Zion's New Name
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
God will do what he is going to do and nothing will stop him. He has started doing it already by awakening within us a need to repent, fast and pray. He will not stop until The Salvation Army surpasses the glory of its historical victories with an even greater Pentecostal outpouring than that seen in the late 19th century.
2 The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendour in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
We are ‘the righteousness of Christ’ – this is the first direct reference in this chapter to personal holiness “Christ in me the hope of glory”. Our holiness will be visible to all – more than that it will ‘be seen’ (i.e. acknowledged) by the world. What Christ intends to do through us will be seen even by Kings (politicians etc)
I believe that this new name ties in with the other ‘new’ things promised for the church, namely the ‘new covenant’ (Jeremiah 31) the ‘new heart’ (Ezekiel 36) both of course quoted in the New Testament.
Sceptre and diadem indicates power and authority – we will become the sign of Christ’s authority in the spiritual realms.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The power and authority we are given is to ‘make disciples’ and defeat demons, the power is given to release prisoners and increase the kingdom. However, a sceptre and a diadem are only symbols of power, they only come into their own when the power they represent is utilised.
According to Revelation 2 and 3 a ‘new name’ is given by God to those that overcome and there are obvious links between Isaiah 62 and Revelation especially in regard to brides and weddings! I think the new name is an indication of the covenant changing hands – belonging not to a specific race but to those who believe (i.e. those who overcome).
4 No longer will they call you Deserted,‘Deserted’ and ‘Desolate’ – what do you see when you read these words? I see empty halls, galleries once full and now used as store rooms or converted into offices. I see empty houses at the training college. I see Corps without leaders. I see resigning officers and backsliding soldiers, I see little used Mercy Seats and never used Holiness Tables – need I say more? These adjectives apply to the contemporary SA certainly in the UK and undoubtedly in other territories.
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, [a]
and your land Beulah [b] ;
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a maiden,
so will your sons [c] marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
I believe this refers to our calling we have been commissioned as watchmen. The task of a watchman is an onerous one and carries heavy penalties for failure. Our calling is like that of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:16-24).
Once commissioned as a watchman there is no escape from potential judgement, we are now not only accountable for ourselves but for the wider Army. This is an enormous but privileged responsibility.
This is a tough calling –‘day and night’ - ‘no rest’ .
Above all of the prophets Ezekiel was unique in many ways. He has always been a favourite of mine – when I see Ezekiel I see Railton – when I see them together I see an Army of dead bones coming to life as God’s spirit falls upon them (Ezekiel 37)
I believe this is a reference to personal and corporate holiness. This is the grain and wine that Osborne picked up on – this is the bread and blood of the new covenant. The toiling refers to the dedication of people who strive hard yet see little visible result.8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
"Never again will I give your grain
as food for your enemies,
and never again will foreigners drink the new wine
for which you have toiled;
9 but those who harvest it will eat it
and praise the LORD,
and those who gather the grapes will drink it
in the courts of my sanctuary."
This refers to Officers running corps that are set up as examples of best practice but compare their results against Acts 2. They may be doing well by contemporary standards but they remain hungry and wanting more. The wine being drunk by foreigners and the grain being eaten by enemies is a reference to the ‘trickle’ ministry such people have to endure. ‘Enemies’ and ‘foreigners’ I believe refers to the demonic who’s hold can only be loosed by repentance. Repentance is made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. What are we released into? Holiness!!!
“Lord, let me share that grace of thine
Wherewith thou didst sustain
The burden of the fruitful vine,
The gift of buried grain.
Who dies with thee, O Word divine,
Shall rise and live again.”
The Salvation Army is that denomination which has been entrusted (I believe more than any other) with the propagation of personal holiness – yet more onerous and serious responsibilities.
10 Pass through, pass through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations.
We have to ‘pass through’ in order to prepare a way – the holiness argument can only be proven by example. How do we pass through? Repentance, prayer, fasting, fervent desire and again and again and again! (See Matt Clifton’s article in JAC) The way of course is the “Way of holiness”. The way was originally prepared by John who was in turn a prophet in the OT tradition.
The banner is of course ‘his love’ but also the good old yellow, red and blue!
11 The LORD has made proclamation
to the ends of the earth:
"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your Savior comes!
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.'
This is it, buckle your seatbelts and hang on – the ride is about to start – remain seated at all times and don’t put your hands outside the carriage! What a fortunate people we are. We have been called (may Churchill forgive me) not to witness the end but to be actively involved in the beginning of the end – Hallelujah.
12 They will be called the Holy People,
the Redeemed of the LORD;
and you will be called Sought After,
the City No Longer Deserted.
Do I need to comment on this? What can I say!!!!! I love the title ‘sought after’ – what a turn around for a largely rejected people and the ‘no longer deserted’ wow. Clear out the galleries, don’t start selling bits of the training college and no more compromise! Imagine the Salvation Army openly called “the Holy People” imagine our dedication and our separation being recognised (not a false and unfounded reputation but a genuine reflection of God’s glory) An Army ‘who’s good works so shine before men…”– not for our glory but for the sake of the lost. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 62:4 Hephzibah means my delight is in her .
b. Isaiah 62:4 Beulah means married .
c. Isaiah 62:5 Or Builder
Divorce!
Now to the persistent image I get when I pray into these verses. When I read this chapter I feel compelled to turn to Hosea, Jeremiah 3 and also to Ezekiel 16 (Ezekiel again!). Ezekiel 16 is a potted history of The Salvation Army.
I sense that the marriage referred to in Isaiah 62 is a reconciliation following divorce. The grounds for divorce were our prostitution (Jeremiah 3). This is God in grace attempting (longing) to mend a broken covenant.
1 "If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?"
declares the LORD.
2 "Look up to the barren heights and see.
Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers,
sat like a nomad in the desert.
You have defiled the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and no spring rains have fallen.
Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
you refuse to blush with shame.
4 Have you not just called to me:
'My Father, my friend from my youth,
5 will you always be angry?
Will your wrath continue forever?'
This is how you talk,
but you do all the evil you can."
I sense that this is significant. These 5 verses from Jeremiah describe TSA (UK) perfectly. The ‘brazen look’ the refusal to ‘blush with shame’ (repent) the withholding of ‘showers’ and ‘spring rains’.
At this wedding we will be asked to once again publicly assert our vows, to publicly assert our commitment. A divorcee could not do this a without first of all confronting their infidelity. This is restoration but it is not restoration without recognition of culpability! We will have to face up to and acknowledge our failings if we are to enjoy our wedding!
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