Scripture Text (NRSV)
Isaiah 62:1-5
62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's
sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
62:2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your
glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the
LORD will give.
62:3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a
royal diadem in the hand of your God.
62:4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no
more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land
shall be married.
62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your
builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so
shall your God rejoice over you.
Comments:
The people's return to their homeland after the exile was not the
glorious event announced earlier by the prophet. Nevertheless, the
prophet declares hope. Jerusalem receives a new name as it becomes
God's bride; the people are called to the celebration.
Isaiah is speaking a word of comfort to a hurting and desolate people,
returning home after exile into Babylon. In Hebraic culture, a name
offered clues to one's identity. In receiving a new name from God, the
people understand that the relationship is restored, and in the image
of the wedding feast, God reminds them of the joy and love God has for
them. How might first-century readers familiar with this text have
heard the story of Jesus' miracle of the wedding at Cana?
- Notice that all the "you" and "your" here (and up to v.6c) are
female singular - and that changed my perception of the passage a bit.
This morning, I found out one of the girl in our group who had
previously gave birth as a teenager, well she is pregnant again.
Putting her name in place of the "you" and "your" here restored my
hope.
- There is also interesting conjecture on who would be the "I" in v.1
- If it was not the prophet relaying God's speech, then we have an
interesting implication, where the prophet speaking and praying [WBC]
on behalf of the people. (Given the "Zion's sake" and "Jerusalem's
sake", it's probably the prophet speaking.) Application for myself as
the prophet, I am guilty for resting in silent; not only that, but
would my words bring about "vindication/righteousness[NIV&NASB]/legitimacy[WBC]"
and "salvation" at all?
-v.2-4: Our "vindication & glory" were intended for outsiders to
witness, and they also supposed to see God as the source for that
visible display. So if we are not there yet in our journey, we ought
to be there in this life time. If not, God will sovereignly steped in
at the end and accomplish His design anyway, but by then we will miss
the chance of experience it for ourselves. The reference "married
land" in v.4 really pushing the idea of accomplishment for this life
time, instead of the next.
-v.5: "builder" here somehow make more sense to me rather than "sons"
in NIV/NASB.
Coho, Midway City
For those interested, I offer my outline from three years ago.
What's In A Name?
( I) A New Name (vv. 2, 4a)
We often have negative names for people - drunk, slob, "he's nothing
but a ___" - it's de-humanizing. (See Ruth 1:20-21) The idea of
"sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me"
is a lie. Names will hurt.
God changed names. Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel.
(see 2 Samuel 12:24-25 and Revelation 2:17)
Revelation 21:5 -- He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making
everything new!”
( II) A New Destiny (4b-5)
God gives us a new name to match our destiny. Abram (exalted father)
to Abraham (father of a multitude).
When Jacob wrestled with the angel, the angel asked him "What is your
name?" The last time Jacob was asked that question (by his
nearly-blind father), he had lied. Now he confessed his name -
"heel-catcher," "supplanter." For this, God gave Jacob a new name and
a new destiny.
(III) A New Purpose (v. 3)
God wants to work with us, have us at His side.
Conclusion The song, "I Will Change Your Name"
JG in WI
For those considering the name angle...think of Daniel. The king
attempted to change his name, perhaps somehow change him in captivity.
But the name his parents gave him stuck, as did the beliefs, the God
of his fathers. And the meaning of the name of Daniel? Judge of God,
according to Strong's. LKINHC
God will marry ME!! God will rejoice over me like a bride/groom!! What
does that imply about the kind of close intimate relationship God is
seeking with the people of Isreal and also with us?
How would it impact my faith and life to believe that God truely loves
me so very much?
How can we persue that kind of life giving relationship with the
creator of all things?
Instead of persue, do we just open our heart, mind and spirit and
except it?
God would become the great love of my life!!! How would that change
me? Hmmmmm jmj in mt
My sermon is done and I'm off to a clergy & spouse retreat for two
days. I decided to pick up on the marriage metaphor Isaiah uses
(following Hosea, who really used it more forcefully). You can read
the sermon, if you like, at
http://www.thefunstons.com/sermons/c011804.html
Blessings, Eric in OH
Seeing that this is Ecumenical Sunday in the UMC, I am struck by the
first two verses: "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for
Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out
like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch."
With the great diversity of Christian denominations--not to mention
the vast array of other faiths--it seems God truly has not kept silent
nor will so, until we imperfect emissaries of God's unmerited Love get
it right.
I thought this was Human Rights Sunday in the UMC? Is it both?
Has anyone ever linked the new name promise in this text with the many
gifts/same Spirit text in Corinthians? I'm thinking that part of God's
plan for redemption, for reclamation is in the claiming of our
gifts/talents as coming from God. So many of the messages we all hear
pitch the work world in opposition to the church world. (No one ever
put "I should have spent more time at the office" on their tombstone,
frex.)
What if part of God's plan for reclaiming and redeeming the people of
God is to reclaim and redeem their work as vocation, as gifts from the
Spirit.
Still haven't come up with a name change to reflect this. Closest I've
come is changing "work" or "job" to "vocation."
-- kmd
Hi, thinking about using Christina's Aguillera's words to beautiful in
the sermon...CB in west Ohio
what do you think of thing like this? How can we apply it to our
lives? This sounds like God only talk to people that time,'Right. But
it also mention about the nation. which also be imply to our living
today. If we are under him, he guide us we all be save and happy. see
in v.3 says "you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God". and also for v.5 also
interesting to me because it refers to the lives of some other brother
and sister that I saw or experience.
