A New Name for Zion
Study note
The prophet is so passionate about Jerusalem's future that he refuses to stay quiet or rest until her vindication shines out for the world to see. Nations and kings will witness her glory. God will give her a brand-new name, chosen by the Lord himself. She will be a crown of glory and a royal jewel in God's hand. She will no longer be called 'Forsaken' or 'Desolate.' Instead, she will be named 'Hephzibah,' meaning 'My Delight Is in Her,' and her land will be called 'Beulah,' meaning 'Married.' Just as a young man marries a bride, God will rejoice over Jerusalem with the joy of a bridegroom.
1 For Zion's sake, I will not stay quiet. For Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest. I will speak until her goodness blazes like the dawn. I will speak until her rescue burns like a torch. 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.
2 Every nation will see your righteousness, and every king will see your glory. You will receive a new name that the Lord himself will pick out for you. 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.
3 You will be a stunning crown held in the Lord's hand, a royal jewel in the palm of your God. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4 Nobody will ever call you "Abandoned" again. Your land will never again be called "Empty." Instead, your new name will be "My Delight Is in Her." Your land will be called "Married." The Lord takes delight in you, and your land will belong to him like a bride belongs to her groom. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5 Just as a young man marries his sweetheart, your people will be joined to you. And just as a groom beams with joy over his bride, your God will beam with joy over you. 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.
Watchmen on the Walls
Study note
God has posted watchmen on Jerusalem's walls who will never be silent, day or night. These watchmen are intercessors, people who pray to God on behalf of the city. They are told to give God no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it the praise of the earth. God has sworn by his own powerful right hand that Jerusalem's enemies will never again eat her grain or drink the wine she worked to produce. Instead, those who harvest the grain will eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of God's temple.
6 I have stationed watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never fall silent, day or night. You who pray to the Lord, do not give yourselves a break. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And do not give God a break either, until he builds Jerusalem up and makes it the praise of the entire earth. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The Lord has taken an oath by his own right hand and mighty arm: "I will never again let your enemies eat the grain you worked to grow. Foreigners will never again drink the wine you labored to produce." The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
9 "Instead, the people who harvested the grain will eat it and praise the Lord. The people who picked the grapes will drink the wine in the courtyards of my temple." But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
Prepare the Way for God's People
Study note
The final call goes out to prepare a highway for God's people. Gates must be opened, the road must be built up, stones must be cleared, and a banner must be raised for the nations to see. The Lord has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth: tell Zion that her Savior is coming, bringing his reward with him. The people will be called 'The Holy People' and 'The Redeemed of the Lord,' and the city will be called 'Sought Out' and 'A City No Longer Forsaken.'
10 March through the gates! March through! Get the road ready for the people! Build up the highway! Build it up! Clear every stone away! Raise a banner high so the nations can see! Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
11 The Lord has sent an announcement to the farthest corners of the earth: "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Look! Your Savior is on his way! He carries his reward with him, and what he has earned goes ahead of him.'" Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
12 They will be known as "The Holy People" and "The People the Lord Bought Back." And you will be called "Sought After" and "A City That Is No Longer Abandoned." And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.