November 8, Isaiah 62
The nations shall see your righteousness, and
all the kings your glory, and you shall be called
by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will
give. - Isaiah 62:2
Names are significant. Expectant parents put lots of time and thought into choosing a name for their child. When a business or organization is established, the people involved in its formation pay careful attention to the name they choose for the company.
A God-chosen and announced name is of even more significance. God gave some of the patriarchs new names to match roles they would play or promises he gave them. In both Old and New Testaments, we read examples of God naming some babies before they were born to demonstrate his sovereignty over all people and events. Sometimes names have special meaning because they have already been worn by family members of previous generations. Sometimes the significance comes from the circumstances in which the child was born.
But a name given by God himself should carry the greatest possible significance. The name God promised to call his people would come from his own mouth in a time when Gentiles saw his righteousness and kings had seen God's glory. Some of the descriptive titles for God's people in this chapter are beautiful reminders of God's promises. It's thrilling to contemplate what it means to be called God's "Delight." The title "Married" is about God's faithful covenant relationship with his people.
What a calling to be known as "The Holy People!" "Redeemed" reminds us of the Lord's great sacrifice of himself to make us his own. It's gratifying to understand that God's people should be called "Sought One." And the title "A City Not Forsaken" ought to give God's people confidence and courage.
But what is the prophesied new name that God would give his people? Does this prophecy look ahead to the time when the disciples were first called "Christians" at Antioch as described in the New Testament book of Acts? Consider how well it fits this prophecy. It was given at a time when Gentiles had been included in the new covenant people. The gospel had spread from Jerusalem to Samaria and many Samaritans had come to Christ. Cornelius and his family had already been baptized and accepted. Through the missionary work of Paul, a great Gentile congregation had been established at Antioch. And it was there that "the disciples were first called Christians."
It's also interesting that Paul (who had been Saul) was at Antioch when the name was given. God told Ananias when he sent him to see Saul, restore his sight and baptize him that this man Saul was "a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." I do not think it's a coincidence that the one God chose to be his name-bearer was at Antioch when the disciples were first called Christians.
The name Christian honors our Savior Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We raise it as a signal banner to remind ourselves that we belong to and are growing to become like him. We proclaim to others that there is salvation in no one else and in no other name.
In this chapter, God also commanded his people to be persistent in prayer for Messiah's coming, and to work to make the way clear for others to come to him. Those two commands are clearly echoed in the ministries of prayer and evangelism for God's people living in New Testament times, sharing the good news of the gospel and praying for Messiah's return.
There may have been some limited application about preparing the way and removing the obstacles for the exiles who would return from captivity to Jerusalem. But the promises in this prophecy are much, much bigger than that. These inspired words through the prophet Isaiah look centuries, not just decades, ahead. They anticipate and describe a time when God's people would wear a new name given by the Lord himself and proclaim the good news of salvation to others so they too could be saved. We who are Christians today can rejoice to share in those promised blessings and privileges in Christ that Isaiah foretold.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
Comments