JFB Commentary on Isaiah Chapter 62

Isaiah, Chapter 62

Isa 62:1-12. INTERCESSORY PRAYERS FOR ZION'S RESTORATION, ACCOMPANYING GOD'S PROMISES OF IT, AS THE APPOINTED MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING IT.

1. I--the prophet, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare Isa 62:6,7 Ps 102:13-17), or else Messiah (compare Isa 62:6). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His efforts for His people (Isa 42:4 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" (Jer 23:6).
as brightness--properly the bright shining of the rising sun (Isa 60:19 4:5 2Sa 23:4 Pr 4:18).
lamp--blazing torch.

2. (Isa 11:10 42:1-6 49:7,22,23 60:3,5,16).
new name--expression of thy new and improved condition (Isa 62:4), the more valuable and lasting as being conferred by Jehovah Himself (Isa 62:12 Isa 65:15 Re 2:17 3:12).

3. (Zec 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 De 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 (Re 6:2 19:12); reciprocally, He is "a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty" to them (Isa 28:5; compare Mal 3:17).

4. be termed--be "forsaken," so as that that term could be applicable to thee.
Hephzi-bah--(2Ki 21:1), the name of Hezekiah's wife, a type of Jerusalem, as Hezekiah was of Messiah (Isa 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 (Isa 54:4-6 Re 21:2,4).
land . . . married--to Jehovah as its Lord and Husband: implying not only ownership, but protection on the part of the Owner [HORSLEY].

5. 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 Isa 62:4, God is implied as being "married" to her; whereas her "sons" could hardly be said to marry their mother; and in Isa 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 Isa 54:5).
over the bride--in the possession of the bride (Isa 65:19 Jer 32:41 Zep 3:17).

6. 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 (Isa 52:7,8); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Isa 21:6-11 56:10 Eze 3:17 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 (Isa 43:26); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises (Ps 119:49 Jer 14:21).

7. no rest--Hebrew, "silence"; keep not silence yourselves, nor let Him rest in silence. Compare as to Messiah Himself, "I will not hold . . . peace . . . not rest" (Isa 62:1); Messiah's watchmen (Isa 62:6,7) imitate Him (Isa 62:1) in intercessory "prayer without ceasing" for Jerusalem (Ps 122:6 51:18); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church (Lu 18:1,7 Ro 1:9).
a praise--(See on Isa 61:11; Zep 3:20).

8. sworn by . . . right hand--His mighty instrument of accomplishing His will (compare Isa 45:23 Heb 6:13).
sons of . . . stranger--Foreigners shall no more rob thee of the fruit of thy labors (compare Isa 65:21,22).

9. eat . . . 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 (De 12:17,18 14:23, &c.).

10. What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in (Isa 62:1) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were unrestingly to pray for (Isa 62:7), and what Jehovah solemnly promised (Isa 62:8,9), 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 Isa 7:14; Isa 40:3 52:10-12).
standard--for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to their return (Isa 49:22 11:12).

11. salvation--embodied in the Saviour (see Zec 9:9).
his work--rather, recompense (Isa 40:10).

12. 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 (Isa 62:4 Jer 30:14).

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