“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” Isaiah 35:8 (all scripture quoted is from the King James Version)
This is a Gospel song by Evelyn Cummins, published in 1922, to a tune taken from the work of Gioachino A. Rossini in an arrangement by Henry Greatorex called MANOAH in 1851. As is my usual preference, I like the alternate better, ABIDING GRACE by John S. Camp, published in 1905.
Rather than strictly promoting biblical doctrine as is the purpose of a classical hymn, this Gospel song appeals to Godly emotions. Of course, faith is not built upon emotion, but emotion can lead to heroic adherence to faith. There is a strong evocation in this song to follow in the Highway of the Lord which is established in His Word. Though there is no direct reference to biblical verses, there are implications in the song to biblical life and meaning.
I WALK THE KING’S HIGHWAY
I know not where the road will lead
I follow day by day,
Or where it ends: I only know
I walk the King’s highway.
I know not if the way is long,
And no one else can say;
But rough or smooth, up hill or down,
I walk the King’s highway.
And some I love have reached the end,
But some with me may stay,
Their faith and hope still guiding me:
I walk the King’s highway.
The way is truth, the way is love,
For light and strength I pray,
And through the years of life, to God,
I walk the King’s highway.
The countless hosts lead on before,
I must not fear nor stray;
With them, the pilgrims of the faith,
I walk the King’s highway.
Through light and dark the road leads on
Till dawns the endless day,
When I shall know why in this life
I walk the King’s highway.
“I know not where the road will lead I follow day by day, Or where it ends: I only know I walk the King’s highway.” Passengers on the sailing vessels of olden times had no idea how the ship was being navigated, but they had trust in the seasoned captain at the helm to guide it to safe harbor. So does the Christian trust the Way that the Captain of our Salvation has laid out for us. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10)
“I know not if the way is long, And no one else can say; But rough or smooth, up hill or down, I walk the King’s highway.” We are creatures of the natural world by birth. We know the things that will satisfy the body, but those things that satisfy our Lord requires faith and wisdom. Such is inculcated through the study of God’s Word. One thing we do know about the King’s Highway: it is high and it is narrow. It leads UP, not DOWN! “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mathew 7:13-14)
“And some I love have reached the end, But some with me may stay, Their faith and hope still guiding me: I walk the King’s highway.” Contrary to the allusion in this verse to the faith of others, that faith may bolster our own, but the faith of others will not suffice to get us to our objective. It must be native faith and not borrowed. It is a grand comfort to know that those we love deeply who have gone before are waiting beyond the Banks of Jordan Waters.
“The way is truth, the way is love, For light and strength I pray, And through the years of life, to God,
I walk the King’s highway.” There is a great Guiding Light that illumines the King’s Highway; but very like the infra-red light of the military patrol, that Guiding Light of the Lord cannot be seen by the lost of the world. Do we question the Way? If so, we do not know the Lord well enough for He is the very WAY! “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7) Do we march on the King’s Highway under the colors of Heaven? Yes! “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (Song of Solomon 2:4)
“The countless hosts lead on before, I must not fear nor stray; With them, the pilgrims of the faith,
I walk the King’s highway.” The Choir Invisible has preceded our walk. Countless scores have walked that Highway, but it remains unworn in appearance. It is always a NEW Way! We never walk alone when we walk with our Lord, and all in Him are our company – living or dead.
“Through light and dark the road leads on Till dawns the endless day, When I shall know why in this life I walk the King’s highway.” I quote from the Christmas Day message of King George VI of England during the dark and gloomy days of the beginning of the Second World War:
“I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you:
I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied,
“Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.”
May that Almighty Hand guide and uphold us all.”
“I believe from my heart,” George VI said, “that the cause which binds together my peoples and our gallant and faithful Allies is the cause of Christian civilisation.” (How times have changed!)
We do, indeed, walk by faith. We have the same glorious destination in the bosom of Abraham as do all true believers who have gone on before. Joyous will be the day when the trumpet sounds and the curtain of time falls. The reunion with loved ones long past shall be a glorious celebration, “ For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Notice this verse appears near the end of the Love Chapter of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13). What great love to see our Lord, to KNOW Him with perfect knowledge! To see our loved ones who will KNOW us, and whom we shall know.
A private soldier may not fully comprehend the reason of an order issued by the field commander, but he obeys without question knowing his commander has better knowledge of the reason than he himself. So the mysteries of all faith and grace shall be revealed upon our sight of our Redeemer on the last day.
