Grace Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion - Isaiah 62:1–5
Isaiah 62:1–5
1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah writes, “You shall be called by a new name, that the mouth of the Lord will give” (2b). When a man takes a woman to be his wife, she receives a new name, his name. Likewise, God in Christ gives His bride, the Church, a new name. Everyone who is Baptized into Christ are now recognized by Christ’s name. Because of His life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, we have the kind of relationship we long for; a relationship in which we can fully trust without the need to verify. That is the kind of trust we wish to have in our most intimate earthly relationship, our marriage. That is exactly the relationship God has established with you through Jesus. In the cross of Jesus, God demonstrated His love for the whole world by pouring out His grace and mercy.
The church is Christ’s bride and is “a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord” (3). Christ’s bride will no longer be called “Forsaken.” Whatever the world may say or do, or how it regards the church make no difference to the Lord; she is called “My Delight Is in Her.” Our Savior rejoices over the people whom He has redeemed and purchased with His blood. He “delights” in her and she shall be His glorious bride forever.
Though the enemies of God try to disgrace, ridicule, and destroy the church, the Lord makes her more attractive and desirable. Isaiah writes: “as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you” (5). The Lord has made His church pure, so the chosen of all nations, in all ages, are drawn to the church. In the twelfth chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus promises: “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (32). Even though Satan may oppose the church, the Holy Spirit draws people to receive, believe, and belong to the church until the end of time.
Beloved of Zion, precious Bride of Christ, what a day it will be when we are raised up in glory and completely transformed by Jesus’ righteousness! In that day our sin will be forever removed, and we will shine with the radiance of our Bridegroom. That will be the day of our wedding when our Bridegroom takes us by the hand and says, “Arise! Come with me, my beautiful one, to live forever with no more sorrow, pain, or death. Behold, I make all things new.”
On that great day, you will be inseparably joined to Jesus. You will be fully bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh (cf. Genesis 2:23). You will forever be called by your real name, Christian, for you were taken out of Christ. This is God’s promise to you. He has spoken, and the Lord will not be “silent” until He fully and eternally “rejoices over [His] bride” (5).
825 North 1st West
Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728
Sunday Service begins at 9:00AM
