Isaiah 62:10-12 – Let's build the church

Zion would become an entirely different place after God had worked on her. As we have seen earlier, God had placed watchmen at the city wall to guard the city. In Isaiah 62:10, the prophet saw Zion as a restored city with gates opened, a highway built, and obstacles removed. The path had been restored so that the people could stream into her. The standard is the banner where an army would rally around and station for the march forward. Since Zion had been restored, the standard ought to be lifted so that God’s people could rally around it and move forward in tandem. In verse 11, God had sounded out the rallying call to all the earth. A rallying call signaling the coming of the Redeemer and His salvation plan. God has graciously alerted all nations to His rescue operation with the rewards and compensation for those deserving them. The Lord’s people would be known as a holy people and the city of Zion would be unshaken, and a sought-out city.

The restored Zion is a reference to the church of Christ. It is a well-established place, where God’s redeemed will come together. Her walls will be restored and guarded, her gates will all be in place and wide open, the highway to her will be made smooth and obstacles removed. It’s going to be an inviting place. Everything will be aligned to enable the people to stream in to populate her. Here we see an anticipation that the church will be the one where salvation will go forth and her people will be known as the Holy people of God. This, the Apostle Peter affirmed in his letter saying that “we are a chosen people, a holy nation, royal priests  nation, a people of God’s own acquisition.” The church will be an established place, a city sought after, and a city that will never be forsaken.

The church is not a building. It is a people redeemed by the Lord gathering to honor Him and to propagate His purpose in the world. Our calling is to enlarge the Kingdom of Christ Jesus. There is no greater pleasure than to be an instrument of the Lord to work out His will and plan in the world. We are the church Jesus has founded and He is the foundation on which we are built. The gates of hell cannot prevent the church from advancing. This presupposes that every member would take up his or her position and rally around the Gospel and proclaim it boldly. Let us do our part! We are God’s mouthpiece in the world so let’s not neglect our duty. As God’s holy people, we must avail ourselves to build the church for His glory!