Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Isaiah 62, A New Name for Zion

Righteousness and salvation for all nations will come in some future Day, says the speaker. (It is not clear whether the speaker is the Messiah or Zion/Jerusalem personified. Or both.)

Isaiah 62:1-3, Called by a new name
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 splendor in the LORD’s hand,
    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Jerusalem, with a new name, will be a royal jewel, beautiful crown in God's hand. All the nations will see her salvation.

Isaiah 62:4-5, Not Deserted, Not Desolate
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.

Instead of Deserted or Desolate, the city will be called Hephzibah ("my delight is in her") and Beulah ("married"). The city will be the bride of God. The metaphor of marriage and renaming occurs in the book of Hosea (for example, Hosea 2:16-23.)

Isaiah 62:6-7, Watched over day and night
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.

God will not rest until Jerusalem is restored.

Isaiah 62:8-9, Right hand and mighty arm
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.”

The riches of Jerusalem will not be stolen; those riches will be enjoyed within the city. 

During the Exodus, when God confronted Pharaoh, God is described as having a "mighty hand and outstretched arm" (see Deuteronomy 5:15, 26:8, for example.) This took an Egyptian image and threw it back into the face of the Pharaoh, making it clear Who was more powerful. That image appears again at the beginning of verse 8.

Isaiah 62:10-12, Get ready!
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 Savior 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.

Motyer says that the word "you" in the next to last line is feminine singular, typical for identifying Zion. 

"Get ready!" calls Isaiah, for YHWH comes. The nations will rally at a banner in Jerusalem.

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