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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).