Isaiah 62-64

Isaiah 62

Jerusalem is Loved 

• “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent”
• Righteousness will shine like brightness
• Nations will see God’s work
• “You shall be called by a new name”
  • New identity or calling (Abram → Abraham, Jacob → Israel)

A marriage

• Crown in the LORD’s hand
• No longer “Forsaken” or “Desolate”
• New names
  •  Hephzibah חֶפְצִי־בָּהּ(“My delight is in her”)
  •  Beulah בְּעוּלָה (“Married”)

Protection for Zion

• Watchmen to watch over
• Sworn by God’s right hand 
• No more stolen harvest
• No more humiliation

The Way Prepared

• Clear the way
• Lift up a signal to nations
• Salvation coming

Zion called:

• “The Holy People”
• “The Redeemed of the LORD”
• “Sought Out”
• “City Not Forsaken”

Isaiah 63

A Day of Vengeance 

• Coming from Edom (enemy territory)
• Garments stained red
  • “I have trodden the winepress alone”
  • Blood splattered garments
• Year of redemption

God describes His fury and anger

God’s Past Mercy

• “I will recount the steadfast love (חֶסֶד, ḥesed) of the LORD”
• God as Savior in distress
• Carried them like shepherd

Angel of His Presence מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו (mal’akh panav) “messenger of his face/presence”

We hear of God the Father (YHWH), God the Son (Savior, Angel of His Presence) and God the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit) in these passages (verses 7-11)

Restoration

• Plea: “Look down from heaven”
  • Asks where God’s zeal, strength, yearning, and mercies are
• “You are our Father”
• Abraham may not know us, but You do

Longing for return: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down”

Isaiah 64

Theophanyyyyy 

• Mountains quake
• Fire kindles brushwood
• God visibly intervene like at Sinai.

We have a unique God!

• No god besides Him
• Acts for those who wait

Our Sin

• “All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”
• We fade like leaf
• We have made God angry
  • He has hidden His face from us
  • Consumed us 

Appeal to God

• “You are our Father”
• We are clay; You are potter
• We are your people!

Condition of Zion

• Holy places burned
• Wilderness, desolate
• Laid waste

Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O LORD? Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely?

Questions

Is Angel of His Presence same as Angel of the LORD

Application

Isaiah 62 gives us hope that one day Zion will be restored and renamed. There will be redemption for God’s people, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Isaiah 63 shows us that God is both the ultimate Judge and giver of mercy. For years His people have been longing for His return. Isaiah 64 shows us that our sins stain us, but we have a God who acts for those who wait.