By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH CHAPTER 62

JERUSALEM, A PRAISE IN THE EARTH

   For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

    1. The Lord declares Himself pre-occupied with the care and welfare of Jerusalem, (vs. 1).
      a. For her sake He will not be silent, or rest, until her righteousness and salvation are clearly revealed, (46:13; 52:10; 1:26; 58:8).
      b. This is quite a contrast to the Sodom-condition set forth in the first chapter!
    2. Such a new name will be given her as in keeping her new, exalted character, (vs. 2).
      a. The Lord Himself will take great delight in bestowing that new name upon her, (vs. 4, 12; 56:5).
      b. By what she has become the nations will recognize her righteousness, and kings will marvel at her glorious exaltation, (60:3; Jer. 33:16).
    3. The Lord God will joyfully manifest, by His grace and redeeming power, what this people have become - a royal diadem and crown of glory in His hand, (vs. 3; 28:5; Zech. 9:16; comp. I Thess. 2:19).
      a. From the institution of the Theocracy, at Mt. Sinai, God had purposed that Israel should be a nation of king-priests, (Ex. 19:6).
      b. When the nation was cut off from covenant fellowship with God, because of her unfaithfulness, the Lord raised up such a people in the New Testament church, (I Pet. 2:9).
      c. But His purpose for the nation will still be fulfilled during the millennium (61:6) - after she has acknowledged His right to rule over her (contrast: Psa. 110:3; Lk. 19:14), and willingly yielded herself to His royal authority.
    4. When the Lord reigns in Zion her troubles will all be past, (vs. 4-5).
      a. Instead of being "forsaken", the Lord will delight in her - rejoicing over her as a bridegroom over his bride, (54:6-7; 60:15, 18; Jer. 32:41; Zeph. 3:17; Isa. 65:19).
      b. No longer "desolate", her land will be "married" - her sons being joyfully joined to her as a young man to a virgin, (Jer. 3:14; Hos. 2:19-20).

   I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

    1. Here the Lord declares that He has set watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem - men who are concerned for her prosperity - guarding and protecting her welfare, (vs. 6-7; 52:8; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7).
      a. Not only will they be alert for dangers from without; they will also remind the Lord of His promises concerning the Holy City, (vs. 6; 43:26; comp. Psa. 74:2; Jer. 14:21; Lam. 5:1, 20-21).
      b. Nor are they to keep silent (comp. Matt. 15:21-28; Lk. 18:1-8) until He has established Jerusalem, and made her a praise in the earth, (vs. 7; 60:18; Jer. 33:8-9; Zeph. 3:19-20; comp. Psa. 122:6).
    2. Having made an oath-bound promise to restore Jerusalem, the very character of the Lord is at stake, (vs. 8a; comp. 45:23; 54:9-10; Heb. 6:13); "right hand" and "strong arm" suggest the power and authority with which He acts.
    3. The promise of the Lord obviously refers to the restoration and lasting stability of His people in Zion - resulting in their prosperity and perpetual thanksgiving, (vs. 8b-9).
      a. No longer will the fruit of their labors be consumed by aliens and enemies, (vs. 8b; contr. Deut. 28:33, 51).
      b. The Lord's people will enjoy the fruit of their labors - praising Him in the courts of His sanctuary, (vs. 9; 65:13, 21-23).

   Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

    1. Here is pictured the triumphant march of the Messiah, with His people, through the gates of Jerusalem, (vs. 10; 26:1.2; 60:11, 18).
      a. Careful preparation is made for this march - every possible hindrance being removed, (57:14; 11:16; 19:23; 35:8; 49:11).
      b. An "ensign", banner, or standard, will be lifted up over the holy people as they march, with the Messiah as the leader of His mighty army, to take possession of Jerusalem - and the kingdoms of this world' (11:10-12; 49:22; Rev. 11:15).
    2. To the ends of the earth the Lord advertises the special, blessed relationship that exists between Himself and His chosen people, (vs. 10).
      a. He comes as their believer, (49:6); He has a glorious "inheritance" in the saints, (Eph. 1:18; comp. Deut. 4:20; 9:26-29; I Kings 8:53).
      b. His reward is with Him - His work before Him, (40:10; Rev. 22:12).
    3. Henceforth the people of God, dwelling in Jerusalem, will be exalted in the eyes of all the earth; they will be known as:
      a. "The holy people", (Deut. 7:6; Isa. 4:3; I Pet. 2:9).
      b. "The redeemed of the Lord:", (35:9; 51:10).
      c. "Sought out, A City not forsaken", (comp. 42:16; Heb. 13:5-6). 13:5-6).