Isaiah 62 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 62. Let’s go!
Isaiah 62:1-12 (NIV)
1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled;
9 but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”
10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.
11 The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'”
12 They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.
On verses 1-12: Here in Isaiah 62 Isaiah writes about how glorious God will make Jerusalem one day. Instead of Jerusalem being deserted or desolate anymore, God will give her a new name (v2). She will be called “Hephzibah” which means “my delight is in her” and “Beulah” which means “married” (v4). Other names Jerusalem will be given are “the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD…Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted” (v12).
The images that Isaiah compares the New Jerusalem to are equally glorious: a crown of splendour (also called a royal diadem) in verse 3, a bride in verse 5. These are both images of someone who is glorious and desired.
All of this comes with a solemn promise from God in verses 8-9. Whenever God swears in the Bible, it is serious business, and here in verses 8-9 God swears that never again will Jerusalem be used by others; instead she will finally enjoy the fruit of her labour.
When you read all of Isaiah 62 it should be clear that the Jerusalem God is talking about is not a geographical city, but a spiritual people – God’s people, the ones who across nations, across cultures and across history have placed their trust in Him.
Isaiah 62 describes God’s people at their most glorious, in their finest moment, enjoying their final destiny as the beloved and betrothed people of God. This will happen finally when Jesus comes again.
Just as Isaiah says that he will not remain quiet until this happens (v1), just as he says other watchmen (prophets) on Jerusalem’s walls will not stay silent until this happens (v6), just as Isaiah tells all who call on the Lord not to rest until this happens (v7), so it means that until that glorious day comes, we still have work to do. Until that day comes, we still have a message to proclaim and a gospel to share with as many people as we can. It’s along these lines that Isaiah repeats what he was saying earlier in Isaiah 57:14: build up, build up, prepare the road, make way for God and His bride to come.
There are definite similarities and parallels between Isaiah 60-62 and Revelation 21, with Isaiah 62 reflecting a lot of Revelation 21:2, 9-21. For we the church are Christ’s bride and one day the wedding we have all been waiting for will happen.
Thank You Jesus that our story ends with You claiming us as forever Your own and us reigning with You in glory one day. Thank You in advance for that day when it comes. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
