Isaiah 62
1 For 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.
2 And 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.
3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4 Thou 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.
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth
There’s a song that says love is like the ocean and so is God’s Word. God’s Word is full of immeasurable riches, if you don’t find them it is because you are spiritually dead.
Firstly we read here about Zion and Jerusalem. Some commentators think it only refers to the physical Jerusalem and Zion in Israel; but lots of things in the Bible are just a shadow of things to come.
Paul quotes from the Old Testament in 1Cor 9:9, 10, “For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written …”
So too Jerusalem in the Bible has a spiritual meaning too. We know from the Bible that Jerusalem is the most important city in the world. It was there that our Lord spent His last days, died, was buried, arose from the dead and ascended to Heaven. God also first poured out His Spirit on the apostles in Jerusalem.
But Jerusalem also refers to the church of God. If we think that He is referring to the physical city of Jerusalem only, we will lose out on so much. Jerusalem also has a more important spiritual meaning.
Revelation 22
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.
He saw this new Jerusalem coming down from Heaven as a bride prepared for her bridegroom.
What does it help that you know all about the facts of Jesus’ great work on the Cross and His outpouring of His Spirit, when you have not personally experienced it?
Has He changed your life yet?
God’s people whom He has called and chosen are the true Zion and Jerusalem.
He says for Zion’s sake and the sake of Jerusalem he will not hold his peace until her righteousness goes forth. He cannot keep quiet while unrighteousness is found within the church.
Paul laboured for the churches, however, he longed to see their faces, for that revealed their spiritual state.
Is God’s glory seen in your face or do you need to use makeup to cover your spiritual poverty?
A certain young man got married to a pretty girl who painted herself like a model. When they got home she had a bath and she washed off her makeup. He was shocked to see what she really looked like.
If God’s glory is not evident in your life and on your face day and night, all the time, there is something wrong with you and your Christian life.
We read how even the kings will come to see this glorious light of God’s children.
We need to be on fire for the Lord in our innermost being, in our spirit.
John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” So too in our lives, He must increase and we must become less.
Your righteousness will only shine forth as you do what is right in God’s sight.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”. But He also said, “you are the light of the world”.
Young people must shine for the Lord. Instead many young people are often driven by their youthful lusts and run after the world. There are also those that follow the teachings of Balaam. He taught Balak that the young girls should attract the young men at their feasts and with their attire. So they would arouse their lusts, get married to them and the world would enter the community.
So it happened in Israel that a young prince of Israel took a girl of the world and walked into the congregation of Israel before Moses and the other elders. So Phineas the priest took his spear, followed them into the tent and thrust them through that they died. God praised him for what he had done.
When God saw that Adam was alone He brought all the animals to him to see what he would name them. Adam had the discernment to see that they were animals even though some looked very beautiful. God brought a deep sleep over Adam and formed Eve from his rib. Adam didn’t dream about her, long for her etc., but waited for God’s time for a helpmeet.
Can you imagine Jesus having a girlfriend, visiting her, flirting with her? How is it then possible that you call yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ and do those very things and even justify it? Such are not worthy to be called Christians. They might call themselves Christians but they are not.
God wants a pure heart – even emotionally. The Bible says we must shun even the appearance of evil (1Thess 5:22).
Paul wrote to Timothy, let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers. Even the believers need an example for they stray like sheep.
We only live once and thereafter eternity waits for us.
By God’s grace I do not want to get to the end of my short life and have many regrets because of how I’ve lived.