Isaiah 62

1 For Zion I shall not be still, and for Jerusalem I shall not rest, till the just man thereof go out as shining, and the saviour thereof be tended as a lamp. (For the sake of Zion I shall not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I shall not rest, until its justice goeth out like the shining sun, and its deliverance, or its salvation, be tended like a lamp.)

2 And heathen men shall see thy just man, and all kings shall see thy noble man; and a new name, which the mouth of the Lord named, shall be called to thee. (And the heathen shall see thy justice, and all the kings shall see thy nobility; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall proclaim.)

3 And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a diadem of the realm in the hand of thy God.

4 Thou shalt no more be called forsaken, and thy land shall no more be called desolate; but thou shalt be called My will in that, and thy land (That that) shall be inhabited; for it pleased the Lord in thee, and thy land shall be inhabited. (Thou shalt no more be called Deserted, and thy land shall no more be called Desolate, but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, or I am pleased, or delighted, with her, and thy land shall be called Beulah, or Married; for the Lord is pleased with thee, and thy land is wedded to him.)

5 For a young man shall dwell with a virgin, and thy sons shall dwell in thee; and the spouse shall have joy on the spousess, and thy God shall have joy on thee. (For like a young man shall live with a virgin, so thou, his sons and daughters, shall live with him; and like the spouse shall have joy in the spousess, so thy God shall have joy in thee.)

6 Jerusalem, I have ordained keepers on thy walls, all day and all night without end they shall not be still. Ye that think on the Lord, be not still, (Jerusalem, I have ordained guards upon thy walls, and they shall not keep silent day or night, but shall always be ready to sound the alarm. Ye who think upon the Lord, be not silent,)

7 and give ye not silence to him, till he stablish, and till he set Jerusalem (a) praising in (all) [the] earth.

8 The Lord swore in his right hand, and in the arm of his strength, I shall no more give thy wheat (to be) meat to thine enemies, and alien sons shall not drink thy wine, in which thou hast travailed. (The Lord swore by his right hand, and by the strength of his arm, saying, I shall no more give thy corn to be food for thy enemies, and foreigners, or strangers, shall not drink thy wine, for which thou hast laboured so.)

9 For they that shall gather it together, shall eat it, and shall praise the Lord; and they that bear it together, shall drink (it) in mine holy foreyards. (For they who shall gather it together, shall eat it, and shall praise the Lord; and they who shall bring it in, shall drink it in my holy courtyards.)

10 Pass ye, pass ye by the gates; make ye ready (a) way to the people, make ye a plain path; and choose ye [the] stones, and raise ye [up] a sign to peoples. (Go ye out, go ye out by the gates; make ye ready a way for my people, make ye a plain path; yea, clear ye away the stones, and raise ye up a sign for the nations.)

11 Lo! the Lord made heard in the last parts of the earth. Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Lo! thy saviour cometh; lo! his meed is with him, and his work is before him. (Lo! the Lord made it heard unto the ends of the earth: Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Lo! thy Saviour cometh; lo! his reward is with him, and his work is before him.)

12 And they shall call them the holy people, again-bought of the Lord. Forsooth thou shalt be called a city sought, and not forsaken. (And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. And thou shalt be called a city sought out, and not abandoned.)

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.

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.