3314.—Hephzi-bah and Beulah
The chapter looks forward to the time when the new heavens, and the new earth shall be given to God's children, and the glorious new Jerusalem, or Zion, shall be the capital of that kingdom. That city is represented as the bride. Our Lord Jesus Christ is King. See in confirmation of this Gal. 4:26, where Jerusalem that is above is called "the mother of us all;" and Rev. 21: 9, 10, where Jerusalem the capital city of the new earth is called "the wife of the Lamb." All the saved ones are the children. Christ is called in Isa. 9:6 "The Everlasting Father." Jerusalem above is now desolate, waiting for her children. The same thought is confirmed in Isa. 54:1-8, a portion of which Paul quotes in the 4th chapter of Galatians. Jerusalem above being desolate would seem to be forsaken and is so spoken of. But when God shall restore the earth to its pristine beauty it will be true that Jerusalem above shall "no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah." Hephzi-bah means "my delight shall be in her," and Beulah means "married;" "for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." As Palestine was divided by Joshua among the Israelites, so God will divide the inheritance in the new earth among His saved children. Each man will rejoice in his portion; but the greatest of all rejoicing will be of our Lord Jesus Christ over His bride, the city of God, which shall be a joy and rejoicing forever.