Isaiah 62:6-9

2. NEW NOURISHMENT

TEXT: Isaiah 62:6-9

6

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that are Jehovah's remembrancers, take ye no rest.

7

and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

8

Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy grain to be food for thine enemies; and foreigners shall not drink thy new wine, for which thou hast labored:

9

but they that have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Jehovah; and they that have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.

QUERIES

a.

What is a remembrancer?

b.

Why bring up the subject of grain and wine?

PARAPHRASE

I will set sentries all around you, O City of Righteousness and Peace; they will be constantly vigilant crying out warnings and directions. I will also establish intercessors within you, Zion, and instruct them that they are to continually offer supplications and intercessions and prayers of thanksgiving for your establishment throughout the earth. Jehovah has sworn by His own Self, the most powerful oath there is, saying, I will not permit your enemies to plunder you and take away from you what is rightfully yours anymore. What is yours by right of inheritance you shall have and enjoy because you shall be forever in My presence.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 62:6-7 PROTECTION: Watchmen were sentinels standing watch upon the tops of walls and in watch-towers of ancient cities to cry out warning at the approach of the enemy. The term is also used figuratively to denote men especially commissioned by God to preach and proclaim the Law of God to His people (cf. Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:1-9; Isaiah 56:10, etc.). God promises that the watchmen in New Zion will be alert, constant and adept. They will not be like the watchmen of Isaiah's day, satiated, filled with wine, loving to lie down and slumber (Isaiah 56:10). The watchmen of New Zion will declare the whole counsel of God, night and day, with tears (cf. Acts 20:17-35). Shepherds of the flock will be always on guard protecting against grievous wolves (false teachers and false doctrines). Faithful ministers of the gospel and elders and teachers of the church are her watchmen. They can never afford the false luxury of holding their peace for Zion's enemy, like a roaring lion, seeks whom he may devour. Not only shall Zion have faithful watchmen, she shall also have persistent remembrancers. The Hebrew word hammazkirim is literally, those who remind. The idea is that New Zion will have those who are constant in prayer, supplicating God on her behalf. Jesus taught constant, persistent prayer as a characteristic of the citizen of the messianic kingdom (cf. Luke 11:5-14; Luke 18:1-8). The point of Jesus-' parables is not that we can wear God down until He gives in because we have prayed so long and so eloquently, but that if an exasperated friend or a grouchy old judge will answer the pleading of someone in need, how much more will our Father who is really anxious to help, answer us speedily?! The first century church was in constant prayer because its leaders (apostles, elders, evangelists) were men of constant prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

The main thing to be remembered and that which is to be kept constantly before God in prayer is the establishment of New Jerusalem as a praise in the earthevangelism. Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for laborers for the harvest (cf. Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:21; John 4:35, etc.). Going into all the world to make disciples was our Lord's parting words to the church (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:8). Prayer for the evangelization of the world must be constantly upon the heart and lips of New Zion.

Isaiah 62:8-9 PROVISION: Jehovah has allowed Jerusalem's enemies to plunder the land. Specifically Assyria and Babylon invaded Palestine and looted harvest field and city shops. Even the Temple was ravaged by Babylon and its vessels carried off. Israel's inheritance was wrested from her. But it shall not be so with New Zion. Her inheritance is incorruptible and eternalone that does not fade away (1 Peter 1:3-5). Nothing in the seen or unseen world can separate New Zion from her inheritance (Romans 8:31-39). Ancient Zion's glory was transient but New Zion's is eternal (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16 to 2 Corinthians 5:5). Once again Isaiah puts New Zion's future glory in terminology comprehensible to ancient Zion (agricultural terms).

New Zion will enjoy the constant presence of the Lord. She eats and drinks at the Lord's Table. She has been invited to a feast (see Isaiah 25:6-12 and Special Study, RSVP, Come To the Feast).

QUIZ

1.

Who are the watchmen in New Zion?

2.

What is their function?

3.

What should New Zion be constantly in prayer for?

4.

Why can New Zion's inheritance not be plundered?