Tammuz 26
Walk the Way
“The unclean does not pass over it,
but it is for those who walk the way, and no fools wander on it.” (Isa 35:8 ISR)
The Hebrew
word that has been translated as ‘unclean’ in our opening verse is a word we
are well familiar with from our yearly Torah cycle; it is the word ṭâmê' (Strong’s H2931), and it means
one that is ceremonially and religiously impure, defiled, and unclean. Torah is filled with examples of what is
unclean (see the book of Leviticus); however, let me go one step further, as it
would apply to our verse from Isaiah.
Someone who is unclean is one who has deliberately and repeatedly
chosen to reject and defile the Torah of our Elohim, one who has no remorse, and
one who has treated as common the kadosh
things of our Creator. Such a one will never be found on this “Way of
Set-apartness”.
The word
that has been translated as ‘fool’ is the Hebrew word 'ĕvı̂yl (Strong’s H191), and I believe that Jeff Benner has the
best definition of this word: “One who
acts without consideration or regard for a desirable outcome.”[1] Other dictionaries include the sense of
perverseness with their definition, as well as one who despises wisdom. According to Isaiah, such a one could not
even accidently stumble upon the “Way
of Set-apartness”; it is beyond their comprehension and understanding.
This
highway, this “Way of Set-apartness”, is for those who have fulfilled the Deu
10:12-13 requirements. The love and
commitment that they have for the One who created them, the desire to serve
Him, carefully watching over and keeping the Torah to the best of their ability,
is evident in their life and lifestyle, their halacha. This highway is for
them, as they have chosen, this day,
whom they would serve (see Jos 24:15).
The
Peshitta has a slightly different twist on this verse, which is worth a second
look:
“And a highway shall be
there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass
over it; AND THERE SHALL BE NO ROAD BESIDE IT; fools shall not err therein.” (Holy Bible From The Ancient
Eastern Texts: Aramaic Of The Peshitta by George M. Lamsa (1933), emphasis mine)
We have
all seen frontage roads that run parallel to a major interstate or
highway. These frontage roads appear to be headed in the same
direction as the highway; however, they are not
the highway, and eventually they veer off to only a map can tell us where. Beware, brethren, of those ‘roads’ that
seem to be headed in the same direction as this “Way of Set-apartness.” They are nothing but deception, and will take
you where you do not want to go.
“Blessed are the
perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of יהוה!” (Ps 119:1 ISR)
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