Isaiah 62

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

All of Chapter 62 goes on to describe the restoration of Israel. All of this applies to us spiritually, as a description of our permanent relationship with God and describing the security of the believer.

Elmer Towns tells us "Hephzibah” is found twice in the Old Testament, 2 Kings 21:1 and Isaiah 62:4. Translated from the original Hebrew, Hephzibah literally means, “My delight is in her.” In 2 Kings 21:1, Hephzibah is the name of King Hezekiah’s wife. The name expresses a very clear meaning of "guarding" or "taking care of." Therefore the name Hephzibah means not only someone who evokes delight, but also "one who is guarded," a "protected one."

I am comforted by the idea that God can delight in me and protect me. As I look around, most people I know are not that dependable. Their willingness to delight in...or protect...me is mostly determined by their opinion of me. Unfortunately that opinion is not always something I can influence.

God, on the other hand, has determined to delight in me...and protect me...in spite of who I am. He has determined to do this simply because He loves me. How is it that God can love me, warts and all, when others cannot? I believe it's because God views me (us) through the sacrifice of his son and we will be called the "Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and [we] will be called Sought After". 

Its difficult to own this promise because we know we don't deserve to be called "Holy". It's time we get over ourselves and let God be God. We are Holy and God is delighted in us. He will protect us.

Live boldly out there today...