Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.… (with Luke 3:10-14): — I. EXTERNAL PREPARATION (Isaiah 40:3-5). Our King has notified us that He wants to encircle this world with His glory, and we are the pioneers to make way for His chariot. Let me indicate a few things about this work if you are going to make it a grand success. 1. There must be a willingness to undertake it. Indifference will kill the enterprise. Difficulties will appear; there must be courage and a cool head to guide a brave heart. Three things must be prominent — (1) Regularity of effort. (2) A desire to find one's own particular work. (3) Surrender to the guidance of the Spirit. 2. There must be an appreciation of the importance of the work. If the King has given an order, there must be some reason for it; and when the carrying out of that order involves careful planning and difficult execution we must infer the importance of the result, and hence of the preparation. (1) Cutting down forests. What are the dead trees in the way? Apostate Christians. They lie right across the King's track, and He has to rein up until somebody removes them. What are the strong, sturdy, even luxuriant trees on the way? Worldly Christians. (2) Levelling the hills. Pride is a high hill. Unbelief is a considerable mountain. Criticism is a rocky mound. (3) Filling up the hollows. Oh, the deficiencies in the Church to make up! II. INTERNAL PREPARATION (Luke 3:10-14). Every pioneer of the coming King must observe these demands. 1. Generosity. A niggardly nature is too narrow quarters for the Lord to dwell in. 2. Justice. 3. Peaceableness. It was the soldier's duty to fight, but only when necessary, and only to secure peace. The ultimate aim of justifiable war is always peace. When you have got the way all prepared, you will find that it is — (1) A highway for the King. (2) A way of blessing for His subjects. (3) A way beginning with a cross and ending with a crown. (W. H. G. Temple.) Parallel Verses KJV: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. |
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