Topical Bible: Highways: Generally Straight

◄ Highways: Generally Straight ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, highways were significant routes that facilitated travel, trade, and communication across regions. The concept of highways in the Bible often carries both literal and metaphorical meanings, symbolizing the path of righteousness and divine guidance.

Literal Highways

Highways in the ancient Near East were essential for connecting cities and regions. These roads were typically constructed to be as straight as possible to ensure efficient travel. Isaiah 40:3-4 speaks to the preparation of a highway for God: "A voice of one calling: 'Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight path for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.'" This passage highlights the importance of straight and level paths, symbolizing the removal of obstacles for the coming of the Lord.

Metaphorical Highways

The metaphorical use of highways in Scripture often represents the way of holiness and righteousness. Proverbs 3:6 advises, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Here, the straight path is indicative of a life aligned with God's will, free from the deviations of sin and error.

Isaiah 35:8 further illustrates this metaphor: "And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it; only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it." This highway is a path reserved for the righteous, emphasizing purity and dedication to God's commandments.

Divine Guidance and Protection

The Bible frequently associates straight highways with divine guidance and protection. In Isaiah 42:16 , God promises, "I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them." This assurance of guidance on straight paths underscores God's commitment to leading His people safely and securely.

Preparation for the Messiah

The New Testament echoes the theme of preparing a straight path for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist's ministry is described in Matthew 3:3 as fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: "This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" The call to make straight paths signifies the readiness required for receiving Christ and His message.

Conclusion

In summary, highways in the Bible, whether literal or metaphorical, are often depicted as straight paths that facilitate the journey towards God. They symbolize the removal of obstacles, the pursuit of righteousness, and the assurance of divine guidance. Through these highways, believers are encouraged to walk in alignment with God's will, preparing their hearts for His presence and leading.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 6:12
And the cows took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Bethshemesh.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 40:3
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... it formed one of the great highways of the ... The road from Jerusalem straight northwards
also branched off ... Generally, people journeyed in company, of which the ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... extension, the Valley of Jezreel, cut straight across the ... Plain of Esdraelon ran
the main highways that connected ... Generally these city states were independent. ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

Another Royal Procession
... when the disciples stand in the highways, and the ... This age does not generally sin
in the direction of ... the streets of his metropolis, went straight away to the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/another royal procession.htm

The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family
... to Samaria and running into the highways which go ... 5] into the cave, but this was
generally blocked up ... of vestibule where another door, set straight, opens into ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/x the census and the.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... Egyptian scarab forms were thus confined to the rich, and the material upon which
they are found is generally some costly gem, such as cut and polished agate ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... in the texts it denotes the whole of Syria, and, more generally, all the ... which preferred
to follow the more rugged but shorter route leading straight to Carmel ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... Marduk gave a straight thrust with his lance, burst open the paunch, pierced the
interior, tore the breast, then bound the ... It is generally admitted that the ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... 2 Kings 13:25, The term "saviour" in 2 Kings 13:5 is generally taken as referring
to Joash: Winckler, however, prefers to apply it to the King of Assyria. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... probably offended the religious scruples of a copyist, who substituted Manasseh
for Moses (Judges 18:30), but the correction was not generally accepted. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm