Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62:1-12 . INTERCESSORY PRAYERS FOR ZION'S RESTORATION, ACCOMPANYING GOD'S PROMISES OF IT, AS THE APPOINTED MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING IT.

1. I--the prophet, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare Isaiah 62:6 Isaiah 62:7 Psalms 102:13-17 ), or else Messiah (compare Isaiah 62:6 ). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His efforts for His people ( Isaiah 42:4 , 50:7 ).
righteousness thereof--not its own inherently, but imputed to it, for its restoration to God's favor: hence "salvation" answers to it in the parallelism. "Judah" is to be "saved" through "the Lord our (Judah's and the Church's) righteousness" ( Jeremiah 23:6 ).
as brightness--properly the bright shining of the rising sun ( Isaiah 60:19 , 4:5 , 2 Samuel 23:4 , Proverbs 4:18 ).
lamp--blazing torch.

2. ( Isaiah 11:10 , 42:1-6 , Isaiah 49:7 Isaiah 49:22 Isaiah 49:23 , Isaiah 60:3 Isaiah 60:5 Isaiah 60:16 ).
new name--expression of thy new and improved condition ( Isaiah 62:4 ), the more valuable and lasting as being conferred by Jehovah Himself ( Isaiah 62:12 , Isaiah 65:15 , Revelation 2:17 , 3:12 ).

3. ( Zechariah 9:16 )
in . . . hand of . . . Lord--As a crown is worn on the head, not "in the hand," hand must here be figurative for "under the Lord's protection" (compare Deuteronomy 33:3 ). "All His saints are in thy hand." His people are in His hand at the same time that they are "a crown of glory" to Him ( Revelation 6:2 , 19:12 ); reciprocally, He is "a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty" to them ( Isaiah 28:5 ; compare Malachi 3:17 ).

4. be termed--be "forsaken," so as that that term could be applicable to thee.
Hephzi-bah--( 2 Kings 21:1 ), the name of Hezekiah's wife, a type of Jerusalem, as Hezekiah was of Messiah ( Isaiah 32:1 ): "my delight is in her."
Beulah--"Thou art married." See the same contrast of Zion's past and future state under the same figure ( Isaiah 54:4-6 , Revelation 21:2 Revelation 21:4 ).
land . . . married--to Jehovah as its Lord and Husband: implying not only ownership, but protection on the part of the Owner [HORSLEY].

5. thy sons--rather, changing the points, which are of no authority in Hebrew, "thy builder" or "restorer," that is, God; for in the parallel clause, and in Isaiah 62:4 , God is implied as being "married" to her; whereas her "sons" could hardly be said to marry their mother; and in Isaiah 49:18 , they are said to be her bridal ornaments, not her husband. The plural form, builders, is used of God in
over the bride--in the possession of the bride ( Isaiah 65:19 , Jeremiah 32:41 , Zephaniah 3:17 ).

6. I--Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah.
watchmen upon . . . walls--image from the watches set upon a city's wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings ( Isaiah 52:7 Isaiah 52:8 ); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Isaiah 21:6-11 , 56:10 , Ezekiel 3:17 , 33:7 ). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen.
ye that . . . mention . . . Lord--Hebrew, "ye that are the Lord's remembrancers"; God's servants who by their prayers "put God in remembrance" of His promises ( Isaiah 43:26 ); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises ( Psalms 119:49 , Jeremiah 14:21 ).

7. no rest--Hebrew, "silence"; keep not silence yourselves, nor let Him rest in silence. Compare as to Messiah Himself, "I will not hold . . . peace . . . not rest" ( Isaiah 62:1 ); Messiah's watchmen ( Isaiah 62:6 Isaiah 62:7 ) imitate Him ( Isaiah 62:1 ) in intercessory "prayer without ceasing" for Jerusalem ( Psalms 122:6 , 51:18 ); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church ( Luke 18:1 Luke 18:7 , Romans 1:9 ). Zephaniah 3:20 ).

8. sworn by . . . right hand--His mighty instrument of accomplishing His will (compare Isaiah 45:23 , Hebrews 6:13 ).
sons of . . . stranger--Foreigners shall no more rob thee of the fruit of thy labors (compare Isaiah 65:21 Isaiah 65:22 ).

9. eat . . . and praise--not consume it on their own lusts, and without thanksgiving.
drink it in . . . courts--They who have gathered the vintage shall drink it at the feasts held in the courts surrounding the temple ( Deuteronomy 12:17 Deuteronomy 12:18 , 14:23 , &c.).

10. What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in ( Isaiah 62:1 ) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were unrestingly to pray for ( Isaiah 62:7 ), and what Jehovah solemnly promised ( Isaiah 62:8 Isaiah 62:9 ), is now to be fulfilled; the Gentile nations are commanded to "go through the gates" (either of their own cities [ROSENMULLER] or of Jerusalem [MAURER]), in order to remove all obstacles out of "the way of the people (Israel)" Isaiah 40:3 , 52:10-12 ).
standard--for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to their return ( Isaiah 49:22 , 11:12 ).

11. salvation--embodied in the Saviour (see Zechariah 9:9 ).
his work--rather, recompense ( Isaiah 40:10 ).

12. Sought out--Sought after and highly prized by Jehovah; answering to "not forsaken" in the parallel clause; no longer abandoned, but loved; image from a wife ( Isaiah 62:4 , Jeremiah 30:14 ).