August 16 - Isaiah 62:6-10

August 16 – Isaiah 62:6-10

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.

The Israelites home had been ransacked and destroyed.  They had been carted off to Babylon and their sense of safety was shot.  Most of us have been there.  I still remember the fear that pulsed through my body after kids smashed the window in our back door and went tearing through the house stealing things they could sell quickly and easily.  Even though the window was replaced, it took a while for me to feel safe again.  I had a friend whose home had been broken into five different times, once while the entire family was gathered together outside on the patio!  She never felt safe – every time she’d relax, another break-in would occur and she realized just how tenuous that sensation was.

Most people put security systems in their homes to alert them, in the walled cities during the time of Isaiah, sentries were posted on the walls of the city.  They were responsible for monitoring the surrounding area and notifying the guard of anything that might pose a threat to the city.

These watchmen come from God.  Day and night they would call out all of the activity that was happening outside the walls of Jerusalem.  God promises their safety.  They would not be ransacked again, nor would their city be destroyed.  Their food would remain in storehouses and wouldn’t feed the enemy, their wine would be kept solely for them.

The New Jerusalem will be safe.  The watchmen patrolling the walls will be placed there by the Lord.  The highway will be made safe.  All people will be welcome.  All will find a safe haven within the walls of the New Jerusalem.