Chapter # 3 Paragraph # 1 Study # 11
Lincolnton, NC
January 29, 2006

• I. The Promises.
  • A. Every valley shall be filled.
    • 1. There is a significant number of references in the prophets regarding a link between "valleys" and the worship of false gods, and one or two that are tied to drunkenness.
    • 2. There is, likewise, a significant number of references in the prophets regarding a link between "valleys" and an awesome outpouring of the wrath of God in judgment upon those who followed the gods of the nations.
    • 3. The implications seem to be ...
      • a. In contrast to the pride of the mountains, the "valleys" seem to be the alternative attitude of despair.
      • b. In contrast to the proud rejection of the need for Yahweh, there seems to be an admission of great need, but there is a turning to false gods to meet it. This is likely caused by the notion that Yahweh will not help because of rather massive failures. This produces a kind of desperation to find a "helper" in some other place.
    • 4. The "promise", then, is that Yahweh will consistently pursue the "repentant one" so that He unmasks each false object of trust and replaces it with Himself.
  • B. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low.
    • 1. Here the issue in Isaiah is pretty clear: the attitude of "exaltation" on a false basis will be addressed.
    • 2. The promise is that Yahweh will pursue the "repentant one" until He has unmasked each area of false "self-exaltation" and replaced it with the truth of His own form of exaltation for His own.
  • C. The crooked shall be straightened.
    • 1. The Old Testament word is only found in three texts (Jeremiah 17:9 and Hosea 6:8 and this Isaiah text) and, interestingly, the Jeremiah 17:9 reference is that rather well-known one that declares that the heart is "deceitful" (crooked) above all and desperately wicked. The word comes from a basic verb from which "Jacob" received his name because he practiced the deceit of those who seek to obtain what is rightfully another's (Genesis 27:36).
    • 2. There are two implications: first, a suggestion that the "twistedness" is deceptively "self-righteous" in that the heart rarely allows its true motives to be seen; and, second, an implication of ignorant foolishness in the pursuit of winding paths that skirt the difficult places and seek out the easy ones while yet pursuing the "objective".
    • 3. Yahweh will not accept that course in His "repentant ones". He will build character into His own until they take the course head on and deal with it legitimately.
  • D. The rough shall be made smooth.
    • 1. The Old Testament word is only used in this text and little is known about it.
    • 2. There is no "let-up" in the record of man's "neediness" in respect to his character and its massive number of "flaws" ... there is a great deal of "roughness".
    • 3. Yahweh is also committed to this objective: to smooth out the flaws.
  • E. All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
    • 1. The impact of the divine labors is that people will see the differences He makes in His "repentant ones".
    • 2. His works shall be clearly visible.
• II. The Limitations.
  • A. The promises are only to those who heed the summons.
  • B. The pursuit of Yahweh is relentless, but the accomplishment of His goals is not guaranteed.
    • 1. The Scriptures present two realities.
      • a. Those who yield to the summons as a matter of course are changed from glory to glory.
      • b. Those who refuse the summons are hounded to death as their lives become more and more a picture of disaster.
    • 2. Yahweh is relentless in either case.