Theologians have recognised that the book of Isaiah is a microcosm of the Bible, 66 chapters in Isaiah, 66 books in the Bible. Isaiah is made up of two parts, 39 chapters dealing with law, sin and judgment, 27 chapters introducing the era of Messiah. The Bible is divided into two sections, 39 books in the Old Testament, dealing with law, sin, and judgment, 27 books in the New Testament unfolding the era of Messiah.
The last chapters in Isaiah, then, roughly correspond to the last book in the Bible, Revelation. They describe the consummation of history and the eternal reign of Messiah over His redeemed earth and people.
God’s promise to His people, using the imagery of Zion, Jerusalem, the capital city of His realm, is restoration.
Isaiah 62:1-5 NIV
[1] “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. [2] The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. [3] You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. [4] No longer will they call you Deserted, or name 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. [5] As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”
Isaiah concludes his long resume of Israel’s failure and God’s patient dealings with His people with God’s promise. God never leaves His work in people’s lives open-ended. He always concludes His work with positive action, either confining unrepentant sinners to the destiny they chose or finalising His intention to perfect those who trust in Him.
For Israel, God’s purpose was to prepare them for the coming of His Messiah, to redeem not only Israel but the whole world from slavery to sin. Despite the waywardness of His people, God planned a positive outcome for His choice of this special nation.
Messiah came but God’s people still did not repent. In fact, their rebellion led to Messiah’s death! However, God’s plan was still on track because He had the Gentiles in mind.
Romans 11:11 NLT
[11] “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.”
Despite God’s desire for His people, the land was in constant turmoil throughout their history. If not trouble through drought and pestilence, then invasion by foreign powers that decimated their homeland and diminished its people. Even today, God’s people and God’s land are in the throes of serious conflict.
When will it all end? We have no idea!
As much as Israel faces constant enemy incursion, so do we as individuals. Jesus assured us that trouble will be a part of our lives. There is no such thing as Utopia in this life, even for believers in Jesus but… He has a plan; He has a promise.
Married!
Not marriage as we see it in today’s troubled world; not jumping in and out of marriage when selfishness destroys relationships; not shacking up, unmarried, with no commitment because marriage is too permanent and doesn’t work; not even murder to get rid of a troublesome spouse!
Married, as in a permanent and indestructible union between Jesus and His bride! There are two ingredients for this perfect marriage which only God can provide.
Hephzibah…”my delight is in her”.
Beulah… “married”
The story of Eliezer’s mission, sent by Abraham to find a bride for Isaac, beautifully illustrates the Father’s purpose for sending the Holy Spirit. He came to find and prepare a bride for God’s Son.
The church is Jesus’ bride in whom He delights. He gave His life for her to perfect and prepare her for marriage. This marriage will be perfect and permanent.
Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT
[25] “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. [27] He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”
He has gone to prepare her eternal home and will return to marry her when all is ready.
John 14:3 NLT
[3]” When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
Revelation 19:6-8 NLT
[6]” Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. [7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. [8] She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.”
Although much time and money are spent on preparing for the wedding, the ceremony and celebration are only the doorway into the marriage, a lifetime union of becoming one!
Beulah! Married! That’s the goal of all the preparation. Not a short-term, temporary union that is dissolved when it doesn’t work. Married means partnership, togetherness in every circumstance and situation, always functioning as a pair, doing life together through thick and thin, delighting in each other to the exclusion of all others.
“Married” is God’s promise for those who endure hardships, persevere despite obstacles, and press on through every difficulty to win the prize for which Christ calls us heavenward.
Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
[13] “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
The ones who will receive the promise are those who comply with the conditions.
Living in Beulah Land means leaving the past behind in anticipation of the future. . Every trial endured, every pain suffered, every loss experienced prepares us for the peace of Beulah Land where we gaze with eager longing at the beauty and promise of the Celestial City across the Dark River.
The Dark River holds no terror for those who have reached Beulah Land because our Bridegroom has conquered death, broken its power, and now He has free access to those He accompanies into glory.
Hebrews 6:11-12 NLT
[11]”Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. [12] Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”
Faith and endurance, keeping our eyes on the goal and pressing on regardless…will get us to “Beulah”, the eternal land of the eternally “Married”.
Beulah Land is a time of consolidation and anticipation. Consolidation… all the lessons of the past, learned through the hard experiences of pain and suffering, don’t need to be learned again. They are now cemented into who we are, and we draw on them to navigate the final stage of our journey through life.
Anticipation… By faith, we glimpse, with longing and eager desire, the gleaming turrets and towers of the Celestial City across the Dark River. This is God’s eternal dwelling place which we shall share forever in union with His Son.
One more thing…I have often wondered how Jesus can be the bridegroom of a composite bride of many millions of people. He is not a polygamist. The Holy Spirit answered my question. I asked the Lord how He can have all the names of every believer inscribed on the palm of His hand. (Isaiah 49). His answer: “NOT every name. Just one. Your name!” Every child of God has a one-on-one relationship with our Bridegroom! In the same way, we all have a personal space at His feet in worship. So, we have a personal, one-on-one intimacy with Jesus.
“Beulah Land”, an experience not to be missed in the final days of our journey through time. Time, for us, will cease. One more trip…across the Dark River, accompanied by our Bridegroom, to fall at the Father’s feet in worship and adoration, the consummation of all we have endured for this moment. Raptured…into the heavenly bridal chamber to be joined with Jesus, our bridegroom…forever!