Compare Translations for Isaiah 62:3

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.

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 ).