Stairway to Heaven

And a roadway will be there, a highway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.

Isaiah 35:8

Growing up in the ’60s, I became a fan of Led Zepplin. I owned every album they recorded. Their untitled fourth album contained the hit Stairway To Heaven. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs ever. Least you be misinformed this is not a Christian song. 

Aidan Schuttler explains the meaning of the verses.

The first verse spends its time introducing our main character: the lady. She’s characterized as someone who believes that salvation is found in money, and that she can buy whatever she wants. The first half of the verse oozes hubris, making her out to be someone who is actively pursuing (presently “buying” the stairway) a path to heaven with what she believes is a morally good way to do so. The second half of the verse furthers her egotism, yet undercuts it as well: a “sign on the wall” is a common trope to denote something as obvious, yet she reads it again, hoping to find something else in it. Here, she is both arrogant and unsure of herself: she wishes to find a second meaning, hoping to justify her way of attaining heaven. By hoping for two meanings, she demonstrates both her self-delusion and her self-awareness.

Even though this is a secular song, it does describe men's futile efforts to earn their way to heaven.

The Highway of Holiness is only mentioned once in scripture. In Isaiah 34, God promises that, in the future, the land of Israel will be blessed with fertility and “the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose” (verse 2). Isaiah’s prophecy of the messianic kingdom also encourages the weak and fearful to be strong, for God will come with vengeance to save the long-oppressed people of Israel (verses 3–4). There will be gladness and shouts of joy when the new, restored Zion will see God’s glory, experience His presence, and be guided and protected by Him.

The following comes from commentator Michael Houdmann:

The highway of holiness has three important characteristics. The first is found in Isaiah 35:8: “It will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.” The highway of holiness is a place of holiness. It is reserved for those who are righteous in God’s sight. No one entering the kingdom will be foolish or sinful. Christ alone provides the way of holiness, having exchanged His perfect righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). His righteousness is imputed to us, enabling us to be holy, even as He is holy. The highway is reserved for His people alone.

Second, the highway of holiness is a place of safety, reserved for the redeemed of the Lord. “No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return” (Isaiah 35:9–10). This is indicative of the safety and security God’s people will experience on the highway. No wicked persons, symbolized by lions and ravenous beasts, will be allowed on the highway. The redeemed of the Lord will walk there in peace and safety.

Third, the highway of holiness will be a place of joy: “They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). Just as the ransomed captives would return joyfully from Babylon, all the redeemed of the Lord will enter the millennial kingdom rejoicing.

One day Jesus will return and set up the Millennial Kingdom, and there will be a Highway of Holiness. The only stairway to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9   

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark