Isaiah 62:1

Isaiah 62:1 says, 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.  Isaiah was a prophet, and Matthew Henry points out that the purpose of a prophet is to preach and pray. and he said he wasn’t going to rest until righteousness shined with brightness in Zion.  Isaiah may have spoken the wrods, but it was God Who was going to do what he prophesied.  He was not going to do this so he would be praised, but he was going to do it because God had called Him do it and for the sake of the people.  We as Christians need to be at work sharing God’s word today, and we should realize that the primary purpose of preachers is to preach and pray.  God has called other people to take care of the everyday business of the church if they will only answer His call.  Of course, the goal of the preacher should be to reach the lost and strengthen those who are believers in Jesus Christ and should never be to make themselves look powerful nor to make themselves rich materially.  Isaiah also said he would not hold his peace, which I believe means he would proclaim God’s word even if it put Him in danger.  As Christians, we should never allow fear to keep us from proclaiming God’s word.

Verse two adds, 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.  Isaiah said that when the word of God was proclaimed that the Gentiles would see the righteousness of the people of Israel.  This was not their righteousness, but the righteousness of God reflected in them.  When we become a follower of Christ, we should reflect His righteousness to those around us so that they will want to become a part of His kingdom. Isaiah also said they would have a new name.  Some denominations give themselves a new name when they accept Jesus Christ, but I don’t believe that this is what this verse means.  God would give them new name.  To me, it means that we will now be called God’s sons and daughters and not sons and daughters of Satan. 

Verse three continues, Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.  Matthew Henry says this is one new name that those who come to God in faith will be called.  They will be called a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord.  The crown will not be to adorn the one who is called a crown, but will be to adorn God, Who made salvation possible.  We are never to serve God because we expect to be glorified, but we are to serve Him so that He will be. 

Verse four states, Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.  Then, we have two name changes stated in this verse.  The name Hephzibah means ‘ My delight is in her.’  As stated earlier, we will no longer be strangers to God who displease Him, but we will be His child and He will delight in us, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but because we have accepted His gift of salvation.  Isaiah also said that their land would be called Beulah, which Matthew Henry says means married.  As Christians, we are the bride of Christ and are spiritually married to Him. 

Verse five adds, For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.   Matthew Henry says this refers to the people of Israel being married to their own land, or to the kingdom of God that they became a part of.  When they were a part of His kingdom, God would rejoice over them like a groom does over his bride.  God still does this with Christians today.