Jamieson, Fausset & Brown :: Commentary on Isaiah 62

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET

CHAPTER 62

      1. I--the prophet, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare Isa 62:6, 7 Psa 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 Pro 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 Rev 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 Deu 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 ( Rev 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 Rev 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 JF & B for 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 ( Psa 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 ( Psa 122:6 51:18 ); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church ( Luk 18:1, 7 Rom 1:9 ).
      a praise--(See on JF & B for Isa 61:11; Zep 3:20 ).

      8. sworn by. . . right hand--His mighty instrument of accomplishing His will (compare Isa 45:23 Hbr 6:13 ).
      sons of. . . stranger--Foreigners shall no more rob thee of the fruit of thy labors (compare Isa 65:21, 22 ).

      9. eat. . . and praise--not consume it on their own lusts, and without thanksgiving.
      drink it in. . . courts--They who have gathered the vintage shall drink it at the feasts held in the courts surrounding the temple ( Deu 12:17, 18 14:23, &c.).

      10. What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in ( Isa 62:1 ) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were unrestingly to pray for ( Isa 62:7 ), and what Jehovah solemnly promised ( Isa 62:8, 9 ), is now to be fulfilled; the Gentile nations are commanded to "go through the gates" (either of their own cities [ROSENMULLER] or of Jerusalem [MAURER]), in order to remove all obstacles out of "the way of the people (Israel)" (see on JF & B for Isa 7:14; Isa 40:3 52:10-12 ).
      standard--for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to their return ( Isa 49:22 11:12 ).

      11. salvation--embodied in the Saviour (see Zec 9:9 ).
      his work--rather, recompense ( Isa 40:10 ).

      12. Sought out--Sought after and highly prized by Jehovah; answering to "not forsaken" in the parallel clause; no longer abandoned, but loved; image from a wife ( Isa 62:4 Jer 30:14 ).