Musings and Contemplations

A Highway of Holiness

Isaiah 40:3 ESV
In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 35:1-10 NKJV
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Blessing of Messiah
(Hymn tune: Holy, Holy, Holy)

Holy habitation, place of great abundance,
Life in fullness, joy and peace, resplendent fruitfulness!
God in all His glory seen in nature’s splendor;
Joyful exuberance fills the wilderness.

Holy God empowers all his faithful people,
Fear no longer has control as faith has won the day!
“God will come and save you, bringing his deliverance;
Weakness gives way, Messiah now holds sway.”

Holy flood of blessing, wilderness transforming,
Drought and dryness turn to gushing rivers from the Lord!
There is found the way that leads into His presence,
Awesome, majestic holy boulevard.

Holy habitation, holy contemplation,
Joyfully our eyes behold the aura of the King!
Everlasting joy and singing and gladness
Throughout the kingdom of Messiah ring.

John A. Martin
The ransomed of the Lord will have everlasting joy, with no sorrow, for they will realize what God has done for them. They will rejoice that He will have saved them from destruction and brought them to peace and prosperity, in fulfillment of His promises.^[1]

Heidelberg Catechism Question #58
What comfort do you derive from the life everlasting?
That, since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I shall possess perfect bliss, such as eye has not seen nor ear heart, neither has entered into the heart of man – therein to praise God forever.

Gospel Way Catechism Question #49
What is the ultimate hope for the Christian?
Our hope is Jesus Christ. We believe he will come again to reign over and restore the world, delighting to dwell with us and grant life everlasting, forever filling us with wonder, love, and praise.[2]

Almighty God,the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[3]

Christmas Sanctus

^[1] John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1086.
[2] Trevin Wax and Thomas West, The Gospel Way Catechism, p. 174.
[3] Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, p. 634.