This Path is Victory

“The way of the righteous is level;

O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.

In the path of your judgments,

O Lord, we wait for you;

your name and your renown

are the soul’s desire.

My soul yearns for you in the night,

my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.

For when your judgments are in the earth,

the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”

~Isaiah 26:7-9 (NRSV).

The glory of the humility resonating in this passage is a heavenly irony facilitating life on earth. Note also the pattern these simple yet powerful words make on the e-page. Is it a tower we see or an upwards tending arrow with its head shaved?

This path of victory is etched with permanence in humility; the engagement of life on life’s fullest terms... without lasting resentment, and with consistent praise.

Judgments That Are ‘In The Earth’

The objective of the occurrences in life is straightforward. They’re intended for our learning. When it’s considered we live in a seedbed—always destined to grow—we’re able to see why life gets ‘hard’. For that moment we’re turned from God’s will; we’ve refused that instant to learn. To accept judgments as they’re meted out is our first purpose. (Acceptance is not about ‘liking’. We do not have to like what we accept.)

These judgments are not God’s partiality, for God cannot be partial. They’re the matters of how life goes, however inexplicable it is.

These judgments are for our learning; so we might fulfil God’s intended righteousness; the continuation along the level way.

The ‘Level’ Way

It is a logical thing, then, to see the acceptance of life as it attends—the disasters, triumphs and all between—is the way for us, as we centre on the Just One on High. This is joy and peace and enveloping hope (and many other virtue) all rolled into the one being at the same time. Yet, it’s a state we struggle to attain or maintain.

But there is humility... the acceptance of the status quo, but with courage to do what needs doing. Wisdom governs all.

The level way is a smooth way, not for lack of trial or despair, but for lack of duplicity, and the blessings of humble obedience.

The Source of The Way – Souls Yearning for God

Everything commences from somewhere. Humility is not done adequately for any reason than God. When all that matters is the certitude to gaze heavenward in rejoicing and mourning alike (and when life’s ‘blah’ too) there is found the key to existence.

Judah’s Song of Victory (as the NRSV titles Isaiah 26) is the glory of God in full view, vanquishing the slightest threat to the worship of God and to obedience.

That is the secret of life. This path is victory.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.