The One I Want (Part 2 of 4)

Does God have the first place in your affections?

January 29, 2021

"The way of the just is uprightness: thou, Most Upright, dost weigh the path of the just.  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O, LORD, have we waited for thee;  the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

Isaiah 26:7-9

Part 2

Yesterday:  The Path of the Upright
“The way of the just is uprightness.”

 

Today:  He Knows My Need Along the Pathway

“Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.”
How can mere humans walk-in “uprightness?”  Only as they follow, worship, and serve the LORD can they.  He is the “Most Upright.”  Hannah, Samuel’s mother, understood the LORD’s sovereignty over everything.  She prayed,

“There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him, actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength” (1 Samuel 2:2-4).

“There is no one as holy as the LORD!”  He cannot look on sin.  He even turned His back on His own Son while He bore our sins on the cross.

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13).

Who is it that “weighs the path of the just?”  It is the holy and “Most Upright” LORD.  He is the one who considers our path.  He decides what lies ahead for us.  The Hebrew “weigh” here could mean to “weigh in a balance.”  But it usually means to “make straight or smooth; to beat a path; to make level”[1] (Barnes).

“Here, it probably means that God had made the way smooth, or exactly level.  He had removed all obstacles, and had conducted his people in a plain and leveled way”[2] (Barnes).

To the weary captives returning from Babylon, these words must have been a refreshing encouragement.  To know that their loving Father has made their path smooth so their tired feet could go back home to His land, to be with His people.  Even before their captivity, He had planned their way back again!  What mercies He gives to His sinful children.

Believers, as we consider these words from Judah, they are beautiful assurances that our God knows each of us well.  He understands the way that we take.  He can smooth our way and clear away from the path whatever may harm us.  And as our all-wise Father, He may even add obstacles to our pathway that force us to depend upon Him more.  One thing is sure, He will do in us what brings Him glory and what is best for us in His time.  While we think we know what is best and what we need, our Creator, who knows us better than anyone, always sees what is best for us.  He understands our needs.

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

 

Quote:  “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).  Believers, we keep our ears open to the Lord’s Word as He guides us.  Do not get off of His path!  Keep moving ahead as He directs!  His ways are always best.

 

 

[1]  Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.  Isaiah 26:7.
[2] Albert Barnes, ibid.  Isaiah 26:7.  See Isaiah 40:3-4. “‘When a great prince in the East,’ says Paxton, ‘sets out on a journey, it is usual to send a party of men before him to clear the way” (Barnes).  It is the Lord who levels the path of the just.  He knows our needs before we pass that way.