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Luke 3:4-6 – Valleys Filled; Mountains Made Low
John came into the wilderness reviving through inspiration the prophetic “office” after 400 years of silence. Heaven broke the silence. And John became a living prophecy,
Luke 3:4-6 HCSB as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! (5) Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, (6) and everyone will see the salvation of God.”
“Oriental monarchs often did this very thing. A royal courier would go ahead to issue the call. So the Messiah sends his herald (John) before him to prepare the way for him.” (Robertson)
“This idea is taken from the practice of eastern Monarchs who, when they entered on a journey or expedition through lands that weren’t frequently traveled, they sent men ahead to prepare the way. These men may have to provide supplies, build bridges, cut roads through forests, etc. In order to make a way for the expedition to travel.” (James Montgomery, Isaiah, volume II, p.5)
The need to raise valleys level and raze mountains level, and to straighten and smooth makes we wonder. Is this a comment on the difficulty of preaching on repentance; the difficulty of repentance itself; or the effect of forgiveness? Maybe there is another possibility, the difficulty of accepting Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
If the topography refers to people, then we see this prophecy speaking the same thing in another prophecy by Mary the mother of Jesus:
Luke 1:51-54 HCSB He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; (52) He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. (53) He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. (54) He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,
Toppling the mighty is making the mountains low. Exalting the lowly is filling in the valleys.
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