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Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord (38:1) Verse from Old Testament (38:2) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (isa 40:3) (38:3) see Predictions (38:4) This seems to be an exhortation from "him that crieth". And the exhortation seems to encompass two things: prepare "the way of the Lord", and "make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (38:5) Since this verse gives no details regarding how to effect the exhortations given, or who was exhorting us, we would have as many different pictures of "him", "wilderness", and "Highway in the desert" as we would people interpreting it (38:6) Fulfillment (38:7) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, (38:8) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (38:9) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (mat 3:1-3) (38:10) see Commentary (38:11) The symbolism of these mystical words of Isaiah could only have been understood through recognition of Christ. This prophecy refers to both John the Baptist and Christ: John the Baptist is "him that crieth in the wilderness" calling people to prepare for the Coming of Christ (38:12) In these words of Isaiah, both Christ and John the Baptist are exalted. That John the Baptist is referred to in the Old Testament, is an indication of his greatness. Christ Himself also refers to the greatness of John (38:13) As much as Jesus and John are exalted, however, there was little or no help to the seeker in these words. Isaiah's words are far too mystical to have been decoded before fulfillment
(38:14)
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