LESSON 1 ... VERSE 1:

The first verse blazes the trail! The road sign at its entrance ramp reads; "Israeli Parkway, Salvation Ahead!"

"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." Isaiah 62:1

Many Biblical thinkers seem to believe this is the Prophet speaking, Isaiah himself. On the other hand, others equally as devout, see this as the Lord Himself speaking. But, really, this chapter being divinely inspired, if One says it, the other does too! 

If it is Isaiah, what a prayer warrior he is! Much like Paul who wrote, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Then also, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." Romans 10:1 and 9:1-5 tell us that Paul was willing to be eternally damned for the sake of the salvation of Israel!

"Zion," in Hebrew "tziyon," means "parched place" literally. But geographically it refers to Israel generally and can indicate Jerusalem more specifically, with the Temple Mount being central to it all.

To "hold one's peace" translates "chashah," meaning "to be silent, quiet or inactive."

My computer just told me that "Jerusalem" means "teaching of peace." It is used 643 times in Scripture.

The writer's lack of "rest," or "shaqat" in Hebrew, means "to be still, idle or settled. The two verbs here seem to be synonyms.

Here is true Hunger for Israel to be saved!

Expressing redemption in terms of light, bright light, maybe even blinding light, he writes, "until her righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."

Amen!

"Righteousness," really "tzsedeq," means "to be correct or straight," here in a legal or judicial sense, forensically. Without stain or fault before God! In New Testament language, the state of having been "saved!"

"Go forth" translates "yatzsa" and means "to exit, depart or proceed."

"Brightness" is "nogahh," used only 19 times in Scripture! It means "shining, light or bright." Its verbal root means "to shine."

Think of Paul's salvation experience, which is prototypical, a pattern! "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus ...." Acts 9:3-5

But the noun "salvation" is the thriller! It's yesh-oo'-ah, accenting the second syllable. Spelled "yeshuah," it's the name of Jesus really! Or Joshua! The latter is a deliverer and the Former is Our Saviour!

Here is a longing for the very salvation of the whole Nation of Israel! An intense longing at that!

A "lamp" is a "lappiyd," a "torch." Twice in the King James Text it's a "firebrand" and once it's "lightning!" Pretty bright!

This Verse reflects the sentiment of Psalm 122:6. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."

Amen!

How long has it been since YOU prayed for the salvation of Israel? And what about ME too, have I interceded for God's chosen people?

That's what our chapter, Isaiah 62, is discussing; bright days ahead for Israel, ultimately!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 2:

Either the Lord, or the Prophet Isaiah himself, is addressing Israel the Nation. "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." Isaiah 62:2

The ultimate future of Israel is bright, very bright!

The word for "Gentiles" is "goy" and means "nations or peoples," almost always of non-Israelite background. It may be derived from "gevah," the "back" of something, that which is "behind!" One can see a tinge of Jewish supremacy here! In God's Eyes Israel is His very delight! This term of endearment is first found in Deuteronomy 32:10, "He (the Lord) found him (Israel) in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." This lovely "string" is repeated four more times in Scripture.

To "see" or "raah" in Hebrew is "to look at, perceive, consider." After Israel is "saved," back in verse 1, the nations of the world behold her in her beauty ... in her God-given righteousness! The Bible talks about "the beauty of holiness" four times, mostly in the Psalms.

The earth's "kings," in Hebrew the noun "melek," is derived from "malak," a verb meaning "to reign."

Also now justified and purified Israel's "glory" is "kabod," meaning "honour." Its root idea is from "kabad," to be "heavy!" That which is heavy in one's estimate, valuable, worthy!

Here we see Gentiles nearly being envious of Israel, that is, of her newfound good standing with God! Of course, secular envy and hatred has existed from Gentile to Jew, for shame, many many centuries now!

God originally intended Israel to be a "light" to the Gentiles anyway! For example, Isaiah 60:3, "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

Nowadays, Paul says, God is using Gentiles, saved ones, to try to "provoke" Israel to believe in Jesus! "I say then, Have they (Israelites) stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall (Israel) salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them (Israel again) to jealousy." Romans 11:11

This "new name," with "chadash" meaning "fresh" really, new in that sense, is not specifically given, not yet! But it will be good! Recently a fairly well-known liberation theology proponent, a liberal ecumenically, said "Israel" was a "dirty word." God does not agree! Her new name will be glorious and majestic! Twice in John's Isle-of-Patmos Revelation the expression "new name" is used, alluding to our Text no doubt.

But, here now, look at the affinity between what God is going to do for Israel ... and what He has already done for the Church! Notice carefully, the Nation of Israel and the Body of Christ are indeed two different organisms! Be clear about this fact please!

God has promised to some day save Israel, giving her "righteousness! He has done the same for us! "For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus again)." 2nd Corinthians 5:21

Add to that righteousness "glory!" Then remember Paul's observation for us Believers in Jesus, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

And then comes this wonderful "new name," again bestowed both to Israel and to the members of His Church! To the saints at Pergamos this promise is given, and then to all overcomers, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Revelation 2:17

Furthermore, Revelation 3:12, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

Amen!

We Christians owe so much to Israel!

It's about time we started saying "thanks."

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, VERSE 3:

From the Lord, through the Prophet Isaiah, to Israel, God's chosen people: "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." Isaiah 62:3

The Bible loves to talk about God's Hands! Especially our being in His Hands! Listen to Jesus, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." John 10:27-30 clearly places us, as saved ones, right in the center of God's Hands!

And Isaiah elsewhere says, still quoting God, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:16 here uses the Hebrew verb "chaqaq," meaning "to cut or inscribe or engrave!"

Talk about security!

The grand Day is coming when Israel herself will be so established! "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

The noun "crown" is spelled "atarah," from a verbal background meaning "to surround" something. A crown "surrounds" one's head, usually worn in honor and dignity! The word is only used 26 times in the Bible, each occurrence being rendered just as here, "crown" or "crowns."

But the word "glory" is a bit different! "Tipharah" means "beauty or splendor," majestic adornment! In the King James Bible it is also translated as "brave" and "excellent!"

The word "hand" is "yad," usually indicating an "open" Hand! In other words, there's room for more names and souls! God longs to save the wicked!

The adjective "royal" is "melukah." It is directly borrowed from their word for "king!" That is, "melek."

And "diadem" translates "tzsaniyph," a head-dress of some kind. Its root word means "to wind around, to wrap around," obviously what one does to a turban or hood or mitre worn upon the head. In the New Testament "stephanos" indicates such a crown, especially one that is earned in competition, athletically for example. While the Greek "diadema" is a crown that is given because of what and who one is! Not earned, but inherently deserved! Almost totally the Greek uses "stephanos" in Scripture, but in Revelation 19:12 the word "crown" is diadem! Jesus deserves it solely because of Who He is! "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself."

The names for God used in our verse, two of them, are "Jehovah" and "Elohiym," collectively used 9,125 times in the Bible! These obviously are His two main Old Testament Names!

What future glory awaits converted Israel!

Especially in light of the suffering she has endured through the ages!

But, just a minute dear Christian friends, we too enjoy such blessings, crowns and such! Being in God's Omnipotent Hands!

Again I say it, should we (and we will not) ignore the dispensational differences here and confuse Israel and the Church ... it could nearly be said of us what is said of them here! "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

We, through Israel, have indeed been blessed!

And is that not exactly what God promised Abraham long ago?

While familiar to you already, read again Genesis 12:2-3. "Abram ... I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Indeed they have!

Israel, your future, after receiving Jesus the Messiah, is bright indeed!

                                                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 4:

Today's verse is really the most well-known verse in all of Isaiah 62. What Christian has not used the term "Beulah" Land, especially when talking about eternity?

"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." Isaiah 62:4

Israel, due to her sins, has long been called "forsaken." And, no, I am not anti-Semitic! I love the Jews! But God has punished them, as he does all wayward nations. The adjective "forsaken" is derived from a Hebrew verb, "azab." It means "to leave, to loose, to depart," that kind of idea. Once it's "to be destitute" in the King James Bible. Now make those definitions passive. God has been forced to turn His Back on Israel. She at times even begs Him "to lift up the Light of His Countenance upon her" again. She is just not willing to repent! Here's the over-all picture. "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee." So says the Lord in Isaiah 54:7

The verb "termed" is simply "amar," that is, "spoken of" in such language. God and others have noticed and talked about Israel's abandonment! This is true both times it's used in our verse.

"Desolate" is "shemamah" in Hebrew, meaning as a noun, "waste or devastation." Here is God's Leviticus 26 promise to Israel, warning really, if she consistently disobeys His Commands: "And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." Leviticus 26:33

Here is what was yet to come for Israel, "Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation." Isaiah 64:10

Yet, keep in mind, God will not fully destroy His people! "For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end." Jeremiah 4:27

The verb "called" is "qara," meaning "to loudly utter a sound!" This is a summons! It furthermore is rendered "invited" 3 times in the King James Bible.

But, what is "Hephzibah?" Spelled "hephtzsiy" plus "bah." It means "Delight," here God's Delight, is in "her!" God will again be thrilled with His chosen people! They will be His special treasure! "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Malachi 3:17

Then comes "Beulah!" It's spelled exactly like this in the Masoretic Text too, the Hebrew basis for the King James Bible, "Beulah." It's actually a generalized derivative of the noun "baal!" It means "married, possessed, ruled over!" God is their Lord, their Master!

Then again, as if for emphasis, we immediately discover another "chaphetzs," a loose relative of "hephzibah" really! God "delights" in Israel! He "takes pleasure" in Her! He "favors" Her! He literally "desires" Her! Sounds like "Song of Solomon "language!

Then that last verb appears, "married." It's again "baal," just another hint of that "beulah" business!

The Holy Spirit has now re-emphasized, re-named really, both main words in the verse, "Hephzibah" and "Beulah!"

That shows great importance, extreme significance!

And it's one beautiful jewel of Scripture!

And just like God loves Israel, through she is separate and dispensationally must be kept so, He loves His Bride the Church too!

We too are going to spend eternity married to our great Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Israel here "mirrors" our future blessings for sure! Or do we "mirror" hers?

Either way, God is good!

We have heard of the "end" of Job, "So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning," now consider the "end" of God's gracious dealings with Israel! "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."

Pretty impressive, both Job 42:12 and Isaiah 62:4, indeed!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 5:

This fifth Verse is amazing!

It takes a multi-dimensional view of God's Blessings upon Israel, future blessings though they may be.

"For 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." Isaiah 62:5

First, the ideal metaphor for marriage is here given, God's ideal! A "young man" marries a "virgin!" The noun "young man" is "bachur," a gentleman of marriageable age. This term is often aligned with young ladies who too are ready for family life. Here is its "first mention" scenario: "The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs." See the linkage in Deuteronomy 32:25. It's capitalized.

"Virgin" utilizes the Hebrew noun "bethulah." Here's a typical usage of the word. It is quite unambiguous too. Godly Rebekah is here in view. "And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up." Genesis 24:16, in using "bethulah," is capitalizing on the word's rich heritage. It is derived from a verbal root that means "to separate!" That's "virginal," for sure. Untouched! Set apart! Different!

While this is an unusual word picture, the thought behind it is lovely. Israel's "sons," her children, her offspring, her progeny, will no longer be ashamed of her. They will no longer leave home when reaching adulthood. They will be loyal and supportive and "proud" of their heritage! This metaphor pictures relationships horizontally, maybe even diagonally.

Next God promises something vertically! "And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." Amazing! The noun "bridegroom" is "chathan," meaning "husband" a few times in Scripture. Literally, one who marries into the Bride's family!

The verb "rejoiceth," in Hebrew "masos," means "to exult," usually with some visible display of emotions!

But get this! "Bride," spelled "kallal" in Hebrew, means anything from a "spouse" to a "daughter-in-law." Yet the word is based on a key Hebrew verb, "kalal," meaning "to complete or make perfect!" Lovely! This gives "help-meet" a new and fresh sense! "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:18 has Eve in mind, of course.

And while in the same family of words, God's "rejoicing" over Israel is much more demonstrable that the earthly bridegroom's! "Sus" means "to greatly exult," visibly so, maybe even audibly too!

God rejoicing over a Nation!

Zephaniah goes even further, under God's direction. "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Israel has gone from being an outcast ... to being a favorite child!

Now that's Grace!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSES 6-7:

Here we have a beautiful "paradigm" of prayer! It is pronounced pair-e-dime' and means a "pattern." The Greek "para" means "alongside" and "deiknunai" means "to show or put on display."

It's as lucid and as viable as "The Lord's Prayer," only not as vast in scope. One can follow the outline of these two verses and be, assuredly, praying in God's Will!

"I 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, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." Isaiah 62:6-7

The "I" is Almighty God.

To "set" is "to appoint, commit, charge," using the Hebrew verb "paqad" as its source.

The "watchmen" are "guards or overseers," devolving from the word "shamar" that ultimately means "to preserve or protect."

Even the noun "walls" is interesting. It is built upon a root word that means "to join" things together. That's what the walls do! They enclose the city. "Chomah" in Hebrew.

To "never hold one's peace" translates "tamiyd lo chashah," meaning in order, "constantly not being quiet!" Perpetually at prayer, for Israel's sake! This is parallel to Paul's great "Pray without ceasing" command in 1st Thessalonians 5:17!

"Day or night" means, obviously, all the time!

Next in out Text God turns to a group of intercessors, people who pray for others! It's from the Latin, "inter" meaning "between" and "cedere" meaning "to go." To get between someone and God, pleading on their behalf!

They are labeled as those who "make mention of the Lord." The verb here is "zakar," that is, "to remember, to call to mind," even "to record." 

These godly ones are instructed, "Keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

Two suggestions are here advanced.

This short portion of Scripture uses a lot of "double" terms, for emphasis no doubt.

"Keep silent" is "demiy" in Hebrew, "not to cease!" In other words, don't stop! Don't even pause! Don't cease!

"Give" is the standard Hebrew verb "nathan," found over two thousand times in Scripture! Anyone you know named "Nathan," this very word, has a name that means "gift." Gift from God!

"Rest" is again "demiy," this time a noun meaning "peace or quiet!" Get this! Keep on bothering God! Don't let Him alone!

Pray!

Pray some more!

Pray for Israel!

Sounds just like Jesus' Parable of the importunate neighbor in Luke 11:5-8. Or the unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8.

Continue asking!

The verb "establish" is "kun," to make something "firm or stable." Fixed! Certain! Both the foregoing are additional King James translations of "kun."

Firm and stable Israel!

No longer the wandering Jew!

No longer will cries be heard for her annihilation!

The verb "make" is "sum," another often used basic Hebrew word. It means "to set, appoint" or even "ordain!" The verb's sense of timing here is one of on-going constant action! God will perennially guarantee Israel's future center-place role in earth's geo-political scheme!

"Praise," a noun, is "tehillah," a word of adoration or thanksgiving. It is used 57 times in the Old Testament. It's from "halal," meaning "to shine, to flash forth light!"

Yes, in her future, Israel will be a glorious Nation!

A "luminous" Entity whenever the nations of earth gather!

Wow!

What a prayer!

A Holy Spirit guided Prayer!

It is much like Psalm 122:6 also. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. "

God has not finished with Israel yet! In fact, He has just begun!

Amen!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 8:

Israel had been punished. For her sins she had suffered grossly. Sin costs! It comes with "wages!"

Leviticus 26 tells of God's "cycles" of judgment. At least five are evident in that awesome chapter, maybe more!

Let's count them. God is speaking to Israel. "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments ... I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you." Round one, Leviticus 26:16-17

Next, "And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: and your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits." Round two, Leviticus 26:18-20

Each cycle becomes more severe. "And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate." Round three, Leviticus 26:21-22

Get ready! "And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied." Round four, Leviticus 26:23-26

Then number five, "And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours." Leviticus 26:27-31

Really, again, one could almost count a sixth level of chastisement. God continues, "And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." Leviticus 26:32-33

Yes, Leviticus 26 is the foundation for Isaiah 62:8. The consequences of sin! "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured."

The Lord has repented!

The days of suffering and rebuke and chastisement are past!

God "swares" it so! This verb, "shaba" in Hebrew, literally means "to seven oneself." To say something, to promise it seven times! That's astounding! God cannot lie, according to Titus 1:2. God being untrue is an absolute impossibility, so says Hebrews 6:18. Therefore, for God to utter a truth one time is sufficient! But for Him to "swear," utter confidence and perfect peace must ensue!

God's "right hand" is His Hand of Power! For example, Exodus 15:6, "Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." Poetically too, "Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them." Psalm 17:7

God's "arm," which also includes His shoulder, "zeroa," implies "stability" also. In fact, Isaiah 53:1 implies that Jesus is The Arm of the Lord! "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" Then the whole chapter expounds and glorifies our Saviour!

Israel, be sure, the day is coming when your suffering will all be over!

Your "corn" or "food" will no longer be eaten by the enemy! "Dagan" here means "wheat and grain." Corn and cereal items!

One's "enemies," in Hebrew "oyeb," are those who "hate" you. "Ayab" means "to be hostile."

The "stranger" or "nekar" is a "foreigner." An "alien."

These fierce people had raided Israel and plundered their vineyards. And God allowed it to be so!

The works of their hands, their "labors," had been destroyed right in front of their eyes. "Yaga" means "to toil until weary, exhausted."

But, better times are coming!

Revival is on the way!

Talk about an optimistic verse of Scripture!

Peter, in Acts 3:19, spoke of "the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." So has Isaiah!

Here's a similar thought God gave to Israel. At least when she was living godly. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17

And Church, New Testament Bride of Christ, Born-again Believer, you too are protected and secure! "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Now the next verse in Isaiah 62, verse 9, gives the lovely inverse truth. Not only will Israel's food and drink not be confiscated! She will be allowed to enjoy it ... and respond appropriately to God's great Blessings!

But that will have to wait until next Lesson!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 9:

One verse ago, in Isaiah 62:8, the Lord promised a blessing to Israel, no more famine or dearth! "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured."

Then, immediately, "But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness." Isaiah 62:9

To "gather," in Hebrew "asaph," means "to collect" something. "To assemble!" Here it's what one does when the crops are harvested. Grain and grapes are primarily in view, although any produce would qualify.

Once one picks and gleans his fields, he and his family "eat" and "drink" the bounty. To "eat" is "to consume or devour," using the Hebrew verb "akal." And to "drink," spelled "shathah," is to sip as at a banquet. It here does not mean to become intoxicated.

But, and here's the "key" to our verse, look how and where this eating and drinking are done!

The food is eaten while they "praise the Lord!" The verb is "halal," the very name of one group of the Psalms! Psalms 113-118, inclusively! Jesus, as did all Jewish young men, memorized them. Our Lord knew them by heart! He quoted them dozens of times every year.

Eating in an attitude of worship, what a pattern! What an example!

They are obeying Deuteronomy 8:10. "When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee." Here's the "Blessing" at the end of a meal!

Then the drinking is said to be "in the courts of God's Holiness." Likely Priests and Levites are specifically in view here. They could eat and drink within the confines of the Temple itself, the Outer Court anyway.

Here we have mealtimes converted into holy times!

This is called theo-centric living, God-focused and concentrated!

Today when you eat, try to do something spiritual. A verse of Scripture or time of prayer or testimony of praise being included!

After all, Paul did admonish us, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1st Corinthians 10:31

Several well-known Preachers through the years taught while "at table!" Jesus is the Primary Example! Some of these devotionals are published under various titles, "Table Talk" or "Table Sermons" being among them. I knew one Man of God who studied everything Jesus said at table! He preached a Sermon using that material.

Meaningful mealtimes!

Amen!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Again, Israel is both the forerunner and inheritor of our blessings! She's the vanguard and rearward of the spiritual life! Israel rejoicing and worshipping at mealtimes sets the pace for the Church's observance of the Lord's Supper. Jesus indicated that Believers will some day eat the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" in Glory! He will then participate! "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Luke 22:16

Yet while the Church worships as the Bride of Christ, Israel millennially delights in God's Blessings as well!

We owe so much to God's Chosen People!

And they owe so much to us!

But we all owe everything to our great God!

May His Name be praised!

LESSON 9, VERSE 10:

Now we have all heard the Scripture, "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Isaiah himself first preached that! Then later came John the Baptist, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Prepare a highway! The Lord is coming! This is yet true today as well! Some day Jesus will return to this earth!

But today's grace-filled verse, such good news for Israel, says something different! "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." Isaiah 62:10

Here a way is being prepared for the people, the Israelites, to come home! A national re-gathering! Like never before!

Beginning with two imperatives; "Go through, go through," the Hebrew verb "abar" is utilized. "To cross over, to pass through, to advance!"

Work crews are being mobilized!

Leave the City!

Begin great road-building projects!

A "gate," by definition, is a "door" or "port." The noun is "shaar" in Hebrew and is used nearly four hundred times in the Bible. Historically, Jerusalem had ten gates. See Nehemiah chapter three for their names.

To "prepare" is "panah," usually meaning "to turn or guide or direct" something. I suspect highway engineering is in view here. In mountainous areas perfectly straight roads are not always possible.

"Way" is represented by the noun "derek" in Hebrew, a "road or path or trail," whatever the context demands. Here's it's something like an Interstate Freeway!

Even "people," in Hebrew "am," means a congregated group of folks, related and sympathetic toward each other! Not just a crowd or a motley gathering of some kind. "Compatriots," one source says!

Then two more imperatives; "Cast up, cast up," with "salal" as their driving force. It means "to exalt, to elevate, to lift up!" They are really building a high-way! One easily seen! Lifted up from the ground! One easily found! This easy to locate: "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." Isaiah 35:8

A "highway" or "mesillah" is a "raised public roadway!" It also is a derivative of "salal," just discussed in the previous paragraph.

"To gather out" uses "saqal," the Jewish expression meaning "to stone someone to death!" Hurl away rocks and boulders, clear the path! Make smooth the planned route!

"Stones," or "eben" is a standard Hebrew noun. Rocks, large or small, can be indicated. Anything from hailstones to cornerstones!

To "lift up" means "to raise, to exalt," usually very high. "Rum" is the verb, another command!

A "standard" or "nes" is usually a "flag or banner or ensign," an identification marker to clarify directions! Road signs, in other words!

God is calling His people home!

Israel will again be populated, maybe as never before in history!

Listen to the Lord in Jeremiah 32:37. "Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely." Wow!

Now let's have Moses tell it. "Then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: and the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers." Deuteronomy 30:3-5

Ezekiel, what did the Lord tell you? "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land." Ezekiel 36:24

Even Amos! "And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God." Amos 9:14-15 says this time it's permanent!

It's everywhere in the Bible! "And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God." Zechariah 8:7-8

God's Grace ... to Israel!

Gentiles, enjoy these Scriptures!

They are earmarks of the very same Grace that saved your lost souls!

Praise the Lord!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, VERSE 11:

The verse is great!

Outstanding!

"Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." Isaiah 62:11

The penultimate sentence in Isaiah 62 is climatic! Not that verse 12 is anti-climatic, just equally awesome!

This great announcement, an evangel really, good news in microcosm, is to be "proclaimed." Even to the end of the earth!

The verb for "proclaim" is "shama," found 1159 times in the Old Testament! Normally meaning "to hear," when framed as a hiphil, it means "to cause to hear." To tell! To utter a sound! To publish! To noise abroad! This is preaching with pre-ordained power behind it! It cannot fail!

Every square mile of earth's surface, that which is inhabited at least, is to hear the sound bite!

But, while the news is to be disseminated world-wide, it is specifically and particularly for one Nation, one little Nation! A special Nation, the very "Apple of God's Eye," Israel!

"Say" is a rendition of "amar," meaning "to speak, to call, to promise!" It is an imperative too, a command being here issued to preachers and evangelists innumerable!

The "daughter" of Zion is, again, Israel!

"Zion" literally means "a dry parched place," but by now it is blossoming like a rose! That's using Isaiah's own words; "The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." Isaiah 35:1

"Behold," is "hinneh," an interjection! Excitedly read it! The essence of "behold" is precisely what appears on the surface, "Look!" See this! Don't miss it!

"Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him."

Thy "salvation?"

Yes!

Spelled "yesha," it means "deliverance, safety, victory," and when applied to a Person, "Saviour!"

Here comes Jesus!

His very Name is "Yeshuah" in Hebrew, the Deliverer, their very Messiah!

He is practically named here in Isaiah's great Text!

The verb "cometh" is "bo," usually "to go or come" even "to enter or bring," its emphasis partially depending on the context.

Jesus has done both through the years! He came to earth as a Virgin-Born little Baby, sinless and uniquely divine/human!

Then, after His vicarious Death, Burial and Resurrection, He ascended back to Heaven!

He has come!

He has gone!

But, some day, speaking to Israel, He is coming back again!

It is that Second Coming to this earth, not the Rapture here mind you, that is being described.

Not in the clouds, not to catch away His Church, not as a thief in the night, that was seven years earlier!

This Coming is visible to all!

John says so in Revelation 1:7. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

Look, Israel, It's Messiah!

It's Jesus!

The One Crucified!

He was telling the Truth!

He is the Truth!

"I and my Father are one." John 10:30

"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." John 14:9

And Israel will believe!

The noun "reward" is "sakar," literally "wages, hire, price, fare, worth!" Truth be told, He is The Reward! But yet again there are manifold blessings for following Him! Crowns and joys and reunions and tokens for good, eternally so!

John quotes our verse in Revelation 22:12. There Jesus says, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Amen!

This "reward" situation is also captivating! We again have been told to "behold" it carefully! "Hinneh" is injected a second time! Look! Glorious Surprise! Good News of Good News! In Israel's future!

Then, in an ironic turn, our verse adds; "And His work (is) before Him." I believe "peullah" here not only means "work or labour," which indeed it does, but also "reward" (one time in the King James Text) and "wages" (one more time).

Jesus, when He arrives on earth, will be "rewarded" for His Labour on Calvary! Not only by now has He been blessed with a Bride, the New Testament Church, glorious and spotless and unwrinkled and without blemish, but also a redeemed Israel! A Nation for whom He died too!

Isaiah 53, that great crucifixion prophecy, promised the Lord, "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." Well, Isaiah 53:10, the moment Israel believed, the Lord Jesus saw His seed! Not just the Church! They have been ingathered by this time! But Israel too!

Israel is among the "many!" Isaiah 53:11 foresaw. "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

Israel is part of the "spoil!" The victories of Calvary! The Bounty of His Death! These kinds of things constitute part of the "joy that was before Him" as He suffered on the cruel Cross! "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:12

"Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame ..." Hebrews 12:2

What joy!

The verse summarized, "here he comes!"

Israel, look!

Elsewhere the Event described:

"Then shall the LORD go forth ... and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west ...." Zechariah 14:1-2, the Lord's Return to earth!

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16, again! It's Jesus, white horse and all! Coming back to earth!

He is coming to save Israel, but judge the wicked nations of the world! "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment." These are Isaiah's very next words after this glorious chapter, Isaiah 62, ends!

I must close this Lesson!

It's difficult to stop!

Jesus is coming again!

The Church is named beneficiary!

Israel is too, primarily so in Isaiah!

The whole planet for that matter will be delivered from the curse!

Eventually, a new heaven and new earth!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, VERSE 12:

Here's the peak!

God's blessing just can't get any better than this!

"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isaiah 62:12

The Nation of Israel will gain a new reputation. After Jesus returns to earth! After the Jewish people believe in Him as their Messiah! After the enemies are defeated! After their sins are "washed" away! "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." Zechariah 13:1

She will be known as "holy!" This lovely little word, spelled "qodesh" in Hebrew means "separate, apart, consecrated, dedicated, hallowed!" Living for Jesus!

Even the noun "people," just two letters in Hebrew, "am," means a unified congregation! Kinsmen! Compatriots! God has brought them together!

He has "redeemed" them! "Gaal" is the Old Testament term for the "kinsman redeemer" motif. Here's the scenario. A person is in debt, bankrupt! He or she has lost all money, property, maybe even his or her freedom! Locked up!

But, blessed be the Lord, an interested party has taken notice!

He can set you free, upon meeting certain conditions of Jewish Law, Mosaic Law, Biblical Law. Here they are:

1. He must be be related to you, kin!

2. He must be wealthy enough to "pay" all your indebtedness!

3. He must be willing to do these required things, plus allow you to freely reclaim your former possessions! Those that had been confiscated! Those that he had just liberated!

4. This well might include your very release from prison too!

Now I've taken the time to list these points in order to say this:

JESUS IS OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER! HE, VIA THE VIRGIN BIRTH, IS RELATED TO US HUMAN BEINGS! HE IS WEALTHY ENOUGH TO PRAY THE PRICE FOR OUR LIBERTY, HIS VERY OWN PRECIOUS BLOOD BEING THE CURRENCY! HE WAS WILLING TO DO THESE THINGS, RESTORING TO ME ALL THAT I HAD LOST IN THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVEN, OUR FEDERAL HEADS! IN FACT, JESUS HAS EVEN RESTORED TO US MORE THAN WE LOST! AND LASTLY, HE SECURED MY RELEASE FROM THE PRISON-HOUSE OF SIN!

I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!

And that's exactly what has just been said (prophetically) of Israel!

She too will some day be set free!

"The redeemed of the Lord!" That's what they'll call her!

But, there's even more!

"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."

"Sought out!"

"Darash" is the verb. Consulted! Needed! Valued highly! Considered Wise! Blessed of God! No longer shamed! Not hated! Esteemed!

"Darash," that is, "to seek with care!"

"To study! To follow! To observe!"

No longer will she be a rejected Nation!

No longer "forsaken!"

In Hebrew, "lo azab," not abandoned! Not ignored! Not neglected! Not deserted!

Once, for centuries, Israel had "forsaken" God, "azab" here. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them." Deuteronomy 31:16

Consequently, due to the wages of sin, God will "forsake" them, still using "azab" as the verb. "Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?" Deuteronomy 31:17

But, in their bright future, all will be made well! Israel will repent! Believe on Jesus! Be cleansed through the Power of the Blood of the Lamb! And then, "Thou shalt be called, a city not forsaken."

The word "city," referencing Jerusalem, means a place where people stay "awake!" That's right! "Iyr" or "city" is derived from the verb "ur," to be aroused, to be awakened!" Vibrant! Not stagnant! No inner-city problems! No slums! A City not forsaken!

A city, apparently, that will then be The Capital of the whole world!

Ezekiel expresses it this way: "And the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." Ezekiel 48:35

I'd call that "not forsaken!"

The Lord is there!

Come to think of it, every saint of God reading these lines today can point inward to his or her own heart and also say ... "The Lord is there!"

Glory to God!

                                                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, CONCLUSION:

When I was but a lad our Pastor emphasized this verse repeatedly! "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God." 1st Corinthians 10:32 would be quoted several times a year, with the added caveat that to "mix" these three entities of God would be to "wrongly divide" the Word of Truth!

This is a teaching that's often associated with various forms of Dispensationalism. Yet, truthfully, our Pastor was right!

To confuse Israel and the Church is a tragic error! Such poor hermeneutics will often lead to some dangerous and erroneous conclusions. Things like anti-Semitism, a- millennialism, misreading all the Old Testament Prophets, and ultimately, failure to properly honor our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! It even shatters a Biblical view of the Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus!

Having said that, Isaiah 62 deals with Israel!

Not the Church!

Yet, would you not agree that so many of the precious terms and expressions in this great Chapter have been "all our lives" applied to this day and age of Grace? To us as Believers right now?

Certainly, they have!

For example, "Salvation as a lamp," in verse 1.

The "new name" of verse 2.

Both the "crown of glory" and "diadem" in verse 3.

"Beulah land" in verse 4!

And so forth, also including:

"Behold, thy salvation cometh," in verse 11.

And a "redeemed" people in verse 12!

We use these expressions, these "blessings," every week ... and think of them as ours! If fact, through the Blood of Jesus they are ours!

But, and here's the point, they are ours because they were Israel's first of all!

So many of our blessings have come to us because God saved and called and commissioned Abraham! "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3

Jesus, our very Saviour, came through that godly line! We saints are among those of the earth that have been blessed because of the Jews!

They also gave us the Scriptures, being authored by Israelites all! Inspired of God, yes! But the pens were held in Jewish hands! So says Paul! Read it for yourself: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." The oracles of God? That's the Bible!

How very thankful we Gentiles should be for Israel!

Israel sinned! Israel fell! But through her apostasy, the heathen of the world (you and me) were allowed to be saved! Here's how Paul again in Romans 11 describes what I'm trying to say. "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles." Romans 11:11

Paul says that through "The casting away of them (Israel) be the reconciling of the world (us Gentiles)." Romans 11:15 is amazing!

Isaiah 62, strictly an inerrantly inspired commentary on Israel, her ultimately bright future, also "hints" at the manifold grace of God we enjoy every day as saints of the Lord.

We do not share Israel's identity or precise future or usurp her specific place in God's great plan ... No!

But we do enjoy blessings innumerable because of her very existence as a Nation, the Nation who bore our Saviour and gave us our Book and so much more!

But, I quickly and eagerly say, these same blessings, the ones that came from Israel to the Church, are going (after the Rapture) to revert to that struggling little Nation!

Again, Paul the anointed illustrator, pictures an "olive tree" this time. "And if some of the branches (Israelites) be broken off, and thou (wicked Gentiles), being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." Romans 11:17-21

But, guess what?

Once us "wild branches," having been so miraculously "grafted" in, are raptured to Heaven, God plans to work with Israel again!

Read further, "And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?" Yes, Romans 11:23-24

So, just as we have enjoyed the blessings of God through Israel for so many generations ... some day Israel shall again enjoy those very blessings as a redeemed and born-again people!

God is going to "save" Israel ... in her very bright future! "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Romans 11:25-27

God says it better than I can. "For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy." Romans 11:30-31

Reciprocal Grace!

Tit for tat Glory!

Quid pro quo Mercy!

All of which flows freely from the Heart of God!

Yes, Isaiah 62 can be preached and all the constituents of 1st Corinthians 10:32 can rejoice!

Jews!

Gentiles!

The Church of God!

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

AND, THE LORD WILLING, THE PREACHING OF "ISAIAH 62" VERSE-BY-VERSE IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT! QUITE SOON TOO! HELP ME CLAIM GOD'S BLESSINGS IN THE PROCESS!