Introduction
‘For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendour in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.’ Isaiah 62:1-5
Zion’s New Name
This chapter speaks of the new glory of Jerusalem, which is universal in scope. God will speak concerning the events predicted in the preceding chapter. The Servant of God, the Messiah, would not rest until He had accomplished His mission.
Jerusalem will receive a new name after God’s righteousness and glory were seen by all nations and kings. The word ‘Hephzibah’ literally means, ‘My delight in her’, and the word ‘Beulah’ literally means ‘married’, in other words, God would delight in the new Jerusalem and the land would be cultivated and productive.
As the faithful wife wears the name of her husband, so Christians, married to Christ, rejoice to wear His Name, Acts 11:26 / Acts 26:28 / 1 Peter 4:16. A desolate land is represented as a widow, while an inhabited land is represented as a married woman with children.
‘I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.” Isaiah 62:6-9
Here we read that the new Jerusalem is to be established forever. The watchmen were to guard the city and to warn when the enemy was coming, Isaiah 56:10.
We need faithful watchmen, that is, preachers and elders, in the church today to guard against the enemy, false teachers, Ephesians 4:11-12. The walls of this New Jerusalem are called Salvation and Praise, Isaiah 26:1 / Isaiah 49:16 / Isaiah 60:18.
The hand is a symbol of power and the arm of greatness. Based on His greatness and power to fulfil, God is about to commit Himself to a promise that He will fulfil, Jeremiah 18:7-10 / Hebrews 6:14-20.
They had suffered from the results of their sins, which suffering God had foretold, Deuteronomy 28:33 / Deuteronomy 28:51 / Judges 6:4 / Judges 6:11 / 2 Chronicles 28:18 / Isaiah 16:9.
‘Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.’ Isaiah 62:10-12
Here we read that the salvation of God makes new Jerusalem a much-sought place. The road must be prepared, obstacles must be removed, and people must be called to come to the Lord.
Just as the exiles were saved from bondage, the new spiritual Jerusalem was saved from the bondage of sin by the coming of the Redeemer. Christ has now come and is ready, willing and able to do all that is to be done to save both Jew and Gentile, Romans 10:11-13 / Romans 3:21-23 / Acts 15:7-9 / Acts 11:12.
The citizens of the new Jerusalem will be made holy, Revelation 2:24. they will be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and so, they would never again be forsaken by God. The redeemed church of the Lord would be composed of people from all nations, Revelation 7:9.