Isaiah 62 contains a profound prophecy describing God’s restoration of Israel that points ultimately to the glory of Christ’s bride, the church. This chapter highlights key themes of God’s salvation and intimacy with His people, their new identity in Him, and their purpose to display His splendor as lights to the nations.
Isaiah 62 ends with a triumphant declaration that the Lord delights in His people and rejoices over them as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. As we reflect on this passage, we discover great hope and comfort in God’s passionate love for His church.
Key Takeaways
- God promises salvation, restoration, and intimate closeness with His people.
- God gives His people a new name reflecting their new identity in Him.
- Restored Israel will be a crown of beauty and a royal diadem in God’s hand, displaying His splendor.
- Israel will shine as lights to the nations, declaring God’s glory to the ends of the earth.
- The marriage metaphor highlights God’s passionate love for His people, picturing Christ’s love for the church.
- We have a glorious identity and purpose in Christ as God’s treasured possession set apart for Him.
God’s Salvation and Intimacy
Isaiah 62 opens with God’s commitment to keep working until His righteousness and salvation shine forth from restored Israel:
“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” (Isaiah 62:1-2).
Here God vows to passionately intercede for His wayward people until their redemption finally comes. He will persistently pray, speak, and work until Jerusalem is fully restored and shining brightly with His glory before all nations. Though Israel languished in exile due to sin, God still yearned to save and restore them in a future day.
This points to God’s determined, relentless commitment to bring redemption through Jesus Christ. Though God’s people were unfaithful, He remained patient and faithful to achieve their salvation. As Romans 3:4 declares, “Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” Our salvation rests securely on God’s trustworthy promises, not our wavering devotion.
Isaiah 62 then highlights the resulting beautiful intimacy between God and His restored people:
“You will be a crown of splendor 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” (Isaiah 62:3-4).
Here God tenderly describes restored Israel as a exquisite crown adorning His hand and reflecting His glory as King. The bridal metaphor hints at the loving closeness between God and His people, now called “Hephzibah” meaning “my delight is in her” and “Beulah” meaning “married.”
Whereas Israel was once abandoned and desolate due to her sin, now she is espoused to the Lord in joyful, intimate relationship. God delights in her as His treasured possession. This points ultimately to Christ’s church, presented as a radiant bride for her husband in Revelation 21:2.
A New Name and Identity
A key aspect of Israel’s restoration in Isaiah 62 is God giving His people a new name:
“No longer will you be called Deserted, nor 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 62:4-5).
Names in biblical times reflected identity and described one’s essential character. Israel’s former names of “Deserted” and “Desolate” represented their destitute condition in exile due to sin. But God promises to give them new names descriptive of their restored status as the delight of the Lord.
This name change signifies Israel’s new identity in right relationship with God. No longer are they abandoned but are now intimately connected to the Lord like a married woman to her husband. God delights in them as His treasured possession.
For Christians, our core identity is also found in being the bride of Christ. We are given new names like “children of God” (John 1:12), “members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19), and “a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). As believers, our primary identity is being loved, adopted, and cherished by Christ as His bride.
Displaying God’s Splendor
In addition to promising salvation and intimacy, Isaiah 62 highlights Israel’s renewed purpose as lights pointing people to God’s glory:
“The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory…Then you will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62:2, 3).
As restored Israel shines with the Lord’s brilliance like a dazzling crown, this will draw other nations to come and see the glory of her God. Israel is positioned as a display of the Lord’s radiance to attract others to worship Him.
Similarly, the New Testament calls believers God’s “workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). As the bride of Christ, the purpose of the church is to radiate the glory of her Bridegroom and make His salvation known. By our Christ-reflecting lives, others are drawn to Him.
Isaiah 62 continues describing restored Israel’s mission to make God’s glory known worldwide:
“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” (Isaiah 62:6-7).
Here God appoints watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who will boldly declare God’s praises far and wide until His glory fills the whole earth. Passionate prayer undergirds this mission to testify to God’s goodness among the nations.
In the New Testament, Jesus commissions all believers to go and make disciples of every nation (Matthew 28:19-20). As His witnesses, we are called to give ourselves no rest as we join Christ in spreading the glory of His salvation to the ends of the earth through word and deed.
God’s Passion for His People
Isaiah 62 concludes with a stunning declaration of God’s passionate, romantic love for His people:
“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…But those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads…As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:8-9, 5).
Here God emphatically vows with an oath to never again allow His people’s hard labor and produce to benefit enemies seeking to destroy them. This points to God’s protection and provision for His people in the age to come. Though they suffered severely for their sins before, now they will be safely restored under the Lord’s care.
The marriage metaphor again highlights the joyful intimacy between God and His people. As a groom delights over his beautiful bride, God rejoices over those He has rescued and restored. What astounding, passionate love from the Lord who redeems us!
This passage reveals God’s heart of affection for His people across the ages. Jesus similarly uses the wedding metaphor to picture His sacrificial love for the church as His pure Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). As believers, we are cherished by Christ with a tender love beyond compare.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the themes of restoration and redemption in Isaiah 62, may it kindle fresh awe at the extravagant love God has poured out on us through Jesus:
- God accomplished our salvation at immense cost because He delights in us as His beloved children.
- We have a new, secure identity in Christ as God’s treasured possession set apart to display His glory.
- Like a faithful groom, Jesus loves His church with a self-sacrificing, covenant love that will endure forever.
- Our purpose is to shine forth the splendor of Christ through lives of worship, holiness, and witness for His renown worldwide.
What unspeakable joy that the Lord of all creation chooses to rejoice over us with singing as His cherished bride! May our lives overflow with praise for our Redeemer who crowns us with beauty, dignity, and purpose. The Spirit and Bride say come! Even so Lord Jesus!
