Back to Bible
Studies Page

To view
Text and
Discussion
Questions,
Click here

Visit our Photo Tours of Monte Alverno

Back to
the Top

"Show me the way I should walk, for to you I lift up my soul" (Ps 143:8b).

The Way

Isaiah 30: 21 reads: ". . . a voice shall sound in your ears: 'This is the way; walk in it,' when you would turn to the right or to the left."  The words, "this is the way; walk in it" carry a clear meaning.  And in this article we will, study that meaning as it relates to the biblical understanding of "the way."

The ancient Semites were nomads.  Consequently, an essential part of their lives was to be on the path, the way.   Naturally, they used this same vocabulary to speak of the religious and moral life. Abraham had set out at the call of God (Gn 12:1-5) and began a religious journey.  "My ways are not your ways," said the Lord (Is 55:8).  So Abraham let go of his way, and traveled the way of the Lord.

The exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt is an outstanding example of this religious adventure. The people experienced what it is "to walk with their God" (Mic 6:8) and to enter into covenant with God.  God went ahead of them to mark out the route, with the cloud and the column of fire (Ex 13:21f) making the divine presence visible.  Even the sea did not halt God: "Through the sea was your way, and your path through the deep waters, though your footsteps were not seen" (Ps 77:20).

Then followed the journey in the desert.   There God supplied food and drink, and "searched out a place for the camp."  Under God's care, nothing was lacking (Dt 1:30-33).  God would say, "I was the one who taught Israel to walk," enabling the people to follow the way (Hos 11:3a).

But this journey with God had its difficulties.   This desert period was a time of trial when God tested people and sought to correct them (Dt 8:2-6).  God, furthermore, needed to take action to punish Israel's lack of faith.  Hence, the way of the Lord was long and difficult (Dt. 2:1f).  But the journey had a destination; God was leading the people on the road to the promised land (Dt 8:7-10).

This notion of "the way" also found special meaning in the Law.  Once in the promised land, Israel was challenged to continue "journeying in the ways of the Lord" (Ps 128:1).  These ways were spelled out in the commandments.  God revealed to the people "all the ways of understanding" through "the book of precepts of God, the Law that endures forever" (Bar 3:37; 4:1).  One must, therefore, "walk in the Law of the Lord" (Ps 119:1), in order to live in the covenant and to progress toward light, peace, and life (Bar 3:13f).  The Law is the true way for us because it is the way of God.

To disobey the Law was to veer off the way toward destruction (Dt 31:17).  The final punishment was exile (Lev 26:41) which reversed the exodus journey.  But God could not allow the final defeat of God's people (Lev 26:44f); it was again necessary to "prepare in the desert a way for the Lord" (Is 40:3). God would "mark out a path through the wilderness" (Is 43:19) and "cut a road through all the mountains" (Is 49:11) for this triumphant return.

In the period of Judaism, there was a doctrine of the "two ways" that applied to the moral conduct of the people.  It involved two kinds of conduct, two ways: the way of the just and the way of evil (Ps 1:6).  The good way was straight and perfect (Ps 101:2,6), consisting in the practice of justice (Pr 8:20; 12:28), in fidelity to the truth (Ps 119:30), and in seeking peace (Is 59:8).  It was clearly seen that "the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth" (Ps 25:10).

The evil way was crooked (Prv 21:8), leading to disaster (Jer 12:1) and to death (Prv 12:18).  Faced with the "two ways," people were free to choose and were responsible for their choices (Dt 30:15-20).

This OT concept of being faithful to God by living God's way continued into the NT.  John the Baptist picked up on this concept: "make ready the way of the Lord" (Lk 3:4, in reference to Is 40:3).  Jesus called people to follow him (Mt 4:19) and announced that he is "the way" (Jn 14:6).  How appropriate, that the early Christian community, in following Jesus and in accepting Jesus as "the way," came to be referred to as "belonging to 'the way'" (Act 9:2)!

"Teach me your way, oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth" (Ps 86:11).

Text: Isaiah 30:15-33

15  For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies.  But this you did not wish.

16  "No," you said, "Upon horses we will flee."   "Very well, flee!  "Upon swift steeds we will ride." -- Not so swift as your pursuers.

17  A thousand shall tremble at the threat of one; if five threaten you, you shall flee, Until you are left like a flagstaff on the mountaintop, like a flag on the hill.

18  Yet the LORD is waiting to show you favor, and he rises to pity you; For the LORD is a God of justice: blessed are all who wait for him!

19  O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you.

20  The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,

21  While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it," when you would turn to the right or to the left.

22  And you shall consider unclean your silver-plated idols and your gold-covered images; You shall throw them away like filthy rags to which you say, "Begone!"

23  He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, And the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant.  On that day your cattle will graze in spacious meadows;

24  The oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork.

25  Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water.  On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall,

26  The light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater (like the light of seven days).  On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

27  See the name of the LORD coming from afar in burning wrath, with lowering clouds! His lips are filled with fury, his tongue is like a consuming fire;

28  His breath, like a flood in a ravine that reaches suddenly to the neck, Will winnow the nations with a destructive winnowing, and with repeated winnowings will he battle against them (and a bridle on the jaws of the peoples to send them astray).

30  The LORD will make his glorious voice heard, and let it be seen how his arm descends In raging fury and flame of consuming fire, in driving storm and hail.

31  When the LORD speaks, Assyria will be shattered, as he strikes with the rod;

32  While at every sweep of the rod which the LORD will bring down on him in punishment,

29  You will sing as on a night when a feast is observed, And be merry of heart, as one marching along with a flute Toward the mountain of the LORD, toward the Rock of Israel, accompanied by the timbrels and lyres.

33  For the pyre has long been ready, prepared for the king; Broad and deep it is piled with dry grass and wood in abundance, And the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulphur, will set it afire.

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

1.  What are some important aspects of how "the way" might be part of how you see and live your life?

2.  What are some chief ways people "turn to the right or to the left"?