Isaiah’s Prayer for Israel
Isaiah 62:1-5 NLT
Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth. The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
Prophet, speak! Hold not your peace,
But share God’s promise in your speech.
Give the words of hope and light;
Salvation’s dawn will end the night.
For a nation long enslaved;
Crowned with shame, God calls your name.
Calls you with a name He gives you;
Token of His pledge to renew.
Peoples, nations, held you captive,
Striving hard to squelch your native
Royal standing with the Lord,
Crowned with glory by your God.
Though you left him in rebellion,
God will not leave you forsaken.
No more will be desolation;
Now, delight and consummation.
Consummation of God’s promise,
“You will be my people always!”
Like a bridegroom loves his bride,
So, your God is by your side.
God, your God, is true and faithful,
Loving, kind, forgiving, graceful.
Zion is God’s crown of glory,
Called to spread redemption’s story.
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
