Sovereign Grace Church

Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

(ISAIAH 62:4)

To “delight in someone” is to find and derive pleasure and joy from knowing him or her in pleasant, sweet relationship and fellowship. It is no great mystery that God the Father and God the Son abide in perpetual delight with each other, being in perfect union and agreement in all holiness and righteousness. Behold my Servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth (ISAIAH 42:1).

However, in our text verse, God the Spirit makes the astounding declaration and promise of God’s love, delight and perpetual union to those who were by situation and identity Forsaken and Desolate. This wonderful, unmerited, eternal promise and favor of grace and mercy is surely the best word from God that one of such circumstance has ever, or will ever, experience! This is truly a marvel of God’s redeeming grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. God has never changed his affection for his people as we are from everlasting viewed and accepted by him in Christ. He has always delighted in his children, for the Lord delighteth in thee.

He manifested his delight in us in the life and death of his blessed Son. Our sin and depravity was no hindrance to Him. He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom (JOB 33:24). Furthermore, he delights in his people as we by faith come to Christ and worship him in Spirit and in truth. We delight in him as the direct and effectual result of his delight in Christ and we in Him.

Our Lord has identified himself with his people and made known his delight in us; accordingly, we are no longer termed and called Forsaken. We are called Hephzibah—My delight is in her. Neither do we abide in a land of Desolation, we live in Beulah—married—in a land favored and blessed of the Lord, united to him who loves, and has given himself for, his bride.