Isaiah 62 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome, Family! We're spending 2024 with the prophet Isaiah. While we claim no expertise, we're excited to sit with you as we both learn at the feet of Jesus. Each month, we offer a calendar that outlines daily exercises (adapted from Jenn Wilkin's Women of the Word Bible study process) to progress through Isaiah. Download November's calendar to begin with us and witness what we uncovered in our weekly "Wolfe Notes" postings.

Contents:

1. Different Versions Noting and clarifying differences between KJV & NIV.
2. Annotation My thoughts, connections, clarifications, and questions.
3. Research On watchmen.
4. Summary An approximately twenty-word overview of the chapter.
5. Memorize Why I chose to memorize Isaiah 62:6-7.
6. Cross References Of Isaiah 62:6-7.
7. Respond to God's desire for relationship.

Different Versions

I read Chapter 62 in the King James Version (KJV) and the New International Version (NIV). The KJV is a word-for-word translation while the NIV is a thought-for-thought translation.

Major differences I noticed (*My thoughts alone are in italics and designated with an asterisk.):

Isaiah 62:1

• Comparisons:
• KJV: For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, (1) until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 
• NIV: For Zion's sake will I not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, (1) till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
• Discrepancies: 
1. Righteousness (KJV) feels more like Jerusalem is improved and that's what draws people in, as we draw people by our light. Vindication (NIV) feels more like God works on other people to fix her reputation.
• Thoughts: Both depict a massive shift in Jerusalem's perception. People are now drawn to her instead of repelled.

Annotation

Notes on my process. *Denotes my thoughts alone. ! Denotes a connection. Researched quick answers are in italics. *R Indicates a topic with more extensive notes under the research heading.

Zion's Restoration (Isaiah 62:1-5)

1. I will work night and day to see Jerusalem restored and saved.
2. Everyone will notice the glorious change. 
3. I'll give you a new name.
1. Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my wall a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 56:5 KJV
2. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17 NIV
4. You'll be the shining crown of My glory.
5. I, who delight in you, will marry myself to you; you will never be alone again.
1. 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 KJV
2. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV

Zion's Guard (Isaiah 62:6-7)

1. I have placed people to watch over you. 
1. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalm 91:11 KJV
2. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; Proverbs 27:23 NIV
3. ? Who are the watchmen? *R
2. They will constantly call on Me until My work in You is accomplished.
1. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV
2. being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV

Zion's Provision (Isaiah 62:8-9)

1. You will keep the goods you have labored to produce.
1. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Psalm 128:2 KJV
2. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24 NIV
2. You will enjoy them in My presence.

Zion's Invitation (Isaiah 62:10)

1. Join us! The gates are open and the road smooth.
1. 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 KJV
2. A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 NIV

Zion's Promise (Isaiah 62:10-12)

1. Let everyone know that your Savior is coming with great reward.
1. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4 KJV (See cross references.)
2. He's ready to get to work.
3. You will be known to be holy, worthy, pursued, and never forsaken by God.
1. You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. I Corinthians 6:20 NIV
2. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 KJV
3. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9 NIV

Research

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Who are the watchmen? (Isaiah 62:6)

Christians

Watchmen are those who keep vigil spiritually and physically. 

• Physically, they alert inhabitants to any approaching danger. 
• Spiritually, they are vigilant in prayer, proclaiming God's word, and ensuring people remain faithful to God's covenant. Examples of Biblical watchmen are Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi.
• They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psalm 91:12 KJV
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20 KJV

Angels

God often posts angels to watch over cities and people.

• "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Exodus 23:20 NIV
• Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? Zechariah 1:12 KJV

Parallels between Watchmen and God

Compare Isaiah 62:1-7 with Isaiah 61:1-3 and a parallel emerges. These passages describe the interplay between God, Jesus, and us.

• God and Us
• "I will not hold my peace" (62:1) / "which shall never hold their peace" (62:6)
• "I will not rest" (62:1) / "give him no rest" (62:6). 
• Jesus and Us
• "the Lord has anointed me [Jesus]" (61:1) / "I [God] have posted watchmen [us] on the walls" (62:6)
• "that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (61:3) / "till he establish, and till he [God] make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (62:7)

Christ constantly works for His church. In response, we move God to work through constant prayer and action which gives God no rest in establishing Zion as the light for all the world.

*We are the watchmen. We are the Church who, now alive in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, move God to work. We give Him no rest because of our constant prayer (Ephesians 6:18-20). This verse is not about angels because angels act on God's command and here the watchmen will God to move. God is being motivated here, He is not commanding action but moving because of our action. He is moved to act by our prayers. Through Jesus, we have that power!

Sources: 

1. Bible Hub commentaries on Isaiah 62:6.
2. Christianity.com: "Are There Angels on Earth?"

Summary

God works tirelessly to restore Zion in whom He delights so all who enter will feel cherished and greatly rejoice.

Memorize

I chose to memorize Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV:

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.

*This is our call to action.

Cross References

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Of  Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV.

I have set watchmen upon thy walls,

• "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 3:17 NIV
• Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1 KJV
• Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I Peter 5:8 NIV
• Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:28-31 KJV
• Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a JOY, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17 NIV
• Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16 KJV (See cross references.)

...O Jerusalem,...

• At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. Jeremiah 3:17 NIV
• But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. II Chronicles 6:6 KJV
• On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:9 NIV

...which shall never hold their peace...

• 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 KJV
• Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come." Revelation 4:6-8 NIV
• The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14 KJV

...day nor night:...

• "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Luke 12:35-40 NIV (See also Mark 13:33-37; Matthew 24:42-44; Revelation 3:3)
• Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. I Thessalonians 5:6 KJV
• A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:33 NIV

...ye that make mention of the LORD,...

• Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Isaiah 43:26 KJV
• In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:6 NIV
• Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV
• "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 NIV

...keep not silence,...

• And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26 KJV
• A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." "Yes it is, Lord," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Matthew 15:22-27 NIV
• For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:10-13 KJV (See also Matthew 7:7-8)
• Pray continually. I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

...and give him no rest,...

• Jesus told his disciples a story about a woman who kept going to a judge for justice. At first he wouldn't hear her, but because of her persistence, he fulfilled her request. If an unjust judge would act in this manner, how much more will God act on behalf of his elect should they never grow weary of praying.  Luke 18:1-8 (*Paraphrased by me) 
• For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. Isaiah 18:4 KJV (See cross references.)

...till he establish,... 

• For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11 NIV
• Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18 KJV
• I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2 NIV
• I have raised [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 45:13 KJV

...and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. Psalm 122:6 NIV
• And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. Jeremiah 29:7 KJV
• your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NIV
• And it shall be to me a name of JOY, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. Jeremiah 33:9 KJV (See also Psalm 102:13-16)
• This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain." Zechariah 8:3 NIV

*Conclusion: We are called to be alert. For the sake of God's kingdom, all who belong to God will keep fighting boldly and relentlessly through prayer. God restores because we keep asking, and we know this restoration is available to everyone. God will reign on earth.

Respond

God is relational. He is married to Jerusalem. To her, He shows faithful commitment, delight, and generosity (Isaiah 62:1-5). Though He could choose a course of action without us, He relies on our prayers to move (Isaiah 62:6-7). He sent His Son to inspire us (Isaiah 61:1-3). He welcomes more relationships to all who desire it (Isaiah 62:10). He improves everyone who enters into relationship with Him (Isaiah 62:11-12).

Relationships challenge me because I'm afraid of being hurt. I'm certain when people see the real me, they'll reject me or expect more of me than I can offer. 

I will learn to approach relationships God's way. I will be committed, faithful, generous, and delighted in the people He chooses for me. Just as He chose Jerusalem, I believe He chooses people for me, too. I will pray diligently for Him to move when relationships face a roadblock or obstacle. I will look to His Word, Jesus Christ, for guidance. I will be inviting, but realize both sides must choose the relationship. If they don't want to enter into my life, I need to accept that and celebrate the people who do instead of being dismayed by those who don't. I will work at building up everyone I'm in relationship with by always pointing them along the Jesus' path and look for people who will do the same for me.

In Closing

Father God, how You love us! You choose to be in relationship with us and desire our willing interaction. You want us to be a part of Your story. Thank You for welcoming us in! Teach us to treat others the way You treat us: to be faithfully committed, generous, willing to delight in one another, and working to grow in You together.

Learning with You,

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*Image Credit: Castle Wall by ChiemSeherin at Pixabay