In light of the glorious vision for Israel’s future (61-62), Isaiah is moved to proclaim, pray, and prepare; he joyfully proclaims the good news of God’s coming salvation to Zion (1-5), he enlists watchmen to continually pray until God fulfills His promises to Israel (6-9), and he begins preparations for the return and restoration of God’s people (10-12).
The promise and prospect of a righteous nation in a rebuilt Jerusalem is news that Isaiah must loudly proclaim: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet” (1). Isaiah plans to trumpet these glad tidings about a restored Zion “until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch” (1).
God’s saving work on behalf of His people will be globally noticed: “the nations shall see your righteousness and all the kings your glory” (2). The Lord’s restoration of Zion and its people will display His righteousness (He keeps His promises) and their righteousness (they keep His laws).
All the earth will see Zion sparkle like a “crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (3).
To change the word picture, Jerusalem and its people will no longer called a “Forsaken” and “Desolate” (4). Instead, she will be “called by a new name the mouth of the Lord will give” (2). What is this new name? Isaiah provides not one new name, but six: “My Delight Is In Her” (Hebrew: Hepzibah—4), “Married” (Hebrew: Beulah—4), “The Holy People” (12), “The Redeemed of the Lord” (12), “Sought Out” (12), “A City Not Forsaken” (12).
Zion will no longer be a city forsaken by God and desolate of people. Rather, both the Lord and the sons of Israel will “delight in” and “rejoice over” her. “For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (5). This is the glad announcement that Isaiah cannot hide or hold back. He will “not keep silent” and “not be quiet” about God’s promised future for Jerusalem and the restored people of Israel.
After saying he cannot keep silent, Isaiah enlists others to raise their voices as well (6-9). He stations “watchmen” on the city walls who will speak up as well: “all the day and all the night they shall never be silent” (6). Whereas Isaiah cried out in proclamation, these watchmen are charged to cry out in prayer: “You who put the Lord is remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest” (6-7). They incessantly petition the Lord to fulfill His promises for His people; they are commitment to persistent prayer “until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth” (7).
Thankfully, the watchmen can pray with boldness and faith. For the Lord “has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm” to permanently regather and restore His people. His promise is unequivocal: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored” (8). Instead, God’s people will enjoy their own crops and drink their own wine (9). God’s promise emboldens the prayers of his people.
After personally proclaiming the glorious news of God’s promise to restore His people to their own land (1-5) and deploying watchmen to pray without ceasing for God to fulfill His promises (6-9), Isaiah sets another group of God’s people to work preparing for what’s coming (10-12).
Isaiah calls for help in getting ready for those who will return: “Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples” (10). The wording of this verse (and the chapter), echoes themes from Isaiah 40 (compare 40:10 and 62:10). Fully expecting the Lord to fulfill His promises, Isaiah enlists help to prepare the way for the Lord’s people to stream back into Jerusalem. In addition to smoothing the path they will walk, Isaiah has a “signal” banner raised as a rallying point for those coming home. Previously, Isaiah had spoken of a signal banner raised to direct Israel’s invaders to Jerusalem (5:26); now the banner is raised to welcome God’s scattered, exiled people back home (11:12).
How can Isaiah be so confident of this glorious reversal and joyous return? The Lord has given His word it will happen! “Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes” (11). Most important of all, Israel’s salvation is God Himself: “your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him” (11). The Lord is His people’s salvation. His promise and presence ensure His people’s victory.
Those who return carry “a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give” (2). They are called “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord.” And Jerusalem carries a new name as well: “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken” (12). God’s people—rescued, redeemed, and regathered—dwell safely in their own land as living testimony to God’s power and promise. God’s city—Jerusalem—becomes “a praise in the earth” (7). In the sight of all nations, the Lord fulfills His promises to His people for His global glory.
Behold Your God
The Lord is not offended by incessant prayers that His promises be fulfilled. Isaiah stations watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, charging them to “put the Lord is remembrance” and “give him no rest” (6-7) until He fulfills His promises to His people. Their continual prayers evidence confident faith; because the Lord keeps His word, His people can “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), assured that they are asking “according to His will”, confident their prayers will be heard and answered (1 John 5:14).
The Lord will make His people and their city glorious for His global glory. The Lord promises His people a glorious future for the sake of His own global glory. When the “nations” see God’s people righteous and radiant (2), and see Jerusalem shining like a jeweled crown in His hand (3), then His “praise” will cover “the earth” (7). The Lord links His own glory to the glorious future of His own! So, we can look forward with both anticipation and confidence that He will bring it to pass. His people will one day be righteous and radiant, bringing praise to Him.
The Lord is the salvation of His people. Isaiah opens the chapter by loudly proclaiming the good news that the Lord will bring salvation to His people (1). As he closes the chapter, Isaiah declares God’s proclamation that He, Himself, is the salvation His people long for: “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him” (11). The Lord is salvation. The promises and rewards He gives are wrapped up in His person and presence with us. He Himself is the best gift of all.
Here Am I
I can confidently rest and openly rejoice in God’s enduring love for His people. Although God’s people have been rightly called “Forsaken” and “Desolate” (4), they will ultimately be “called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give” (2). Because of the Lord’s steadfast, covenantal love, His people will forever be called “My Delight Is in Her,” “Married” (7), “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord” (12). We are who He says we are!
I can confidently proclaim and persistently pray for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Isaiah shows how we should respond to God’s promises: Declare them loudly and pray for them repeatedly. Our prayers do not come from doubt but assurance that He will make good on His word. The question is not if, but when. So, I should tell others what God has promised to do and tell Him I am counting on Him to fulfill His promises.
While I can’t bring in God’s salvation, I can prepare for its arrival. Isaiah commissions workers to “prepare the way for the people” who will stream back to Jerusalem. In confident anticipation of God’s salvation, he makes preparations. While we can’t bring in God’s kingdom by human efforts, we can get ready for it to come. Our preparation is tangible evidence of our faith. Our preparation is fueled by both hope and conviction: God will surely bring about the glorious future He has promised to His people. So, I can proclaim it, pray about it, and prepare for it!
Rick and Linda Reed 