Introduction to Isaiah 62

Structure and Formatting

This chapter presents a further oracle that continues the positive tone of this second section of Part Eight of the book. The prophet resolves to keep speaking to the community about Yahweh, and to Yahweh about the community, until Jerusalem becomes a beacon to the nations. In the previous two oracles, Zion was called “abandoned” and a place of “devastation.” But in this oracle, Yahweh promises through the prophet that no one will call her that anymore. Instead, she will be given wonderful new names: “My Delight is in Her” and “Married” (that is, no longer abandoned). In this culture, people could be given a new name as the result of some important event in their life, and that is what is happening here.To see this marvelous transformation accomplished, the prophet enlists others to join him in the work of intercession. He posts these collaborators figuratively on the walls of Jerusalem as watchmen and tells them not to rest as they call on the Lord to fulfill his purposes. This is a pointed contrast to the description of blind and silent watchmen in the second oracle in chapter 56.Like the oracles in chapters 60 and 61, this oracle has five parts that are nested pairs. In the first and last parts (verses 1–5 and 11–12), the city is given new names. The second and fourth parts (6–7 and 10) speak of how the people can anticipate and even encourage what Yahweh is going to do. The third part (8–9) once again presents a central promise from Yahweh.