November 29

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 Hephaibah, and thy land Beulah; for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be roared.

5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom repiereth over the bride, so shall thy God re once over thee

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 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 to be meat for those enemies; and the sons 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

10 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

11 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.

12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

God's delight in His people finds multiform and urgent expression in His word. Perhaps nowhere do we find this more clearly revealed than in this chapter.

34

(619)

"Thou shalt be a crown of glory" and a "royal diadem in the hand of thy God." Thou shalt be so beautiful and prosperous as to be appropriately regarded as a splendid crown or diadem.

Thy name shall be changed. Thou shalt be called "Hephzi-bah." Literally the word means, "My delight is in her." And thy land "Beulah." The word means, "Married;" or, rather, "Thou art married." Lowth renders it "the wedded matron." God says here that the appropriate name henceforward would not be the Forsaken, but the married one—the one favored and blessed of God. "And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."

We may all aspire to these honors; and, coming in the name of Christ, we shall not be refused or forsaken; but we should well consider the reciprocal duties which result from such high relations. If God rejoice over us and over His church, surely we should rejoice in His favor and service, and desire no other happiness.

Closet Promise.—The Lord will be the hope of His people.—Joel iii. 16.

"When the tempest rages high, Sailing on life's boisterous sea, Stormy killows I defy;

If I then may only be Anchored to the rock."