Last Day's Essentials-3

Stick to the Word

Isa. 40:3 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.

John the Baptist Predicted

Except for the last part of Isa. 40:5, all of Isa. 40:3-5 are quoted in Luke 3:4-6 as being fulfilled with John the Baptist and the first coming of the Messiah (Isa. 40:3-5; Mat. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6; John 1:23). They might also have a further and more complete fulfillment in the ministry of Enoch and Elijah to herald His second coming, or prepare the hearts of people to receive the Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6; Rev. 11:3-11; Ezk. 20:35-36). The statements about preparing the way of the Lord are used here figuratively, heralding the coming of the Messiah. It was the custom in the East to send a party of men before a king or a prince to prepare the way before him. They cleared the way of thorns, brambles, and bushes; made bridges; found fording places in the streams; and leveled the ground wherever necessary to make it easier for travel. Isaiah alluded to this when he spoke of making a way for the Lord (Isa. 40:3-6). This was never done literally for Christ, but the custom could be applied figuratively of the preparation of the people to receive Him. If it is ever to be fulfilled literally this will be in the Millennium when a literal highway will be built from Egypt to Assyria, through Israel, as predicted in Isa. 11:16; 19:23-25; 35:8-10.

The voice...

קֹל קוֹל

qôl qôl

kole, kole

From an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound: - + aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, [pro-] claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder (-ing), voice, + yell.

of him that crieth...

קָרָא

qârâ'

kaw-raw'

A primitive root (rather identical with to encounter through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

in the wilderness,...

מִדְבָּר

midbâr

mid-bawr'

From to arrange in the sense of driving; a pasture (that is, open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication a desert; also speech (including its organs): - desert, south, speech, wilderness.

Prepare...

פָּנָה

pânâh

paw-naw'

A primitive root; to turn; by implication to face, that is, appear, look, etc.: - appear, at [even-] tide, behold, cast out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right [early].

ye the way...

דֶּרֶךְ

derek

deh'-rek

From to tread; a road (as trodden); figuratively a course of life or mode of action, often adverbially: - along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, [east-] ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, [high-] [path-] way [-side], whither [-soever].

of the Lord (Father),...

יְהֹוָה

y^ehôvâh

yeh-ho-vaw'

From to exist; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord.

make straight...

יָשַׁר

yâshar

yaw-shar'

A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous: - direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (well), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly).

in the desert...

עֲרָבָה

‛ărâbâh

ar-aw-baw'

From covering with a texture (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially (with the article prefixed) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea: - Arabah, Champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness.

a highway...

מְסִלָּה

m^esillâh

mes-il-law'

From to mound up; a thoroughfare (as turn-piked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase: - causeway, course, highway, path, terrace.

for our God...

אֱלֹהִים

'ĕlôhı̂ym

el-o-heem'

Plural of the diety; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

The 1st Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in John (John 1:23; Isa. 40:3). Next, John 2:17.

First of four times in John (John 1:23; 12:38-41).

John replied that he was not any of the expected prophetic figures. He explained, however, that his ministry was described in the Old Testament. He was the voice (phōnē), while Jesus is the Word (Logos). John’s function was one of preparation, and it was carried on in the desert. (On the meaning of John’s quotation from Isa. 40:3, see Mat. 3:3.)