Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryIsaiah 62

The Prosperity of the Church.This section shows the prophet’s deep love and concern for God’s people. He promises to keep speaking and praying for the church until God’s promises come true. The prophet’s dedication is not for his own benefit, but for the good of Zion and Jerusalem. He wants to see the church shine with righteousness and salvation, bringing light and hope to the world. God, in response, will honor the church, give it a new name, and show His delight in His people. The church will be like a beautiful crown in God’s hand and like a bride loved by her husband.v. 1: The prophet says he will not be silent or rest for Zion’s sake. He will keep preaching and praying until the church’s righteousness and salvation shine like a bright light, like a burning lamp . He is determined to keep working for God’s people, just as Christ worked tirelessly for us. The prophet’s goal is to see God’s promises fulfilled, even if he does not live to see them himself. He knows that the church’s righteousness will bring honor and comfort to God’s people and will be a guide to those who are lost and in darkness.

v. 2: God promises that the church will be admired by all nations. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory . Even rulers will notice and respect the spiritual beauty of God’s people. God will give the church a new name, one that shows its new dignity and honor. This new name comes from God Himself, and everyone will recognize it. This is like the promise of a “white stone with a new name” in Revelation 2:17 and the “name of the city of my God” in Revelation 3:12 .

v. 3: The church will be like a crown of glory and a royal diadem in the hand of the Lord

v. 4: God will no longer call His people “Forsaken” or their land “Desolate.” Instead, they will be called Hephzi-bah (which means “My delight is in her”) and their land Beulah (which means “Married”) . This shows that God takes pleasure in His people and their land will be fruitful again. The church, once lonely and empty, will now be filled with God’s love and blessing. God’s delight in His people is like the love of a husband for his wife (2 Kings 21:1; Proverbs 5:19 ).

v. 5: The people will love their land again, just as a young man marries a virgin and takes joy in her. As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you . God will be like a loving husband to His people, taking great pleasure in them. This is a picture of the close relationship between God and His church. God promises to love and care for His people forever, just as a husband loves his wife (Hosea 2:19–20; Zephaniah 3:17 , Psalm 147:11; Jeremiah 32:41 ).

The Prosperity of the Church.In this section, God promises two main blessings for Jerusalem: an abundance of spiritual guidance through preaching and prayer, and the restoration of material blessings. First, God provides faithful leaders and encourages the people themselves to keep praying. Then, He promises to turn their past troubles into joy, so they can enjoy the good things He gives and honor Him with their blessings. God even confirms these promises with an oath, showing His power and commitment to fulfill them.v. 6: God says He will put watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls. These are faithful ministers who speak God’s message and pray for the people. They shall never hold their peace day or night . Like sentinels guarding a city, they must always be awake and ready to warn and guide. These watchmen must also pray without stopping, just as Moses kept praying until Israel won the battle (Exodus 17:10, 12 ).

v. 7: The people are also called to pray. They are described as those who “make mention of the Lord

v. 8: God promises to reverse the hardships His people suffered. He swears by His right hand and His strong arm that foreigners will never again eat the grain or drink the wine that God’s people have worked for . This oath shows that God’s power is firmly committed to blessing His people. Just as He sometimes swears by His own life or holiness (Ezekiel 33:11; Psalm 89:35 ), here He swears by His strength, making it certain that He will keep His promise (Hebrews 6:17–18 ).

v. 9: Now, those who harvest the crops will eat them and praise the Lord

The Advent of the Messiah.This passage uses the return of the Jews from Babylon as a picture of the greater salvation that Jesus Christ brings. It shows how God removes every obstacle so His people can be free, and how the good news of salvation is announced to everyone. The message is not just for the Jews, but for all people, pointing to the gospel of Christ that brings liberty and new life.v. 10: God commands the people to prepare the way for salvation. Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up the highway, clear it of stones; lift up a banner over the peoples . This means that all barriers to freedom will be removed. The gates of Babylon will be opened, and the road home will be made smooth and safe. In the same way, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus (Matthew 3:3 ). Before Christ comes into a person’s life, God prepares their heart through repentance, making it ready for His peace (Ephesians 6:15 ).

v. 11: The message of salvation will be announced everywhere. Behold, the Lord

v. 12: God’s people will have new names that show their new identity. They shall be called ‘The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord