Watchmen on the Walls Praying for the Kingdom

Watchmen on the Walls Praying for the Kingdom to Come

Getting to Chapter 62: The idea of the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’ • The ‘already’: – Ch 60: the ‘New Jerusalem’ is already real. – Ch 61: the ‘Anointed One’ has already come. • The ‘not yet’: – But the city of Jerusalem lies in ruins. – The work of the Messiah seems woefully incomplete.

Isaiah 62: The Watchmen on the Wall • Praying for what has already been promised. • Lord’s Prayer: – Your Kingdom come – Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

The One who commissions the Watchmen • The Prophet? But if it is the prophet, he speaks in the voice of the LORD. • The LORD (Yahweh)? • Whoever it is says, ‘I will not be silent’. He is committed to crying out himself, and also (vv 6 -7) calling Watchmen to cry out.

The Object of the Watchmen’s Prayer • V. 1 (third person): Zion/Jerusalem. ‘for Zion’s sake…. ’/ for Jerusalem sake… – V 2 (second person): until ‘the nations see YOUR righteousness…. ’ • Concl: prayer of the Watchmen is for: – God’s People, to be restored. – God’s Kingdom, to come. • Keeping silent is NOT an option.

The Case for the Watchmen’s Prayer Verses 1 -5 • V. 1 It is ‘for Zion’s sake’: – 1 b ‘till her vindication/righteousness shines like the dawn’ – ‘her salvation like a burning torch’ • Fundamental to all: we pray for the sake of God’s people, that they might experience what God has for them.

The Case (continued) • Vv 2 -3. For the sake of the nations – ‘the nations will see your vindication (righteousness NIV), and all kings your glory’. Compare Is 60: 1 -3 • Purpose of Israel: to bless the nations (Gen 12) • God’s people: Exhibit ‘A’ to the world: v. 3 ‘you will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand; a royal diadem in the hand of your God. ’

The Case (continued) • God’s people as proof to the nations: – Eph 3: 10 ‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’. • God has chosen the Church (Eph 5: 27): that he might present her…a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle… • All: so God can boast of his grace to angelic and earthly powers.

The Case (continued) • Vv 4 -5 For the sake of God’s love for his people. The marriage metaphor: she who was abandoned and desolate will now be chosen, betrothed, and an object of delight. • She will have a new name(s) – Hephzibah: ‘My delight is in her’ – Beulah: ‘Married’ – NLT: ‘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’ • V. 5. continues metaphor: God delights in his people.

The Case Summarised: Watchmen Pray for the sake of: • Zion: the people of God, and their longed-for redemption. • The Nations, that they might see God’s salvation. • The consummation of God’s love for, and delight in, his own people.

The Commissioning of the Watchmen vv 6 -7 • The Speaker: The LORD • The Watchmen: those who stand in the gap, to cry out to the LORD. • Their task (described): to continue to cry out, day and night. • Their commision (2 nd person): – Give yourselves no rest. – Give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem, and makes her the praise of the earth.

The Basis for the Watchmen’s Confidence: the Divine Promise Vv 8 -12 • Vv 8 -9. the Curse is to be completely removed. – Based on the LORD’s oath/Word. – Effected by the LORD’s power (his right hand/arm) – Yahweh’s Word and Power: what more required?

The Basis (continued) • Vv 8 -9. The content of the promise: removal of the curse. • The curse (v 8): you plant and enemies eat; you tend vines and enemies drink the wine. • The reversal (v 9): those who harvest will eat; those who gather will drink. – Note: both related to praising God in his sanctuary.

The Basis (Continued) • Vv. 10 -12. History is coming to full fruition. Picture: Yahweh’s Anointed Savior enters the city in victorious procession. – V. 10: to the Watchmen: prepare the way. Cf. Isaiah 48: 20; 52: 11; 57: 14 (Go out); 40: 3; 57: 14 (prepare a road/way) • Job of the watchmen: through prayer and discernment, to get ready for what God will do.

History comes to fruition (continued) • V. 11. Yahweh’s announcement to Zion: Get ready. Your Savior comes. – He brings rewards (blessings, gifts) – He brings recompense (to the faithful, and the unfaithful).

History comes to fruition (continued) • V. 12. The Result: a New People in a New City • The New People. They will be called: – The Holy People (cf. Malachi 3: 16). Set apart for God’s purposes and blessing. – The Redeemed of the LORD. No longer at the mercy of the world and its evil forces. – They belong to the LORD and He to them.

History comes to fruition (continued) • V. 12. The New City – Called ‘Sought After’ (root: desired) – Called ‘The City No Longer Deserted’. Same verb (‘azab) used as ‘abandoned’ in v 4 and Is 60: 15. – Thought: picked up from vv 4 -5. City, personified as a woman, now the object of God’s attention and affection. • Rev 21 -22: The New Jerusalem, a ‘bride prepared for her husband’.

Application: Watchmen on the Walls • We are today’s Watchmen. Prayer is the task. • The LORD commissions us, as He did them. • The Case for Prayer is the same – For the sake of God’s people. – For the sake of the nations who are watching. – For the sake of God, who loves us.

Application (continued) • The Basis for Confident Prayer is the same. – The curse of sin will be completely removed, and blessing will follow. – History is coming to fruition; straining toward a conclusion and consummation, which Jesus called ‘the Kingdom of God’. – NT ends with this City: Read Rev 21: 22 -22: 5.

Application (continued) • The call (v 6) to Watchmen (then and now) – Never be silent, day or night. – Give yourselves no rest. – Give God no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth’. – ‘Even so, come Lord Jesus’