Isaiah 62
Big idea: A city gets new names — she was called Forsaken and Desolate, and will be called My Delight Is In Her and Married — and the watchmen on her walls are given a job description that consists of not letting God rest until it happens.
The renaming answers 49:14 directly: Zion said she had been forsaken, and the new name is the denial of that word.
62:1–12 — You will be called Hephzibah
The speaker's own commitment is stated first and it is about persistence: for Zion's sake I will not keep quiet, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch. Then the effect on the audience — the nations will see your righteousness and all kings your glory — and the first of the new names: you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh will designate. You will also be a crown of beauty in Yahweh's hand, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. A crown held rather than worn, which is a different image from the usual one.
1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp. 2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name, which Yahweh’s mouth will name. 3 You will also be a crown of beauty in Yahweh’s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand. 4 You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land will be married. 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you. 6 I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest, 7 and give him no rest until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise on the earth. 8 Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, “Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners will not drink your new wine, for which you have labored, 9 but those who have harvested it will eat it, and praise Yahweh. Those who have gathered it will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.” 10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Build up, build up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples. 11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes! Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him!’” 12 They will call them “The Holy People, Yahweh’s Redeemed”. You will be called “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken”.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).