Isaiah 62:1-4 "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."
I include yesterday's verse to set the tone for my thoughts today. We are
instructed to speak boldly, highly, and often of the glory of the Lord and His
Church. We aren't to do it in order to be seen; rather, we are to do it for the
glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But God tells us that when we let
our testimony be heard, "the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness... thy
glory... and will be called by a new name..." What is our righteousness
and glory? Let me rephrase that question: WHO is our righteousness and glory?
That's correct! His name is Jesus.
God tells us that when we exalt the blessed name of Jesus, we shall be "a
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy
God." Notice this is all contingent on being in the "hand of the Lord
and the hand of thy God." There is a beauty and a majestic greatness that
is seen in God's people as we live the lives that God has called us to be.
Peter tells us that we are "... a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." Our
"marching orders" have not changed from Isaiah to Peter. But as we do
those things, we can experience the wonderful blessings of not feeling forsaken
nor desolate. Instead, we are allowed to understand that we are
"married" or joined to the very heart of our Lord as one. I
conclude today with a portion of Jesus' prayer, "And the glory which thou
gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23)
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the
world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved
me." (John 17:22-23) These words confirm that we, the church of the
Lord Jesus Christ, are the Bride of Christ.