Isaiah 62: Living Up to Our Name

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled;  but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. 

The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted. - Isaiah 62

The central idea revolves around Israel getting a new future. Her defeat and shame in the eyes of the people around her has been what has defined her, as shown by the names she was given and the labels that she wore: Deserted and Desolate. Hard to be impressive when the city is stripped. But God promises a new identity, so much so that her name is changed from Desolate to My Delight and from Deserted to Married. 

It is strange that the change in a name can change the opinion that people hold about themselves. Israel needed someone strong and powerful and respected to assign her a new identity and then she could live up to that new identity. That was hope. That was me seeing the results of my hard work. It is not a "believe in yourself and you can do it" gospel, it is a "God believes he can do it and he makes space for you to join him" gospel. When he gives us the new, hopeful name, he is creating that space. We can waste it or thrive in it.