Preparing the Way of the Lord

Isaiah 40:3-5

Published on: July 1, 2025

Last Updated on: July 1, 2025

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A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5 (ESV)

Isaiah heard a voice calling out to prepare the way of the Lord. God is coming. And you need to build a highway for him to travel on. Make it a level highway, filling the valleys and leveling the hills. And make it straight and smooth, a highway worthy of the creator of the universe.

The call here is not to build a literal highway for the Lord to travel down. But it is a call to prepare people’s hearts for his coming. To proclaim the coming of the Lord.

When John the Baptist came, this is the passage he quoted to explain what he was doing (Luke 3:3-6). He was preparing the way for Jesus, the Lord, preaching a message of repentance and God’s coming kingdom. And after John, the glory of the Lord was revealed in Jesus.

Proclaim the Kingdom

But it did not end there. The apostles Jesus commissioned went out into the world proclaiming the good news of the coming of the Lord. And throughout the last 2000 years, the good news has been proclaimed and hearts prepared for the coming of the Lord. Many have come to see the glory of the Lord in a personal way.

But this passage is looking even further ahead. A time is coming when every eye will see the Lord Jesus coming in glory and honor (Matt. 24:30-31). And the voice Isaiah heard calls out to us as well. Prepare the way for the Lord. Level the mountains and fill the valleys. Proclaim the kingdom of the Lord. The King is returning.

Always Be Ready – Luke 12:40

Are you ready? Ready for Jesus to take you home? Do you look forward to that with anticipation? Or try and put it off as long as possible?

When Is Jesus Returning? – Acts 1:6

While we wait for our Lord’s return, focus on living for him where we are, bearing witness to his love through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Not Wanting Anyone to Perish – 2 Peter 3:8-9

Why is the Lord taking so long to return? Peter says that, at least in part, it is because God does not want anyone to perish.

Coming a Second Time for Those Who Are His – Hebrews 9:28

2000 years ago Christ came to earth to be a sacrifice for our sin. When he left, it was with a promise that he would return. There are many things in life that we look forward to. But which of them are better than Christ’s return for those who are his own.

Additional Related Posts

Bible Study Isaiah Second Coming

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.