Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 62:1-12. Intercessory prayers for Zion‘s restoration, accompanying God‘s promises of it, as the appointed means of accomplishing it.

I — the prophet, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7; Psalm 102:13-17), or else Messiah (compare Isaiah 62:6). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His efforts for His people (Isaiah 42:4; Isaiah 50:7).

righteousness thereof — not its own inherently, but imputed to it, for its restoration to God‘s favor: hence “salvation” answers to it in the parallelism. “Judah” is to be “saved” through “the Lord our (Judah‘s and the Church‘s) righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).

as brightness — properly the bright shining of the rising sun (Isaiah 60:19; Isaiah 4:5; 2 Samuel 23:4; Proverbs 4:18).

lamp — blazing torch.

(Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 42:1-6; Isaiah 49:7, Isaiah 49:22, Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:5, Isaiah 60:16).

new name — expression of thy new and improved condition (Isaiah 62:4), the more valuable and lasting as being conferred by Jehovah Himself (Isaiah 62:12; Isaiah 65:15; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:12).

(Zechariah 9:16)

in … hand of … Lord — As a crown is worn on the head, not “in the hand,” hand must here be figurative for “under the Lord‘s protection” (compare Deuteronomy 33:3). “All His saints are in thy hand.” His people are in His hand at the same time that they are “a crown of glory” to Him (Revelation 6:2; Revelation 19:12); reciprocally, He is “a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty” to them (Isaiah 28:5; compare Malachi 3:17).

be termed — be “forsaken,” so as that that term could be applicable to thee.

Hephzi-bah — (2 Kings 21:1), the name of Hezekiah‘s wife, a type of Jerusalem, as Hezekiah was of Messiah (Isaiah 32:1): “my delight is in her.”

Beulah — “Thou art married.” See the same contrast of Zion‘s past and future state under the same figure (Isaiah 54:4-6; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:4).

land … married — to Jehovah as its Lord and Husband: implying not only ownership, but protection on the part of the Owner [Horsley].

thy sons — rather, changing the points, which are of no authority in Hebrew, “thy builder” or “restorer,” that is, God; for in the parallel clause, and in Isaiah 62:4, God is implied as being “married” to her; whereas her “sons” could hardly be said to marry their mother; and in Isaiah 49:18, they are said to be her bridal ornaments, not her husband. The plural form, builders, is used of God in reverence as “husbands” (see on Isaiah 54:5).

over the bride — in the possession of the bride (Isaiah 65:19; Jeremiah 32:41; Zephaniah 3:17).

I — Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah.

watchmen upon … walls — image from the watches set upon a city‘s wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings (Isaiah 52:7, Isaiah 52:8); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Isaiah 21:6-11; Isaiah 56:10; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:7). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen.

ye that … mention … Lord — Hebrew, “ye that are the Lord‘s remembrancers”; God‘s servants who by their prayers “put God in remembrance” of His promises (Isaiah 43:26); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises (Psalm 119:49; Jeremiah 14:21).

peace … not rest” (Isaiah 62:1); Messiah‘s watchmen (Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7) imitate Him (Isaiah 62:1) in intercessory “prayer without ceasing” for Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6; Psalm 51:18); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church (Luke 18:1, Luke 18:7; Romans 1:9).

a praise — (See on Isaiah 61:11; Zephaniah 3:20).

right hand — His mighty instrument of accomplishing His will (compare Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:13).

sons of … stranger — Foreigners shall no more rob thee of the fruit of thy labors (compare Isaiah 65:21, Isaiah 65:22).

and praise — not consume it on their own lusts, and without thanksgiving.

drink it in … courts — They who have gathered the vintage shall drink it at the feasts held in the courts surrounding the temple (Deuteronomy 12:17, Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 14:23, etc.).

What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in (Isaiah 62:1) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were unrestingly to pray for (Isaiah 62:7), and what Jehovah solemnly promised (Isaiah 62:8, Isaiah 62:9), is now to be fulfilled; the Gentile nations are commanded to “go through the gates” (either of their own cities [Rosenmuller] or of Jerusalem [Maurer]), in order to remove all obstacles out of “the way of the people (Israel)” (see on Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 52:10-12).

standard — for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to their return (Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 11:12).

salvation — embodied in the Saviour (see Zechariah 9:9).

his work — rather, recompense (Isaiah 40:10).

Sought out — Sought after and highly prized by Jehovah; answering to “not forsaken” in the parallel clause; no longer abandoned, but loved; image from a wife (Isaiah 62:4; Jeremiah 30:14).