Isaiah 62

Zion’s New Identity

1 For the sake of Zion I will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not maintain a quiet attitude, until her righteousness goes out like the bright light, and her salvation burns like a torch.

2 And [the] nations shall see your righteousness, and all [the] kings your glory, and {you will be called} a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will designate.

3 And you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a headband of royalty in the hand of your God.

4 It shall no longer be said of you, "Forsaken," and it shall no longer be said of your land, "Desolation!" but {you will} be called "My Delight [Is] In Her," and your land, "Married," for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married.

5 For [as] a young man marries a virgin, [so] shall your sons marry you, and [as is the] joy of [the] bridegroom over [the] bride, [so] shall your God rejoice over you.

6 I have appointed watchmen upon your walls, Jerusalem; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who profess Yahweh have no rest.

7 And you must not give him rest until he establishes, and until he {makes} Jerusalem {an object of praise} in the earth.

8 Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by {his mighty arm}, "Surely I will never again give your grain [as] food to {your enemies}, and surely {foreigners} shall not drink your new wine at which you have labored."

9 But those who gather it shall eat it, and they shall praise Yahweh, and those who gather it shall drink it in {my holy courts}.

10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Make the way clear {for} the people! Pile up, pile up the highway; clear [it] of stones! Lift up an ensign over the peoples!

11 Look! Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, "Look, your salvation [is] coming! Look, his reward [is] with him, and his reward before him.

12 And they shall call them "The {Holy People}, The Redeemed Of Yahweh," and {you} shall be called "Sought After, A City Is Not Forsaken."

Isaiah 62 Commentary

Chapter 62

God's care of his church and people. (1-5) The office of ministers in preaching the gospel. (6-9) Every hinderance shall be removed from the way of salvation. (10-12)

Verses 1-5 The Son of God here assures his church of his unfailing love, and his pleading for her under all trails and difficulties. She shall be called by a new name, a pleasant name, such as she was never called by before. The state of true religion in the world, before the preaching of the gospel, no man seemed to have any real concern for. God, by his grace, has wrought that in his church, which makes her his delight. Let us thence learn motives to holiness. If the Lord rejoices over us, we should rejoice in his service.

Verses 6-9 God's professing people must be a praying people. He is not displeased with us for being earnest, as men commonly are; he bids us to cry after him, and give him no rest, ( luke 11:5 luke 11:6 ) . It is a sign that God is coming to a people in mercy, when he pours out a spirit of prayer upon them. See how uncertain our creature-comforts are. See also God's mercy in giving plenty, and peace to enjoy it. Let us delight in attending the courts of the Lord, that we may enjoy the consolations of his Spirit.

Verses 10-12 Way shall be made for Christ's salvation; all difficulties shall be removed. He brings a reward of comfort and peace with him; but a work of humiliation and reformation before him; and they shall be called, The holy people, and, The redeemed of the Lord. Holiness puts honour and beauty upon any place or person, makes them admired, beloved, and sought after. Many events may have been part fulfilments of this, as earnests of more glorious times yet to come. The close connexion between the blessedness of the Jews and of the Gentiles, runs through the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus will complete his work, and he never will forsake one whom he has redeemed and sanctified.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "it shall be called to you"
• [b]. Literally "to you it shall"
• [c]. Literally "places"
• [d]. Literally "a praise"
• [e]. Literally "the arm of his might"
• [f]. Literally "those who are hostile to you"
• [g]. Literally "sons of a foreign country"
• [h]. Literally "the courts of my holiness"
• [i]. Literally "of"
• [j]. Hebrew "stone"
• [k]. Literally "People of the Holiness"
• [l]. Literally "to you it"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 62

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy of the glory of the church in the latter day. The prophet expresses his earnest desire for it, and his full assurance of it, Isa 62:1,2 which should lie in a new name, by which she should be called, and in her being a glorious crown and diadem in the hand of the Lord, Isa 62:3,4, in having her sons with her, and the Lord rejoicing over her, Isa 62:5, in having watchmen on her walls, and such as are the Lord's remembrancers in the midst of her, Isa 62:6,7, in plenty of food, Isa 62:8,9, in the coming of the Saviour, and in the gathering of elect Gentiles both to him and her, Isa 62:10-12.