The Way Of The Lord

[Minister Monardo]

Isaiah 40:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the Way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

What constitutes "the Way of the Lord"?
How are we to walk in "The Way"?
Are there consequences for those who do not?
Acts 19:
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

 

[Soyeong]

Isaiah 40:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the Way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

What constitutes "the Way of the Lord"?
How are we to walk in "The Way"?
Are there consequences for those who do not?
Acts 19:
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Way of the Lord or God’s Ways are described as being righteous and just (Genesis 18:19), righteous, blameless, merciful, pure, humble, light, perfect, true, liberty, and gentleness (2 Samuel 22:21-37), delightful (Psalms 37:23), and everlasting (Habakkuk 3:6), merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving, just (Exodus 34:6-7), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). In Exodus 33:13, Moses asked God to show him His ways that he and the nation might know Him and find favor in God’s sight. These verses describe the Mosaic Law as God’s instructions for how to walk in His ways:

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
– Joshua 22:5

“When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,”
– 1 Kings 2:1-3

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”
– Psalms 25:4-10

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
– Psalms 103:1-8

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!”
– Psalms 119:1-8

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
– Isaiah 2:2-3

Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.”
– Isaiah 42:24

“So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”
– Malachi 2:4-9

To save space, all of these verses equate obeying God’s commands with walking in His ways: Deuteronomy 5:32-33, Deuteronomy 8:6, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Deuteronomy 19:9, Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Deuteronomy 28:9, Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 8:57-58, 1 Kings 11:33, 1 Kings 11:38, Judges 2:16-23 and Jeremiah 6:16-19.

 

[levnishbar]

Isaiah 40:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the Way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

What constitutes "the Way of the Lord"?
How are we to walk in "The Way"?
Are there consequences for those who do not?
Acts 19:
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The word Way in Way of the Lord uses the Hebrew word derech (דרך) which has a few different meanings from the same root. They are listed here:

לדרוך – to step, to set foot – Hebrew conjugation tables

Although with the vowels, it is pronounced derech and means way as it is translated, I like to think that the Voice of the Lord is like many waters (Ezekiel 42:3) and therefore when He says one thing literally, there are many other meanings at different depths but with the same flow.

As we can see from the dictionary, the other meanings derived from the same root (דרך) can be: to step upon, to be alert, to guide/instruct. In this sense we should be alert for the Way of the Lord, to stay upon the path and to let it be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Psalm 119:105)

Interestingly, the word desert in Hebrew "midbar" (מִּדְבָּ֕ר) is spelt the same as to speak (מְדַבֵּר) and without the vowel signs, are indistinguishable except by context.

לדבר – to speak, to talk – Hebrew conjugation tables

And we have seen, often it is in the desert that God speaks to people - Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Hagar/Ishmael, David, etc. It is because I think away from the trappings and baubles of life that distract us, out in the desert, the voice of the Lord calls (Isaiah 40:3).

The desert doesn't just mean a geographical desert of parched wilderness. It can also be the deserts of our life, when we are ill, in prison, broken, in sin, enslaved, etc. - Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18

The spirit of the Lord God was upon me, since the Lord anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity.


2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we are broken and fallen, it is the Lord who supports us and is next to us in our travails. How much stronger can we be then, for if the Lord is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

 

[Minister Monardo]

What constitutes "the Way of the Lord"?

The Way of the Lord or God’s Ways are described as being righteous and just (Genesis 18:19),

The word Way in Way of the Lord uses the Hebrew word derech (דרך) which has a few different meanings from the same root.

A frequently overlooked element of The Way
is in the first part of this statement:
Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

This is zakar, a vital component provided by the
Memorials of the Torah.
The Memorials of Torah

This is amplified by the shortcomings of translation,
and the mistaken notion that Hebrew words can
be replaced one for one with an English word.
zakar is generally understood as 'to remember' and
translated remembered, but the depth of meaning
contextually is often 'to perpetuate the memory of'
Thus we have
Genesis 8:1 So God perpetuated the memory of Noah and every living thing, and all the animals with him in the ark.
Rather than "God remembered Noah", and we go from what is often described as 'Hebrew idiomatic
expressions', to a very deliberate act by God.
We find this zakar principle in the description of the Passover Memorial.
Exodus 12:
14 So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
26 And it shall be, when your children ask you,
What do you mean by this service?
27 that you shall say, It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.
So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

But in the modern seder, the children ask four questions and each answer speaks to remembering slavery in Egypt, in spite of these specific instructions.
Far be it that the blood of the Passover Lamb would be remembered!
1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

As to the remembrance of slavery, that was placed in the purview of the Sabbath observance.
Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

 

[Minister Monardo]

How are we to walk in "The Way"?
Are there consequences for those who do not?

The Way of the Lord or God’s Ways are described as being righteous and just (Genesis 18:19),

The word Way in Way of the Lord uses the Hebrew word derech (דרך)

Returning to this foundational passage:
Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Consider how frequently these two words;
[H6666] tsdakah=righteousness and
[H4941] mishpat=judgment
that are paired to describe The Way.
Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Psalm 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.
2 Samuel 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and righteousness unto all his people.
Both are necessary to accomplish Divine Justice.
In the simplicity of Christ, Yeshua makes this statement:
John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgment.
Deuteronomy 1:
16 Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
17 You shall not show partiality in judgment;
you shall hear the small as well as the great;
you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence,
for the judgment is God’s.
Therefore, the Way of the Lord demands no partiality
among His children. And what are the consequences
for failure to do so?
James 2:
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one, he is guilty of all.

This is the Way of the Lord
"Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places are smooth"

 

[Soyeong]

Returning to this foundational passage:
Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Consider how frequently these two words;
[H6666] tsdakah=righteousness and
[H4941] mishpat=judgment
that are paired to describe The Way.
Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Psalm 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.
2 Samuel 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and righteousness unto all his people.
Both are necessary to accomplish Divine Justice.
In the simplicity of Christ, Yeshua makes this statement:
John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgment.
Deuteronomy 1:
16 Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
17 You shall not show partiality in judgment;
you shall hear the small as well as the great;
you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence,
for the judgment is God’s.
Therefore, the Way of the Lord demands no partiality
among His children. And what are the consequences
for failure to do so?
James 2:
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one, he is guilty of all.

This is the Way of the Lord
"Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places are smooth"

Indeed, righteousness is essentially doing what is right while justice is correcting what was wrong, and both are expressing aspects of God's nature, though God's way is not limited to just them, but rather all of God's law was given to teach us how to love different aspects of His nature. In James 2:1-11, he was encouraging them to repent and to do a better job of obeying God's law more consistently in a way that does not show favoritism.

 

[Minister Monardo]

to teach us how to love different aspects of His nature.

Psalm 145:
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
and holy in all His works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fears Him:
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all them that love Him:
but all the wicked He will destroy.

What I can't understand is those who question
His righteous judgment against those who violently oppress and destroy others, essentially doing the enemies' work. His Holiness and His Righteousness
could never contradict His essential nature of Love.
What about their victims who call out to Him?
The answer is clear from the scriptures, yet there
are those who are in denial.

 

[Soyeong]

Psalm 145:
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
and holy in all His works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fears Him:
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all them that love Him:
but all the wicked He will destroy.

What I can't understand is those who question
His righteous judgment against those who violently oppress and destroy others, essentially doing the enemies' work. His Holiness and His Righteousness
could never contradict His essential nature of Love.
What about their victims who call out to Him?
The answer is clear from the scriptures, yet there
are those who are in denial.

How can it be that we can do something that can cause the God who created the universe to be bothered enough to get angry at us? The only way that can be is if God love us so much that every little thing that we do gets magnified in importance to him, so even His anger is rooted in love.

Psalms 37:1-6 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.