Isaías 62
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 62:1-5
62:1 "Zion. . .Jerusalem" These are in a Hebrew parallel relationship. Jerusalem was built on seven hills. Mount Zion was not the site of the Temple, but the location of David's palace and came to be a reference to the whole city of Jerusalem. SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM ▣ The VERBS "be silent" (Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 364, KB 361) and "be quiet" (Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 1052, KB 1641), both negated, are related to the positive statement of Isa. 61:1. The "I" could refer to the prophet or the Servant/Messiah (Deity breaks the silence mentioned in Isa. 42:14; 57:11; 64:12; 65:6). Obviously Isaiah 60-62 are a literary unit. ▣ "righteousness. . .salvation" These two words also are in a parallel relationship. Righteousness speaks of the position and lifestyle of the people of God which results in their physical deliverance from their enemies. In the OT the term "salvation" primarily refers to a physical deliverance, while in the NT the term refers primarily to spiritual forgiveness and a standing before God. Zion's (cf. Isa. 61:10-11) new day has come and will affect the whole world (cf. Isa. 62:2; 60:3)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT) ▣ "brightness. . .burning" Again the presence of YHWH is connected to light, as it was on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 19-20). See note at Isa. 60:1. Israel was meant to be "the light" of YHWH to the darkness of paganism and fertility worship. However, she was captured by them. The NT gives this same mission of revelation (i.e. Jesus is God's ultimate Light, cf. John 1:4; 8:12; 12:35) and evangelism as the believers' task (cf. Matt. 5:14-16; 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: LIGHT SPECIAL TOPIC: DARKNESS 62:2 "The nations will see your righteousness" Israel was chosen by YHWH to be a witness to the entire world to bring them to Himself (cf. Isa. 62:11; 52:10; 60:3; 61:6,11; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6). This is the true meaning of the phrase "a kingdom of priests" (cf. Exod. 19:5-6). ▣ "And you will be called by a new name" The imparting of a new name implies the new age of the Spirit. The new covenant is realized. The term "new" (BDB 294 I) is used extensively in the second part of Isaiah to describe the new day of righteousness. new things, Isa. 42:9; 48:6 new song, Isa. 42:10 (cf. Rev. 5:9; 14:3) something new, Isa. 43:19 (cf. Rev. 3:12) new name, Isa. 62:2 (cf. Isa. 56:5) new heavens and a new earth, Isa. 65:17; 66:22 (cf. 2 Pet 3:13) The "new" day (cf. Rev. 21:5) was, in reality, the day that God always wanted for humans, but the Fall in Genesis 3 caused a terrible disruption! It is surely possible that the Bible's imagery of heaven is a restored Garden of Eden (cf. Rev. 21:2). SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD THINGS. . .NEW THINGS SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND SPECIAL TOPIC: EDEN 62:3 The Jerome Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 383, mentions that ancient eastern people believed their gods wore a crown shaped like the city that worshiped them. If so, then this may be a cultural allusion to this concept. This view depends on YHWH being the speaker of chapter 62 how widespread this pagan concept was known The Bible does use pagan imagery to describe and magnify YHWH. Four of many possible examples: "God of Heaven" in Nehemiah allusion to Persian Zoroastrian deity, Mal. 4:2 allusion to the twelve signs of the zodiac in Rev. 12:1 allusion to evil as a dragon In Isa. 28:5 YHWH Himself is the crown of the covenant people. He is their glory, light, provision, protection, and victory! In Zech. 9:16 the covenant people are the jewels in YHWH's crown. ▣ "in the hand of the Lord. . .in the hand of your God" Notice the parallelism. Lord (BDB 217) = YHWH, SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. God (BDB 43) = Eloah, SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. The eternal, non-corporal Deity is described in human terms. We have no other option to describe God but human terms negations ‒ what He is not analogy ‒ what He is like SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD 62:4 "Forsaken (BDB 736 I). . .Desolate (BDB 1031)" This describes Israel's own interpretation of the Exile (i.e. these are their titles for themselves). They felt they had been forsaken (cf. Isa. 49:14-21; 54:6-7) by YHWH and wondered if He would ever love them again (cf. v. 12). ▣ "My delight is in her" This is their true title! "Delight" may be the name "Hephzi-bah" (BDB 343, cf. 2 Kgs. 21:1). This is the beginning of sustained imagery about YHWH as marriage partner (cf. Isa. 62:4-5). It is hard to describe an infinite Holy Creator God, therefore, we have to use human analogies. It is common in the Bible to describe God as Father, as husband, as near kinsman. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD SPECIAL TOPIC: KINSMAN REDEEMER SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ "married" This can also be translated "Beulah" (BDB 127). Lines 4 and 5 may be the "new name" of Isa. 62:2c. This VERB (BDB 127, KB 42) is used four times in Isa. 62:4-5. Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, Isa. 62:4 Niphal IMPERFECT, Isa. 62:4 Qal IMPERFECT, Isa. 62:5 same as #3 Obviously, marriage is a good analogy for biblical faith (cf. Eph. 5:22-33). SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SEXUALITY 62:5 "virgin" All women in Israel/Judah were expected to be virgins when they married. SPECIAL TOPIC: VIRGIN ▣ NASB, NKJV "so your sons will marry you" "so shall your builder marry you" "He who formed you will marry you" "your rebuilder will wed you" "so will you be wedded to him who rebuilds you" "so shall your son dwell with you" "so shall your sons husband you" By a revocalization of the consonants (בניך) "sons" (MT) becomes "builder" (NRSV, JPSOA footnote, cf. Ps. 51:18; 102:16; 147:2), which fits the marriage imagery of the strophe better. However, the UBS Text Project, p. 156, gives the MT "sons" an A rating. YHWH is the builder! The LXX has a VERB that means "to dwell with." The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 336, says of this verse "Verse 5 presents as strange an analogy as that in Isa. 60:16. In both cases there seems to be an intentional breach in the normal application of the analogy, perhaps in the interests of vivid impression. Such analogies puzzle us, but we do not forget them!"
Isaías 62:6-9
62:6 "Watchmen" refers to the prophets (cf. Isa. 52:8; 56:10 [negated]; Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7), although the rabbis see it referring to angels (cf. Dan. 4:13-17; Zech. 1:12-17). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE 62:6-7 "You who remind the Lord. . .give Him no rest until He establishes. . .Jerusalem" This may refer to the theological truth that God has limited Himself to the prayers of His children (cf. James 4:2). It is not overcoming the reluctance of an apathetic Deity, but it is the intercessory ministry of the people of God claiming the promises of God. The VERBS "appointed" and "remind" are both Hiphils. SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW GRAMMAR, II. B. #6 62:8 "The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His strong arm" This is an anthropomorphic phrase (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism)). God does not have a body. He is Spirit (cf. John 4:24), yet He swears by His own ability to act! YHWH is a God who has, will, and does act in individual lives, as well as nations. YHWH's oath is a significant promise (cf. Isa. 54:9; Heb. 6:13-20; 7:20-28). It reminds us of the power of God's word, Isa. 55:11; 66:2d the trustworthy character of God, Isa. 45:22-23 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD [OT]) God has an eternal redemptive plan for all humans made in His image and likeness (cf. Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; 1 Pet. 1:20, see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). The Suffering Servant of Isa. 52:13-53:12 is the mechanism for universal redemption (cf. Rom. 5:12-21). The fellowship of Eden will be restored for those who repent and believe in God's Messiah. ▣ "enemies. . .foreigners" This refers to the invasion of Palestine by foreigners. It is a direct reference to the blessing versus cursing action of Lev. 26:16 and Deut. 28:30-33. Israel broke the Covenant. Israel suffered the consequences. YHWH promises a future day when the blessings will be a reality (i.e. 1 Pet. 1:4). Just a reminder, these are conditional promises. If Abraham's seed is faithful and obedient to YHWH's covenant, blessing will flow. The purpose of these blessings is to reach the nations' attention so they can come to Him and find peace, security, and abundance. The unconditional promises are related to YHWH's promises regarding salvation and restoration, but every individual must respond and continue to respond in an appropriate way (conditional covenant, see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT). repentance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE [OT]) faith (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT) sevice obedience (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) worship (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP) perseverance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE) 62:9 "will drink it in the courts of My sanctuary" This refers to the fellowship meal between YHWH and His covenant partner (cf. Deut. 12:18). These people are back in the land and the temple is restored. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING
Isaías 62:10-12
62:10-11 This is a message for the exiled people of God given by the prophet on YHWH's behalf. There is a series of eight IMPERATIVES. go through ‒ Qal, BDB 716, KB 778 go through ‒ same as #1 clear the way ‒ Piel, BDB 815, KB 937 build up ‒ Qal, BDB 699, KB 757 build up ‒ same as #4 (repeating VERBS is a common way of emphasis in Isaiah) remove the stones ‒ Piel, BDB 709, KB 768 lift up a standard ‒ Hiphil, BDB 926, KB 1202 say ‒ Qal, BDB 55, KB 65 62:10 "go through the gates" This could refer to the gates of the cities of Mesopotamia where the Israelites and Judeans were exiled (esp. Babylon) the gates of the rebuilt (i.e. Cyrus II's decree in 538 B.C.) Jerusalem (Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah) the temple ▣ "Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway" This is common imagery of preparing the road for a royal visit (cf. Isa. 11:16; 19:23; 35:6-10; 40:3-4; 49:11; 57:14). This is used several ways in the Bible. it is used of the return of the exiled it is used by John the Baptist as a self-designation of his own ministry (i.e. Isa. 40:3 quoted in Matt. 3:1-3) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY ▣ "lift up a standard" This refers to the flag of a tribe or military unit. Notice here the standard is over "the peoples" and Isa. 62:11a "to the end of the earth." The insignia of Israel is now the flag of all who believe, receive, and acknowledge YHWH (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-7; 60:1-3: 66:23). 62:11 "to the end of the earth" It is this universal aspect of YHWH's promises that signal that His love and salvation are for all humans, not just Israel. Please look at the important Special Topic below! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "Say. . ." There are three truths to be spoken (Qal IMPERATIVES) by the prophet about YHWH's coming (cf. Isa. 40:3) in blessing. your salvation comes (cf. Isa. 49:6) His reward is with Him His recompense before Him (cf. Isa. 40:10) 62:12 "they will call them" This is an allusion to "the new name" of Isa. 62:2. The non-Israelites will now call them, not "Forsaken" or "Desolate" (Isa. 62:4), but the holy people the redeemed of the Lord sought out ▣ "The redeemed of the Lord" "Redeemed" (BDB 145 I) is related to the concept of Go'el. This was the kinsman redeemer who bought back his relative from poverty or capture. YHWH as a go'el is another example of Deity described in close intimate personal family terms. SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM ▣ "Sought out, a city not forsaken" This title was very significant because it states the truth that God was not running from the covenant people but running toward them!