Isaiah 62

Wesley: Zion and Jerusalem are both put for the church (Heb 12:22). These seem to be the words of the prophet strongly resolving, notwithstanding all difficulties, to solicit God for the church’s happiness, and constantly excite to the belief of it by his preaching. Righteousness—the vindicating of his people’s cause; the lamp is the church conspicuous among the nations, and the revealing of Christ unto the world.

The church still prays and preaches until righteousness shines. Silence is not obedience. Zion first; the gospel church is the same people. Shared ground with Calvin: he will not rest till her salvation burns.

Calvin: some explain this as relating to prayer, but he refers it rather to doctrine. The prophet will not be slack till he encourage believers in the hope of salvation. Teachers spend themselves for the Church. Righteousness is the Church’s rights restored; salvation is added, because those God justifies regain their salvation.

God will execute his promises at the proper time. We are wretched while his grace is withheld for sin. Same persistence as Wesley; the accent is the effectual word God owns.

Wesley: a new name—the church shall be more renowned than ever, both in respect of her condition, and so called Hephzi-bah, and of her relation, and so called Beulah; and this new name the Lord gives them accordingly (v. 4).

Nations and kings still may see. The mouth of the Lord names; the church can still be renamed. Zion receives the honor the gospel brings.

Calvin: the new name means a crowded assemblage; the scattered people regain a name of which they had been deprived. God is the author of this glory. It is extraordinary, and shines when the Gospel is preached.

He will never forsake his Church. Wicked men may slander; God is not deprived of his right to vindicate those whose names he has written in heaven. Restoration from exile is the shadow; gospel gathering the substance.

Wesley: crown of glory—an expression to set forth the dignity of her state. In the hand—preserved and defended by God’s hand. Royal diadem—the same for substance, or the royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9).

The church is already a crown in his hand, a people as near to God as priests. Dignity is gift and calling.

Calvin: the Church is God’s crown; he wishes his glory to shine in us. By nature filthy and more abominable than mire, yet he adorns us as the diadem of his kingdom. The return was but the forerunner of rank at Christ’s manifestation.

“Diadem”—look to God for glory hidden from flesh. Be aroused to a holy life, that his image may more and more be formed anew in us.

Wesley: Forsaken—as a woman forsaken by her husband. Hephzi-bah—My delight is in her; a new name agreeing with her new condition. Beulah—Married; agreeing to her new relation. Increase of children as the fruit of marriage, which refers to the great enlargement of the church in the gospel days.

The names are the church’s new condition and relation under the gospel. Forsaken is not the last word. The people may still be delighted in and married. Zion first; gospel enlargement the same mercy.

Calvin: this proceeds from the good-pleasure of God—undeserved favor, that nothing may be ascribed to the merits or excellence of men (Hos 2:19). They shall be prosperous for no other reason than that God, out of infinite goodness, will graciously receive into favor those whom he had abandoned.

Hephzibah is electing delight, not earned reputation. The divorce shall not be perpetual, but the turn is his good-pleasure, not our recovery of form. Same names as Wesley; the fork is why they stick.

Wesley does not pause here; v. 4’s marriage still governs. Bridegroom joy is God’s over the restored people, the fruit of Beulah’s new relation.

Sons marrying and God rejoicing are gospel family and joy, already held out. Zion first; the church may still be rejoiced over. Not a later wedding only.

Calvin: there is but one Husband, that is, God, fulfilled in Christ; pastors espouse the Church as a chaste virgin (2 Cor 11:2). Unity of faith with the mother Church. Without God, a multitude is not a church but a brothel, as in Popery’s boast of the name.

Begin with God presiding; then the Church is truly populous. The union is a spiritual marriage.

Wesley: day nor night—there shall be a vigilant and industrious ministry. Ye—his servants in ordinary, his remembrancers, such as put God in mind of his promise, and such as make the Lord to be remembered, putting his people in mind of him.

Ministers must not hold their peace. The church’s prayer and preaching take no rest. Shared walls with Calvin; the accent is the duty not to be silent.

Calvin: God appoints faithful guards. Christ’s kingdom is not defended by weapons of war; it is spiritual, protected by the sword of the word. Night and day pastors must watch. It is a remarkable kindness when we have faithful pastors; pray for those guards.

God set them. Angels may watch (Ps 91:11), but the address is to ministers. The watchmen are not an earthly garrison.

Wesley: a praise—by sending the Messiah, and those labourers into his vineyard, whereby the church may be established on sure foundations, and so become a matter of praise to God. All the nations shall praise him for her.

“Praise”—give him no rest—keep asking until he sends the Messiah and workers. Jerusalem a praise is missionary, already under the gospel.

Calvin: add prayer to teaching. Two distinct benefits: faithful pastors, and the Church preserved by their agency—but God alone appoints pastors (Rom 10:15) and grants success. External agency is joined with the Spirit’s efficacy.

Labors are unprofitable unless he gives fruit. Do not lose courage in ruin; pray that the Lord will restore her, which he also promises.

Wesley does not pause here; the oath still governs the harvest. Grain and wine no longer for enemies—the church eats what she labored for.

The Lord has sworn. Exile’s plunder ends; the gospel people taste the same mercy. Shared ground: he will not give the fruit to strangers.

Calvin: God swears by his right hand because of our unbelief. If he has any power, he will display it in your salvation. Enemies’ plunder was his permission (Deut 28:33); peaceful enjoyment under vine and fig-tree is his special blessing.

The arm of his strength, not chance, secures the harvest. Trust the oath, not a chart.

Wesley: but—thou shalt not sow, and another reap, as formerly. Courts—in my courts; holiness being put for God himself.

Eat and praise. The gatherers who actually thank the Lord keep the fruit. Worship in his courts.

Calvin: lawful labor, yet fruitless unless the Lord supplies. All we obtain is his; thank him. He alludes to firstfruits and feasting in God’s presence (Deut 12:18).

Praise is the mark that the food is from him. Sanctuary courts are gospel worship, the Church eating what God gives.

Wesley: go through—doubled by way of emphasis. Go meet the Gentiles, whom God purposes to bring into the church. Prepare—let them not have any obstructions. Stones—no stumbling-stone or offence. Standard—an allusion to soldiers, that the army may know where to repair from all quarters.

Clear stones so nations may still come. Prepare the way—missionary work now, as in 57:14 and 40:3. The signal is gospel welcome.

Calvin: a free passage through gates once shut or ruined. Teachers, and all whose agency the Lord employs, clear the way—Medes and Persians first, then every restorer of the Church. Level, level: every obstacle shall be removed; all shall obey God’s command.

The Church is a populous city again. Peoples assemble when the standard is lifted. God commands the highway; men do not invent it.

Wesley: Zion—to Jerusalem, or the church. Thy salvation—thy saviour. Reward—the reward due to the work.

Say to the daughter of Zion, your Savior comes. The proclamation is to the end of the earth. Come is present gospel, sincerely held out, not postponed news only.

Calvin: the Lord will proclaim so nations know this is his command. Addressed to ministers of the word. Not limited to one age—from the return from Babylon through Christ’s coming, when the Savior was exhibited. His work and reward are before him; he is not idle.

The Gospel voice from sunrise to sunset. Salvation is God’s work, not merits. Same coming as Wesley; the accent is the Lord who actually arrives.

Wesley does not pause here; v. 4’s names still govern. Holy People, Redeemed, Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken—the same honor after exile, under the gospel.

The church may still be sought and not forsaken. Names are the people’s new condition.

Calvin: a holy people by the covenant of adoption with Abraham. They are a holy people when he appears as Savior and Redeemer. Sought out, not forsaken: contrast between the time God made a divorce from his people and the time he reconciled to himself those he had cast off.

Redemption makes the name true. God testified he remembered his heritage. These are the same people, now the elect Church.