Devotional of the Week September 20-26

Isaiah 62:1-7

1For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.


Oh, how God longed to establish the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem as "a praise in the earth" (vs. 7). The current and ongoing Middle East conflicts show that Israel continues to be a controversial place in the world scene. Many are the enemies of Israel, and lasting peace within that region seems hopeless. A time will come however when Israel will find lasting peace, and all nations will exalt the city of Jerusalem. When will this peace occur? According to the above passage, it will occur when the land becomes "married" (vs. 4).

A spiritual wedding is going to take place, where God is going to marry off the spiritual bride to His Son. We are all invited to the marriage of the Lamb, and the wedding supper of the Lamb. At this wedding, Christ will marry His bride, the Church, in the New Jerusalem which is coming down from heaven, from God.