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Day 343 (Isaiah 62:1-5) For Zion’s sake, I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake, I will not rest until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles will see your righteousness and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will name. You will also be a crown of glory in the LORD’s and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You will no longer be termed Forsaken nor will your land any more be termed Desolate, but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land will be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so will your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so will your God rejoice over you. People want acceptance more than anything else. They will do whatever it takes for people to accept them. Along with acceptance, people want love. When people marry, they know both love and acceptance. God told His people He accepted them, loved them, and rejoiced over them. He would give them a new name known only to Him and all nations would know how much God favored them. They would know salvation and joy because God rejoiced over them. Christians look forward to the day Jesus returns to reign over His people. He promised to give them a new name known only to the person given the name. (Revelation 2:12-17) “To the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things say He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold fast to My name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and, on the stone, a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.’” Antipas was a Jewish bishop ordained by the Apostle John to the church in Pergamum and martyred by Nero or Domitian for casting out demons worshiped by the local people. When you think about the early church and Christians, you think of them as non-Jewish. Yet many Christians in the early church were Jews. They were the first Christians, and the first martyrs for their faith. It was to those Christians, God would give a new name, written on a stone for them only. God’s prophecy to Isaiah was for His chosen people, reminding them He had not forsaken them. Instead, He rejoiced over them as a bridegroom over his bride. He would marry them, rejoice over them, and call them His own. Remember, God loves His people and has never forsaken them. He will redeem them and show them His salvation and they will know He is their God when He gives them a new name. You are to rejoice over God’s people because He has never forsaken them but calls them His own. Let’s pray: Father, let me always praise You because You have not forsaken Your chosen people. You love them and call them Your own. Help me remember to pray for them and seek their good because of Your love for them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 21 June 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay