The Servant Our LORD: Isaiah 61, 62(5)

Pray Psalm 98.1, 2.
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

Read Isaiah 62.1-5.

Reflect.
1. God likens His City to a bride. What does He promise His bride?

2. What issue comes from God’s marriage to His bride?

Meditate.

This is the most intimate image of God’s relationship with His people that Isaiah has presented in his book. He says that the City God is building – His covenant people – shall be called “Beulah”, married. He will marry them, because He delights in His bride and rejoices to possess her (vv. 4, 5).

Our relationship with God is just this intimate. Jesus defined it in terms of knowing the Father and the Son, a relationship of deep mutual love and joy. Isaiah is fairly bursting to put this image before God’s people (v. 1). From the marriage of God and His bride will issue righteousness, salvation, and glory (vv. 1, 2). This is just what we should expect from such an intimate relationship with the living God.

Again, Isaiah emphasizes the high visibility of this relationship and its issue (v. 2; recall Is. 2.1-4). The world will see a different kind of City, a new and glorious people, a people who are crowned to rule (vv. 2, 3) and who do so with righteousness and joy. Because God delights in the people He has saved, He betroths them to Himself, and causes them to bring forth righteousness, peace, and joy in the world, and thus shows the world that the ancient people of God’s covenant are no longer “Forsaken” and “Desolate,” but have become the focus of God’s delight, and the people of His glory.

Is this how we understand the salvation we have received from the Lord?

Reflect.
1. Why is marriage such a good way of thinking about our covenant relationship with God?

2. What is our responsibility, as God’s bride, in making this marriage work? 

3. We are crowned to rule (cf. Matt. 6.10, 33). What does this mean for you in your daily life?

Now this compares both each holy soul and the collective church, that is, the company of the saints, to a garland tied together from many flowers or to a royal diadem, shining with Indian jewels and with a variety of beautiful forms. For many are the noble characteristics of the saints, and there is not one type of distinction but many and various… Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 5.5.62.3-5

Today, Lord, let the world see the fruit of my relationship with You, in particular, as I…

Pray Psalm 98.
Thank God for the many ways He is making His salvation known in the world. Commit yourself, with joy and singing, to being an agent of His salvation today.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 98 (Duke Street: Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord)
Come, let us sing unto the Lord new songs of praise with one accord!
Wonderful things our God has done: Jesus has our salvation won!

Now is God’s saving mercy known; His glory to the world is shown.  
Faithful and kind is God our Lord; earth has the Name of Jesus heard.

Raise to the Lord your loudest voice! Break forth and sing! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Praise, praise to You our God and King, with all our hearts and strength we bring!

Now let the whole creation ‘round burst into song with joyous sound!
Jesus will come to judge the earth; let all proclaim His matchless worth!

T. M. Moore

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Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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