62. Isaiah Chapter Sixty-Two

Isaiah Chapter 62 The Speaker here is not Isaiah but the Lord, as is clear from Isaiah 62:6. He says He will not retain silence nor will He rest until Zion’s righteousness shall go forth as the brightness of the morning and her salvation as a blazing torch. These are the actual comparisons in Isaiah 62:1.

Verse 2 resumes what was said at the end of the preceding chapter concerning the righteousness and renown of the people as manifest to all the Gentiles. Again, the completely new position of the people will be marked by His bestowal of a new name, to correspond with their changed character. In Jeremiah 33:16 the name is mentioned as “Jehovah is our righteousness.” Just as now in the case of the believer righteousness is reckoned by grace and manifested in character and conduct, so with redeemed Israel. This is what the whole passage from Isaiah 61:10 to Isaiah 62:2 sets forth. The figurative language of Isaiah 62:3 is intensely beautiful. The metaphor which describes the condition of Zion is that of “a crown [or coronet] of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” The word rendered “diadem” is used of the mitre, or rather, turban, of the High Priest (Exodus 28:4, Exodus 28:39; Zechariah 3:5). Two different Hebrew words are used for the “hand” here, the first signifying the open hand, but indicating that which is held out for display. The two together set forth the intense delight in the heart of the Lord in manifesting the effects of His grace and redeeming power.

Again the two descriptions mark the combination of royal authority and priesthood, and in this twofold capacity Israel will share the authority of Christ. At various times in the world’s history from that of Nimrod (Genesis 10:9) to that of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-18), men of renown have sought to exercise this double function, so as to have authority over both the religious and the civil life of those under them. The whole history is one of dismal failure and catastrophe. In the day to come Jerusalem will no more be called “The Forsaken one” and the land will no longer be called “Desolate.” The city will be known as “Hephzi-bah” (My delight in her) and the land “Beulah” (married); His love will be as strong and as full of joy as the love of the newly married. The thought in each part of the verse is that of winning an inalienable right by a bridegroom “to have and to hold” (Isaiah 62:4-5). The same figure is used of what the believer should be in spiritual union with Christ (see Romans 7:4). We are married (r.v., joined) “to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.” We are to live therefore as those in whom He can delight. With a view to all this God has stationed watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem who day and night intercede with Him until His purposes concerning His earthly people are accomplished. The watchmen symbolize those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That special intercession should be our constant occupation. The language is vivid: “Ye that are the Lord’s remembrancers, take ye no rest, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7). The word rendered “establish” signifies to make ready, to prepare for oneself (cp. Isaiah 51:13, margin). That such intercession is the will of God is confirmed by the statement of the Lord’s oath in Isaiah 62:8-9 : “The Lord hath sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength” (i.e., His strong arm). With this compare Hebrews 6:13. He declares that Gentile powers shall never again pillage the land and rob its rightful owners of that which they have produced. On the contrary, His people who have garnered their grain “shall eat it, and praise the Lord.”

Forcibly this reminds us that for all which the Lord bestows upon us by way of material benefits such as food and raiment, we should be in the habit of praising Him day by day. Our thanks at mealtimes should never become formal. It should be given out of the heart which ever recognizes the goodness of God. The food we eat is “sanctified by the Word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:5).

Further, in the coming day these who have gathered in their wine “shall drink it in the courts of My sanctuary.” They will delight to go up to the house of the Lord with hearts overwhelmed with gratitude. This constant going up to the House of the Lord receives a vivid anticipation in the command in Isaiah 62:10 yet to be issued: “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way [or clear the way] of the people.” Obstacles in the way of ready entrance are to be removed: “cast up, cast up the high way; gather out the stones.” The way of the people will be the way of the Lord (see Isaiah 40:3). This has a spiritual application as well as a physical. Everything that is an obstacle to spiritual blessing will be removed from the hearts of Israel.

All that presents a stumbling block, all that hinders our enjoyment of free and constant access to the Throne of Grace, everything that stands in the way of our communion with God is to be removed. Often there is much rubbish to be cleared out, such as worldly associations and fleshly desires.

Isaiah 62:11-12 depict the fulfillment of these promises to Israel, a banner is to be lifted up to all the Gentile nations (the word at the end of Isaiah 62:10 is plural, “peoples”). For the Lord will sound out tidings to the end of the earth. There is to be a general acknowledgment of the manifestation of God’s power toward His people in that their salvation has come, that “His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.” The nations will recognize Israel as “The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord.” The city which no one cared for will be called “Sought out, A city not forsaken.” That is to say, men will resort to Jerusalem. They will go there to see its glory and beauty. The wonders of God’s grace and power will be manifest to them. The city will be full of people, and the streets will be filled with boys and girls enjoying their play there (Zechariah 8:4-5).