Look at what the Lord has done for them

Isaiah 62:5-12

The people of Israel married are to their God, it is a metaphor of the relationship of a man to his bride, and how the bride can only have one husband, and God is in the role of husband and Israel is His bride.  The watchmen God has appointed for the walls of Jerusalem have a dual role, watching for the enemies of God and the encouragement of the people to look to God and be dependent on Him only.

These people are returning from a mindset of being under the authority of first Assyria and then Babylon, and God is assuring them their enemies will no longer come and steal the crops of the people.  If they as a people had been faithful to God they would not have been attacked and conquered; the sin of living independently - refusing God’s authority and control will bring one into conflict.

I am not sure who is to go out through the gates to prepare a way for the people, but it is clear they are to remove obstacles that stand in the way of the people trusting in God, and the banner is often referred to as a meeting place, or a place to gather.  It seems clear to me that Isaiah is once more reminding the people of the Messiah who is coming, the one he called the Servant in chapter 52 and 53.

What message should we who are living in 2014 get from reading Isaiah 62:5-12?  First and foremost, each of us were at one time captive to sin, if you have any doubt of this look at Romans 7:6.  As the people return from the captivity listen to what took place in their lives, “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”  (Psalm 126:1-3 ESV)

Is Psalm your testimony, do you grasp the magnitude of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus?  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” Jesus proclaimed this in the temple, and this is what He has done for you and me.  Are you glad, do you have laughter and over flowing joy, are the nations saying, “The Lord has done great things for them?” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice