Kd – You Will be a Crown of Splendor in the LORD’s Hand 62: 1-5

You Will be a Crown of Splendor in the LORD’s Hand,
a Royal Diadem in the Hand of Your God
62: 1-5

You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God DIG: What is ADONAI’s intent for the Israelites? What does each new name indicate about God’s new relationship with His people (62:4, 12; also see 60:14, 18)? Why is a new name so important for Zion? What names and words have been associated with her in the past? Why? Why will they no longer be appropriate? What does the picture of marriage communicate about God’s relationship to His people Isra’el (compare 62:5 with 61:10)? How does Jerusalem, the Wife of the LORD (60:1-22) parallel to Jerusalem, the Wife of the LORD here?

REFLECT: Of the new names ADONAI gives to the people He saves, which one means the most to you right now? Why? Do you normally tend to think of God’s relationship with you as that of a bride to her waiting bridegroom? Or a judge to a criminal? Why? How does each picture affect your view of Him? Of yourself? What does it mean to you personally that the LORD keeps His promises to Isra’el?

Isaiah will not be silent until Zion’s cause is vindicated, her fame and glory are universally acknowledged, she and her children are reunited, and God rejoices over her as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. The reason Jerusalem can’t have peace today is because her Messiah is not there; there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes (9:6b).

For Zion’s sake I, ADONAI, will not keep silent; for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet until her righteousness shines out like the dawn and her salvation is like a burning torch (62:1). Isaiah’s prayer is based on God’s promises in Chapters 60 and 61. In those chapters the LORD clearly spells out what He intends to do on behalf of Isra’el as a nation and Jerusalem in particular. And He has spelled out the exaltation of Jerusalem in the Millennial Kingdom. But knowing all that ADONAI intends to do for Isra’el and Jerusalem does not keep Isaiah from praying to that end. In Romans 9 we learn that although God is sovereign and in control of the events that come to pass according to His will, He not only ordains the end but also the means. And among the means are the prayers of believers. So on the basis of God’s promises, Isaiah prays for the fulfillment of the LORD’s promises in Chapters 60 and 61. The result of the prayer, in 62:2-5, is the restoration of the abandoned and desolate City.

Next, Isaiah emphasizes Jerusalem’s righteousness when that day comes. He says: The nations will see your righteousness and all kings your glory (61:2a). How will her glory be seen? Her new name will reflect her new character. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow (61:2b). A new heart, a new position, a new earth and a new righteousness demand a new name. In the ancient Near East names often signified one’s anticipated or present character. So Jerusalem’s having a new name means it will have a new righteous character. This will solely be the work of God because the very mouth of ADONAI will have spoken it. Isaiah does not tell us this new name in his day. But the prophet Ezeki’el revealed it over one hundred years later when he prophesied about Jerusalem during the millennial Kingdom saying: And the name of the City from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE (Ezeki’el 48:35).

The uniqueness of Isra’el was the fact that ADONAI dwelt in her midst. His continued presence, however, was her obedience to the Covenant by which she promised to be a holy people to her holy God. This was in striking contrast to the surrounding nations whose worship was as cruel and immoral as their gods. The LORD had promised His presence among His people from the beginning (Exodus 3:2, 14-14, 23:20, 33:14-16). First, the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38), and then the Temple (Second Chronicles 7:1-3) were both places where His Sh’khinah glory dwelt among His people. The presence of God was, and is, the hope and end of all prophecy. Consequently, the fullest meaning of this prophecy will be realized during the millennial Kingdom when Messiah rules and reigns from Jerusalem, and she is called the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Isra’el (60:14b).

ADONAI Shammah means THE LORD IS THERE (Deuteronomy 7:21; Isaiah 48:16; Zephaniah 3:5 and 15). Wherever I go, ADONAI is there. Whatever sticky situation I get myself into, God is there. Whenever I am afraid, the LORD of heaven’s angelic armies is there to protect me. I am never, ever alone because my faithful Savior is always there with me.

Isaiah moves from the aspect of righteousness to the aspect of beauty. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God (62:3). Only ADONAI can be Jerusalem’s glorious crown. Here Yerushalayim is viewed as wearing the royal diadem on the turban of the high priest (see my commentary on Exodus, to see link click Gc – Make a Plate and Engrave On It: Holy to the LORD), and fulfilling her function as the capital City of a nation of priests. Zion will display His splendor and at that time His character will be displayed through her.

Back in Chapter 54 Isaiah pointed out that there would be a remarriage between the LORD and the deserted wife, Jerusalem, who had been divorced from God and punished for her spiritual adultery. But now we are told there will be a restoration and a remarriage. Isra’el is also going to have a new position. And that remarriage is emphasized in 62:4-5.

You will no longer be spoken of as ‘Azuvah (Abandoned), or your Land be spoken of as ‘Sh’mamah (Desolate) the previous characteristics of the city (62:4a CJB). Back in 1:7, God had said to Isra’el: Your Land is desolate. He called on them to recognize that fact and change it. The rest of the book between Chapter 1 and 62 is about how the desolate can become married. The message is that it is only possible when the Israelites surrender their foolish desire to exalt themselves, with all the human destruction that this desire entails, entrust themselves to God, receive His free grace, made available to them through the Servant, and accept His commission to become His witnesses (servants) in the world.²⁴⁸ No, these two names would no longer be valid, but two other names would take their place.

Rather, you will be called Heftzi-Vah (My delight is in her, which was also the name of Manasseh in Second Kings 21:1) and your Land Be’ulah (married). For ADONAI delights in you, and your land will be married (62:4b CJB). Instead of Abandoned, God said they would be called My delight is in her. And in place of the name Desolate, God would then call the Land married. The emptied City and the wasted Land will become objects of His delight, devotion and joy. The new names My delight is in her and Married are explained as the wedding and the honeymoon respectively.

As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you (62:5). We see that as a young man marries a virgin, so will ADONAI view this remarriage (Jeremiah 3:8). Isra’el will be so thoroughly cleansed and purified of her sins that she will be looked upon as a virgin again. As a bridegroom rejoices over His bride so the LORD will rejoice over Isra’el. He does not see Himself as Zion’s Destroyer, but as her Husband, who will care for her, nourish her, and protect her.²⁴⁹

Have you ever noticed the way a groom looks at his bride during the wedding? If the light is right, you can see a tiny reflection in his eyes. Her reflection. And the sight of her reminds him why he is there. His jaw relaxes and his forced smile softens. He forgets he’s wearing a tux. He forgets his sweat-soaked shirt . . . When he sees her, any thought of escape becomes a joke again. For it’s written all over his face, “Who could bear to live without this bride?” And such are precisely the feelings of the Messiah. Look long enough into the eyes of our Savior and, there, too, you will see the bride. Dressed in fine linen. Clothed in pure grace . . . She is the bride . . . walking toward Him . . . And who is this bride for whom Jesus longs? . . . You are. For you have captured the heart of ADONAI.