The path of the righteous is level
Isaiah 26:7-9 - Even in times that are trying to our souls, God is at work if we are open to receiving His direction.
“The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.”
Isaiah 26:7-9 NIV
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I was happy to see Isaiah show up in my random Bible verses today, as I really enjoyed diving into the prophet’s words several times during the month of December. Today’s verses are from what has been titled “Judah’s Kingdom of God Song,” which celebrated the strength of Judah as well as the source of that strength — the Lord. Isaiah frequently prophesied about the future downfall of Judah and the exile in Babylon, but here he was upbeat about the current situation of the nation and its favor with God.
Isaiah is saying that for those who are righteous — live in an upright and moral way — the path that they take through life is less difficult than the one traveled by those who are immoral and corrupt. It’s quite true today as well; a person who stays within the law (both God’s law and the laws of man) is going to have a much easier life than someone who consciously flaunts the law.
This commentary from the Berean Study Bible (via BibleHub) explains Isaiah’s level path imagery in more detail:
In a spiritual sense, a level path signifies divine guidance and providence, ensuring that the righteous can walk without stumbling. It reflects God's faithfulness in providing clarity and direction to those who seek Him.
The prophet credits the construction of this smooth metaphorical path of life to the law-maker — God.
The next verse begins by emphatically stating trust in God’s sovereignty over His people and His plans for them. Those people are filled with hope and anticipation that God will fulfill His promises, and they are waiting for His direction. They’re not just sitting around, though. The ancient Hebrew word for wait — קָוָה (qāvâ) — indicates an active anticipation, looking eagerly for their Savior to appear.
God’s people are awaiting His “name and renown”. Hebrew culture saw a person’s name as representing their character and reputation. The Hebrew word used for name — שֵׁם (šēm) — has multiple meanings, including reputation, fame, and glory, as well as denoting the Name of God. The Hebrew word for renown — זֵכֶר (zēḵer) — can also mean both God’s glory and a memorial. Isaiah is saying that God’s actions past and present should be remembered and celebrated by His people.
Verse 9 starts with this beautiful phrase: “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” Here’s an indication of the true depth of the waiting being done by God’s people. They don’t just have a passing interest in God’s plans, they are invested in Him totally, with a profound spiritual yearning that never ceases day or night.
When God’s judgements finally come, they’ll happen everywhere (“come upon the earth”), not just in the limited part of the world that was known in the days of Isaiah. This shows that God is not only constantly at work in the affairs of mankind, but that everybody (“the people of the world”) is under God’s authority whether they realize it or not! This is a call for all of humanity to recognize God’s sovereignty.
Finally, Isaiah tells us that God’s people are given the opportunity to realize that His active role in their lives has a very important motive — to guide humanity toward the moral and spiritual truth personified in Jesus. Even in times that are trying to our souls, God is at work if we are open to receiving His direction.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for speaking to me through the prophet Isaiah, who transcribed Your Word for both a small remnant of Israel and all those who have followed You since his time on earth. I pray in Jesus’ name that I can be like the people Isaiah prophesied to, longing for You day and night and being guided into Your truth. May my words and actions glorify Your name, and may the entire world know that You are the Lord. AMEN.