students this week who objected to an idea presented in the context of an assignment. As she has been taught, she apologetically weakened her argument by saying she had another opinion. I crossed out that word and encouraged her to simply uphold the truth upon which she based her argument!
This is the type of steadfastness; desired here, that we know the essential truths of the Scripture and make no apologies to the world for believing what the Lord demands from us. If our minds are steadfast and grounded in God's truth, we may better trust in Him forever. While we are trusting in Him who is eternal we may find a better peace than the world offers.
By contrast we see the humbling of those who dwell on high. The image here may very well be like the European castles of the nobility which were often built high on tall hills with the shacks of the peasants and townsmen further down towards the valley. Time after time throughout the ages, such strongholds have been destroyed and the high and mighty humbled in the dust.
In the next section Isaiah prayerfully expresses the hopes of the faithful. In the first part of verse seven, he observes that the path of the righteous is level. In the second part of that verse he shows us why our path is level because the Lord makes the way smooth. He goes always before us just as He went before the people of Israel on their way to the promised land. "But for this", Calvin observes "[we] would easily fall or give way to exhaustion, and would hardly ever make way amidst so many thorns and briars, steep roads, intricate windings, and rough places, did not the Lord lead out and deliver [us]."
In verse eight Isaiah admits that even as we walk humbly in His way, we there show by that walk that we wait for Him to lead us on and come for us. How do we find that way to the city of peace in times such as ours or even in the days of Isaiah? By focusing our hearts and minds upon the Lord. See the proper desire of our hearts in this verse? His precious Name and the age old renown of what He has done and will do in history and eternity.
Night and day, Isaiah declares in verse nine our souls should yearn for the Lord our God. Yes, Isaiah's times and our own as well may be troubled and apparent peace scarce and hard to find, but even in the midst of God's fearful judgments upon the world, some may learn righteousness. Others, as verse ten tells us are carried away. His grace they do not see, evil is their way as they fail to regard the eternal majesty and glory of our Lord.
Like an ant on the sidewalk that does not see the foot poised to crush it, the wicked ignore the upheld hand of punishment. Isaiah prays that the wicked might see the zeal of the Lord's people and thus be shamed before the everlasting fire consumes them. But thankfully, we may find ourselves peacefully established in verse twelve. Thankfully, gratefully, humbly we must know how much the Lord has done for us.
Yes, once we were lost in sin and wickedness like the worldly. We even worshiped their little gods of human existence. But thanks be to God the Father, those spirits are now departed and we worship the true God alone. All other gods and spirits have become dead. In doing this for Israel God enlarged the nation of those who see beyond the gods of their selfish imaginations.
These peoples who have come and will come to the gates of the heavenly city of peace, have left their distress behind. Having learned the essential lessons of history, having lost every high humanist hope and having seen the hand of the Lord in discipline, they whisper a prayer. This new birth is painful and unless the Lord had planned and prepared the way for us the new birth would have been a still birth, a pregnant thought that was not fulfilled, if I may paraphrase the graphic tragedy in verse eighteen. By us and through our efforts, salvation and new birth may not come directly.
Yet, even in the midst of travels and travails, the dead who belong to the Lord will live, their bodies will rise. Those who have dwelled in the dust, will wake up and shout for joy. Ah what a great and glorious day it will be when we see the Holy City prepared for our eternal abode. But it is not yet here! Though the day is approaching and will certainly come.
Verse twenty is interesting indeed because it challenges all Christians who would be political activists. In this week's World magazine a Gerald L. Bowyer is quoted quoting Calvin: "John Calvin said that bad rulers are a judgment from God on rebellious people. If that is the case, why do so many Calvinists focus their energies on removing bad rulers rather than the rebelliousness that brings them forward?"
Perhaps there is a hint of advice in this passage before us? Certainly there is work for us to do in our culture, but perhaps we need to be more selective in how we do it. After all, there are some things that are the Lord's alone to accomplish. In the Exodus, the children of Israel were sent into their homes behind closed doors while the Angel of the Lord brought death and destruction on the first born of Egypt. It is not ours to punish the wicked directly; we must leave that to the Lord.
When He finally comes to settle all accounts, the real cause of wickedness will be slain. That great serpent, the Devil, sometimes called Leviathan, will be slain along with all his host, then the City of Peace will finally be ours. May we patiently await that glad and joyous day even as we pray for Christ to come quickly. Amen.
Resources Used:
Bowyer, Gerald L.. World,
(2 April 94), page 9.
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
Youngblood, Ronald F. The Book of Isaiah: An
Introductory Commentary.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
10 April 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.