A new name
by Georgie Schuster
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You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow (Isaiah 62:2b).
Names are closely linked to identities. If I gave the name of a famous landmark and asked what popped into your mind next, I imagine you might ‘see’ a picture pretty quickly and suddenly be thinking about its features. How about the Sydney Harbour Bridge? The Eiffel Tower?
Isaiah spoke of many things. Earlier, he shared that Jerusalem would fall. But here in Isaiah 62, he shared words of comfort and hope.
‘No longer will they call you Deserted or 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’ (verse 4). The name Hephzibah means ‘my delight is in her’, and Beulah means ‘married’.
‘They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted’ (Isaiah 62:12).
He spoke not only of the city but also of the people who would return.
There were times that sadness filled the hearts of those who thought of Jerusalem’s identity in this period … The names Deserted and Desolate offered no joy.
But God had a new identity, new names in mind, seen through his eyes for his city and its people. Hephzibah, Beulah, Holy People, Sought After, Redeemed, No Longer Deserted.
Isaiah also looked forward to the time when the Saviour would come, and we have the privilege of knowing all that Jesus did for us. Our identity is in Christ! Just as God spoke over the people long ago, he sees and calls us by our new names today! My Delight, Married, Holy, Redeemed, Sought After, No Longer Deserted, among many others!
Which of these names resonates with you today?
Dear God, thank you for seeing me through my new identity in Christ. Help me to live in it today. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Georgie Schuster lives in Adelaide. She loves getting out into the country to experience God’s creation. Georgie likes taking photos when she can. After teaching for many years, she now enjoys working in a church/school setting where she still gets to share stories about Jesus with children and families.
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