You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.  No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah.

The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes!  See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’  They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord.”  Isaiah 61:2, 4, 12

 I am trying to take this in. I want to grasp what it means that the people of God are to have a new name.  Is not Jerusalem or Israel, or Zion or Jews the names to be venerated and once again made glorious?  Is it not God’s plan to make the Jews strong, prosperous and great in the eyes of the world? The hope of a restored Jewish nation must have been the central dream for the Jews who listened with hope to Isaiah’s prophecy..

Isaiah spoke often of Jerusalem, of Zion and the divided nation of the sons of Abraham. Does the Word of God promise that the united nation of Israel/Judah will be restored?  With Jerusalem and the Temple as the center of it all?  A quick reading of the prophet Isaiah must have surely led to this impression. Is not the future of the Sons of Abraham the heart of the prophecy?  Any Jew who heard the prophetic word surely heard that God will restore an earthly kingdom, similar to that of David. Is that the vision?

No. “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See. Your Savior comes… They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord.’”  No longer a nation on the earth but the Kingdom of God.  I find this amazing.

Early in Jesus’ public ministry, John the Baptist was thrown into prison. In that dismal hour Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14, 15

The Kingdom of God was the central theme of Jesus’ ministry.  After three years of it he was crucified as the Lamb of God to enable us people, human beings, to enter that Kingdom, then for 40 days after his Resurrection from the dead he taught his disciples and others about this Kingdom.  When Jesus ascended into glory the Kingdom appeared as promised, with Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. That is the Kingdom we joined when we believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is made up of all who make Jesus Christ Lord.

Let us, during this holy season, allow this astounding truth to flood our souls.  “My Kingdom is not of this world.”  Jesus said.