Remember how back in chapter 22, judgement on Jerusalem was announced? Well, we’ve been told in chapter 40 that the prophet is to speak comfort to the city and now as we come to the close of the book, God himself sings over the city. Keen eyes will observe that the end of Isaiah is very closely mimicked by the end of Revelation. There we will see a new heavens and earth as we do in Isaiah 65 and just as the end of the Bible turns our focus onto a new Jerusalem, so too here in Isaiah 62, that’s where our gaze is directed.
Read Isaiah 62
A song is to be sung over the city and the singer will not be silenced. They sing of Jerusalem’s salvation and restoration. If the city was abandoned and desolate during the exile, it is now restored to its former glory and the eyes of the world are on it. Jerusalem is now the crowning glory of all God’s works (v1-4).
The city (as in Revelation), is portrayed as a beautiful bride. Notice that this is used in two ways. First, to show the affection of the inhabitants (her sons) for the city. Secondly, to describe God’s relationship to her. He is the bridegroom who admires, loves and takes joyful delight in his beautiful bride (v5). God will protect the city and keep her safe. He does this by appointing lookouts, watch men on the walls to keep guard so that no invader can come in to seize or plunder the city (v6-9).
Once again, there is a call to prepare the city and its inhabitants for their chosen king. Salvation is coming and God has declared this wonder to the nations. God makes his people, in his chosen city holy, setting them apart to serve him, a purified and beautiful bride. The name “not forsaken” might be considered an understated way of declaring that the city is loved, nurtured and protected (v10-12).
The Bride
When John picks up this imagery and language at the end of Revelation, he makes clear that the bride’s identity is the Church. Paul in Ephesians 5:22-32 uses marriage imagery to show Christ’s sacrificial, redemptive and purifying love for the church. This love of Christ for church and church for Christ offers an example of what Christian marriage should be like.
We may consider on a practical level too how God keeps his promise to protect his new Jerusalem by setting watchmen, the elders and leaders in The Church with responsibility for teaching the church and keeping a look out for wolves.
Ponder
Mediate on
“The Lord delights in you” (v4)
- What does it mean to hear these words said about Christ’s church throughout history and around the world today?
- What does it mean to hear those words said about your local church?
- What does it mean to hear those words said about you?
Jesus you are at the centre of it all. You are the one who delights in us and we delight in you
Faithroots 