This is the Way
The phrase “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” entered our culture when Star Wars was released in 1977. Since that first release, there have been multiple movies and television series based on the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Other phrases have become ubiquitous, such as “May the force be with you.” One of the television series that is set in a galaxy far, far away is The Mandalorian. The primary character is from the planet Mandalore. The people of Mandalore are commandos who wear full body armor with built-in weapons and keep their faces hidden at all times. Their mantra is “This is the way.” In other words, “This is the Mandalorian way.” While the Mandalorian people are fictional, every culture has a “way.” There are behaviors and speech that are seen as right or noble, and behaviors and speech that should be avoided. We find this at the international level—United States vs Japan, for instance—and at the national level—Alabama vs New York. The cultural differences don’t stop at the national level, though. There are racial and ethnic cultures, age-related cultures, community cultures, religious cultures, political cultures, and so on. These cultures often clash. We regularly hear and read about “the culture wars.” However, while there are differences between cultures, what is true is that each culture proclaims, “This is the way.”
Old Testament Israel dealt with this. They were to be separated from the surrounding pagan nations so they would be wholly devoted to the Lord, but Israel continually thought and acted like their pagan neighbors. This was especially true when threatened by their enemies. Isaiah 30 relates the faithlessness of Judah when threatened by Assyria. In verses 1–7, the Lord warns his people not to ally with Egypt against Assyria. Then, verses 8–17 describe the rebellious nature of Judah. They no longer want to hear the Word of the Lord. Look at verses 9–11:
For they are a rebellious people,
lying children,
children unwilling to hear
the instruction of the LORD;
who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things,
prophesy illusions,
leave the way, turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” (ESV)
God’s people are then compared to a weak wall that suddenly collapses. Verses 15–17 show they are unwilling to repent and trust in the Lord.
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
But you were unwilling, and you said,
“No! We will flee upon horses”;
therefore you shall flee away;
and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”;
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you shall flee,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill. (ESV)
However, there is a dramatic change in verse 18. From verse 18 through the end of the chapter, God says that their rebelliousness will not continue. He will be gracious to Judah. His people will rejoice in his deliverance and destruction of their enemies.
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him. (ESV)
Notice the combination of grace and justice. At the right time, God will show grace and mercy to Judah. God is waiting to be gracious. What is he waiting for? His justice to be satisfied. Thus, Judah will be blessed if they wait for God’s justice to be revealed against Assyria. Further, Isaiah 30:19–22 says,
For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!” (ESV)
What is the result of God’s justice being satisfied and his mercy being displayed? God’s people will no longer wait for grace. The Lord will hear their cries for help, and he will not delay in responding. The people will see the Lord and their ears will hear, “This is the way, walk in it.” This Word from the Lord will cause them to abandon their idols.
The immediate context is the threat of Assyria. Judah needs to be patient and trust in the Lord because he will deliver them from Assyria. However, this is ultimately New Covenant language. According to Hebrews 12:22, God’s people today—those who are in Christ—dwell in Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. We see the Lord Jesus in his Word, and by the Holy Spirit, the Lord has written his law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). We hear “This is the way” as the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word.
Unfortunately, that is not all we hear. The world presses in on us to conform us to its way of thinking. The world tells us that what God calls good is evil and what God calls evil is good (Isaiah 5:20). The world tells us, “This is the way”: live true to yourself, take pride in who you are, and require everyone else to submit. Every cultural influence tells us to “Walk this way” if we want instant gratification. We need to be able to say, “I did it my way.” This is why Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern God’s will, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” As our minds are renewed by God’s Word, we learn to distinguish God’s voice saying, “This is the way.” We test everything and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This is necessary because we are called to walk according to his ways.
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. (Romans 13:13 ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. (Ephesians 4:1 ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. (Ephesians 5:15 ESV)
Let’s tune out the multitude of voices that want to distract us. Let’s not be taken “captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world” (Colossians 2:8). Instead, let’s “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is the way. Let’s walk in it.
Photo by Jens Johnsson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-arrow-signed-66100/