Isaiah 62:1-63:6.  As Isaiah continues this concluding section God confirms that Jerusalem (or Zion) will be his special place on earth.  He speaks through he voice of the Servant from Isaiah 61:1,10.  As we saw the Jews will not be abandon and God will fulfill his promises to them as a people now here we see his focus on the land, the promised land.  The nations will recognize that Jerusalem and Judah are blessed or abundantly cared for by God.  The land will not be desolate but productive.  And in verse 5 we see that the children of the Israelites will return and be faithful.

In verse 6 the Servant or God (but as we know the servant from Isaiah 53 is Jesus and Jesus is one and the same with God the Father (See John 10:30-33) so sometimes it’s hard try and separate them) places watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.  In Isaiah 56:10 false prophets are compared to watchmen so here in chapter 62 it is very likely that we are considering prophets again.  In chapter 56 the prophets are blind, stupid, and don’t do their job of warning or announcing what they see (or don’t see in their case).  Here in chapter 62 God (or the servant) chooses these new servants and helps them see and talk.  What they see is evidently the fact that God is working in the lives of the Jews toward establishing his kingdom (filled with believers) in Jerusalem.  He also gives them a job of praying to God.  Their messages will result in people honoring God because he has been faithful to his promises about Jerusalem (v. 7).

Part of that faithfulness is that the Jewish people will eventually begin to enjoy the products of their own land.  When they first spied out the land back in the days of Moses (about 1000 years before) they recognized the land as very abundant (flowing with milk and honey).  Over the years the fruit of the land had gone to pay off invading nations.  In the end when God finally settles the score and gives Israel their land and it’s fruit (vv. 8-9).  This would have been very encouraging to those Israelites under attack.

It seems that verse 10 might be the proclamation by the watch men to open the gate and let all the people in.  Verse 12 tells us that the people who come in are special people (holy), ones who have been paid for by Jesus.  Verse 12 end with the fact that Jerusalem itself will be recognized as a special place, one that causes people to want to return to God.  There is hope.

But there is also a warning. Edom represents those nations opposed to Israel.  Mankind thinks they are so good (Isaiah 63:1)  but right away God gives them a reality chech when he informs them that he alone can save people.  In verse 2 God recognizes that Edom has been destroyed.  They clothing has been turned red like they had gone for a swim in a vat of grape juice.  In verse 3 we learn that God himself is actually destroying Edomites in that same vat or wine press.  And his clothing and theirs is covered in blood.  The day to settle up has come but with it the year of Salvation.  Again I think the day verses year is to give us an idea of what God likes oand doesn’t like.

Verses 5and 6 finish the reading today with God saddened that no one is interested in dealing with the sin problem, he alone is there to help.  He brings both the possibility of salvation and restoration to mankind and the reality of punishment for those who don’t want to spend eternity with him or care about what pleases him.

The reality is we all have offended God (Isaiah 53:6) and there is a price for that, physical and spiritual death (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:3,9).  The author of Hebrews tells us that each one of us must die physically then there is a judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  According to 1 John 5:11-13 God gives eternal life (a restoration of our life with him) through Jesus.  But according to Revelation 20 those who are not recognized as belonging to Jesus are sent away from God forever (the second death, spiritual death after the judgment).  There are the two sides salvation or banishment, in or out.  But it is clear from reading Isaiah that God want us saved, he wants that relationship back with us, but the rules cannot be broken. According to John 1:12 those who stay unsaved stay that way because they rejected Jesus. Those who reject Jesus must be sent away.  1 John 3:3 tells us that Jesus died for everyone, but not everyone will be saved, what a waste.  The watchmen are there are we listening?  God is looking for people to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8) will we do it?  It’s the reasonable thing to do considering what he has done for us (Romans 12:1).  God help me be a better witness for you.  Help me serve you with my whole life.  Give me hope and peace in the middle of troubling circumstances.  Let me shine for you and draw men to you.  Thank you for loving me.  Help me love others.