I know I’ve mentioned before that my all-girls team name is Hephzibah, but I wanted to explain that a little better. Unless you spend some time the last few chapters of Isaiah, you may not have heard of this word. And while I’m no super scholar in the Old Testament, I have been hanging out recently in these hopeful chapters tucked away in the old faithful prophet’s discourse. The Hebrew word “Hephzibah” is found in Isaiah 62:3. Some background- Isaiah is speaking metaphorically about Israel returning to the Lord and God’s restoration taking place. He uses the beautiful metaphor of God accepting Israel back in as a bridegroom rejoicing over his new bride. The chapter speaks of God’s restoration and His bestowing His people with a new name. The verse says,
“No longer will they [the nations] call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate,
but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will
take delight in you, and your land will be married.”
When you look up Hephzibah you will see that it means “my delight is in her” and that Buelah means “married.” The chapter continues on this subject, refering to this Hephzibah as a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a Holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, Sought After, and the City No Longer Deserted. Oh how I love that “sought after” part. Those last couple chapters in Isaiah talk all about these life giving promises, describe a beautiful wedding, and God’s perfectly amazing restoration.
Another verse caught my eye in Zephaniah 3:17 which says,
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
That’s one of those verses I want to just tatoo all over my body or have someone yell at me everytime I begin to doubt Him. What else do you need? 1. He’s with me. 2. He’s mighty to save. 3. He takes delight in me. 4. He loves me. 5. He rejoices over me. That’s some serious love. I don’t know about all you people out there, but no matter how amazing the people around you are or how dreamy your significant other is…they just can’t compete. God is the only one that can deliver on those 5 aforementioned promises. always. completely. forever.
