Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62:1-5

The holiness of prophets must both to preach and pray. In this chapter, 1. The prophet determines to apply himself closely and consciously to this holiness, ver. 1. 2. God appoints him and others of his prophets to continue to do so, for the encouragement of his people during the delays of their deliverances, ver. 6, 7. 3. The promises are here reported and ratified of the great things God would do for his church; (1.) It shall be made honourable in the eyes of the world, ver. 2. (2.) It shall appear to be very dear to God, precious and honourable in his sight, ver. 3-5. (3.) It shall enjoy great plenty, ver. 8, 9. (4.) It shall be released out of captivity, and given up again into a considerable nation, particularly owned and favoured by heaven, ver. 10-12.

a PC. xxxii. b. b. Ven. ix. 1a. Chap. liv. 1c. c. Zsch. ix. 1b. d. Ilf. i. 1b. e. I. 1b. f. Chap. 1st. g. v. i. c. My delight is in box. i. c. Marond. f. Chm. 1st. 1p. Zaph. 1c. 1p.

1. 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. 2. 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. 3. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 4. Thou shalt no more be termed, forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate: but thou shalt be called + Hephzi-bah, and thy land, + Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. 5. For as a young man martieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the brides, So shall thy God rejoice over thee.

With earnest zeal the prophet professes,

1. His determined purpose to labour ceaseless in the execution of his office. For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest: the concerns of God’s church and people lay deep imprinted on his heart, and therefore his sermons are frequent and urgent, and his prayers to God fervent in their behalf: until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth; either till her cause should be clearly vindicated, and her enemies destroyed; or rather, till Christ, whose righteousness and salvation

are wrought out for her, shall clomb her therewith, and perfect her in holiness: and so long will this prophecy endure; for sleuth, though dead, yet speaketh. Note, (1.) The interests of Christ’s kingdom are the great concern which lies upon a faithful minister’s heart. (2.) In the service of innocent souls he is ready to spend and be spent. (3.) They who labour in faith, will affordify the free fruit of their labour.

2. The prophet expresses his confidence that God would hear and answer him. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness; the perfection of righteousness the church possesses in Christ, or the justice of her cause: and all kings thy glory; shall behold and admire, and defire to partake of it; as when Confirmation the Roman emperor, and others after his example, declared themselves Christians; and will be more universally the case in the day of the church’s triumphs. And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name; as a mask of that distinguished honour and dignity to which the shall be advanced by him who is the fountain of honour, who speaks and it is done, See Rev. 11. 17. iii. 12. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord; glorious in his righteousness and grace; valued by him as the richest crown that shall for ever adorn his house; and held in his hand, that none may pluck his people from him, nor rob him of the glory of their salvation: and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thus distinguished, thou shalt no more be termed forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate, as the Gentiles would be deemed to be, before the preaching of the gospel: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, a new and honourable title, signifying, My delight is in her; and thy land, Beulah, or married; for the Lord delighteth in thee, and in his love and favour all bliss and blissfulness is comprehended: and thy land shall be married; from eternity the comrades subsisted, but the Lamb’s wife hath not yet made herself ready, till the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, then the heavenly bridegroom shall bring her home to himself, to his eternal mansions in glory. For as a young man martieth a virgin; fond of his bride, delighting in her company, and from the union a numerous offspring is expected; so shall thy sons marry thee; united to the church in warm affection, joining in her ordinances, delighting in the communion of the saints, and seeking to increase their number: and as a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee: the church of the redeemed are the joy of the Redeemer’s soul, in whose present conversion he is happy, and in them to all eternity will be his delight.

Babuchan 1st.

6. “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; 7. And give him no 7 rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, + Surely, “I will no more give thy corn as he meat for thine enemies, and the ions of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: 9. 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.

Isaiah 62:6-9

The gracious provision God hath made for his people is here declared.

1. For their spiritual wants; giving them faithful ministers, and pouring out a spirit of prayer and supplication on them.

(1.) I have set watchmen on thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. The church militant is a city, defended by the walls of God’s everlasting love, yet besieged by the powers of sin, Satan, and the world incessantly, who fight, but cannot prevail. The ministers of the gospel are the watchmen appointed to give warning of approaching danger; and their station demands, (1.) Fidelity and zeal for the cause of Christ and his people. (2.) Constancy and watchfulness, that in season, out of season, they preach, rebuke, exhort. (3.) Willingness to endure hardship, and not shrink from any danger or reproach, to which they may be exposed. (4.) Incessant prayer, that they may be enabled to discharge their ministry, and be supported by that almighty grace, without which mortal spirits must faint and fail.

(2.) The prayers of the people must second the preaching of the word. To that make mention of the Lord, are his professing people, keep my silence, but he instant as a throne of grace; and give him no rest, for importunity will not offend him, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, by the purity of her obedience and discipline; by eminent holiness in the members; by their fervent love and charity one towards another; by vast activities of converse; and, among these, the honourable of the earth. Note, (1.) God’s people delight to mention his name, and to speak to his praise of the things he hath done for their souls. (2.) Prayer is the natural and constant language of the heart touched by redeeming grace. (3.)

Isaiah 62:10-12

Though there may be here an allusion to the return of the Jews from Babylon at Cyrus’s proclamation, this sheets, with the preceding part of the chapter, to belong to the gospel church. 1. Preparation is made for the return of captive souls. Go through, go through the gates; the prison-doors are thrown open for their escape: prepare you the way of the people, call up, call up the high-way, gather out the flowers; the members of God, as John the Baptist, must prepare the way, remove all obstacles, and make plain the road before their face; and especially lift up a standard for the people; display the banners of Christ in the gospel, around which they must assemble, that in a body, under his guidance and protection, they may march in the high-way of holiness, towards the heavenly mount of Zion. 2. The glorious appearance of Christ in his church is prochained, who comes as the Captain of their salvation to lead the way. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, to all nations under heaven, among whom the gospel shall be preached; Say ye to the daughter of Zion, the members of the church, not only among the Jews, but the gentiles also, Behold, thy salvation, or thy Saviour, cometh, with power and great glory, as when he first appeared in the flesh; or rather as he will appear hereafter, when his kingdom shall be established in all the world: Behold, his reward is with him; either the glory blesseth should receive as the reward of his blessings, or that which he hath to be below on his faithful people? and his work before him, which he undertakes to accomplish for them, and in them, even their complete salvation from Satan, sin, death, and hell. 3. His people will then become dignified with the truth bemerchandise. They shall call them the holy people; but this is their distinguishing character and their honour, that they are conserved to God, and pure in heart: and understand of the Lord, this being their singular mercy, and the source of all their holiness and happiness, for both of which they are indebted to the redemption of Jesus: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken. Defolate as before the church appeared, now the greatest effort shall be made thither; and the shall be no more forsaken of her members, who will take up in her their continual abode; nor of her God, who will preserve all who relent thither, that they may never perish, but have everlasting life.