And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until My righteousness goes forth as light,
And My salvation burns like a lamp.
The Gentiles will see your righteousness,
And kings your glory;
And one will call you by your new name,
Which the Lord shall name.
You shall also be a crown of beauty
In the Lord’s hand,
And the diadem of a kingdom
In the hand of your God.
You shall no longer be called Forsaken,
And your land shall not be called Desert;
For you shall be called My Will,
And in your land, the Inhabited Earth.
As a young man lives in wedlock with a virgin,
So shall your sons dwell with you,
And as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
So the Lord shall rejoice over you. (Is 62:1–5)
In the translators the prophet holds forth like one caught up in delight: “For Zion's sake I will not keep quiet.” For I will cry to God and ask to see the perfecting of what has been said—a time when “righteousness and the salvation of Jerusalem” will enlighten all. For after this a “light to the nations” will be passed on. For the choir of apostles extended the teaching to all the kingdoms, “and the kingdoms were like a jewel in the hand of God,” and so on. This was the blessing of those who fulfilled the promises first of all, that is, the community among the Jews called Jerusalem. Some call these new, for the apostles of the church were the firstfruits. “And I will not stop,” therefore, until God will fulfill His promises to it, the salvation through Christ for all the earth. For God is not of Israel alone but also of the nations. Some think that the words “my righteousness and my salvation” are actually spoken by the mouth of God promising to fulfill all these things.
Christ is righteousness and salvation, just as a light in the world, saying, “When I am in the world, I am the light of the world,” which was formerly discordant in godlessness and all shadows. “Righteousness and glory” are terms that once more name Christ. For we are justified in Him, and we are enriched with glory from Him. To the newness of life, in place of the synagogue is rendered the name “church” and house and city of God, in which David said, “Glorious things are said of you, city of God.”
Because she will be adorned and established in incomparable beauty, he adds, “You will be a beautiful garland.” For every holy soul and the whole church must be compared with a garland put together from many flowers and a royal jewel. For David says that the church is adorned in gold-embroidered and multicolored clothing similar to what is said in our text. “In the hand of God” means “under his shelter.” For he says, “Under my hand I will shelter you.” And Christ concerning his own sheep said, “No one can steal them from the Father's hand.” Some say that the garland of Christ are those corrected by him. And the jewel of his kingdom are those martyrs for His sake, whom in his hand the Father had chosen to put round the Son, garlanding Him and placing as a royal jewel, with the fullness of those who have been saved through Him and by him. Among these taking a new name, she will no longer be called “she who is left deserted” but “my will,” that is, according to my will. This means that she who was previously deserted will be saved and placed with Him, rather than deserted.
Procopius of Gaza, Commentary on Isaiah 62.1-12
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