For Zion’s Sake I Rest Not

For Zion’s Sake I Rest Not

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. Isaiah 62:1, 2

My wife and I attended the church of a friend of ours for a Friday night vespers program. Kim, our friend and contributor to the “The Bible in Your Hand” was the speaker and her topic was “Peace.” The type of peace that can only come from God and a relationship with God. One of those attending brought this text above up. It created quite the discussion. What is this text really saying about peace?

Let’s first define who or what Zion is. Zion is the name often referred to in the Bible for Jerusalem or God’s chosen people. One of my favorite songs is “We are marching to Zion” which of course is referring to the heavenly New Jerusalem. In Old Testament times God’s chosen people referred to the Israelites or Jewish nation. Today, Zion would refer to God’s people, his faithful followers no matter their nationality (see I Peter 2:9, 10).

The 62^nd chapter of Isaiah continues the theme of chapter 61. Up to this pint Israel had failed to live up to her exalted privileges that were given to them by God. These privileges were given to Israel so that they could be God’s representatives to a fallen world. Yet God was not willing to give up on Israel of old just like he is not willing to give up on us today. Therefore, for Zion’s sake, all heaven and even God the Father will not be at peace and for the sake of Jerusalem’s sake, all heaven, Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Father will not rest until her righteousness goes forth as brightness.

While God the Father longs to give us peace and ultimately rest and has assured us that we can cast all our cares on Him. He has vowed that heaven will not be at peace and will not rest until every last person that will accept Christ as their Saviour will have made their decision.

Even for all those that have made their decision heaven continues to work on their behalf, heaven is not at peace and is not resting.

But for those who have accepted Christ as their saviour and out of love for their redeemer, are active in His work, God is calling His righteous to go forth in brightness and her salvation as a lamp that burns.

Lamps that shine in the darkness attach others to it, Thus a Christian that is at peace, whose salvation is assured should be a light shining, attracting others to the hope of our salvation as a lamp that burns and has not gone out.

Therefore the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory. Because you have salvation, your condemnation has been removed from you, a new name will be given to you by your redeemer, for heaven is not at peace nor will rest until salvation is complete for all.