Isaiah 62:10
Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations!
Pass through, pass through the gates!
This phrase is a call to action, urging the people to move forward with purpose and determination. The repetition of "pass through" emphasizes urgency and importance. In the Hebrew context, "gates" often symbolize entry points to a city or a place of significance. Historically, gates were places of judgment, commerce, and social interaction. Spiritually, this can be seen as an invitation to enter into a new phase of spiritual life or to advance the Kingdom of God. The gates could represent barriers that need to be overcome or opportunities that need to be seized.

Prepare the way for the people
This phrase suggests making ready a path for others to follow. The Hebrew root for "prepare" implies making something smooth or straight. This can be seen as a call to remove obstacles that hinder spiritual progress. Historically, preparing a way was a common practice for the arrival of a king or dignitary, ensuring a smooth and welcoming path. In a spiritual sense, it is a call to prepare hearts and minds for the coming of the Lord, echoing the ministry of John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus.

Build up, build up the highway!
The repetition of "build up" emphasizes the importance of constructing something strong and enduring. The "highway" refers to a raised road, symbolizing a path that is elevated above the ordinary. In ancient times, highways were built for ease of travel and to connect important cities. Spiritually, this can be seen as creating a clear and righteous path for others to follow, leading them to God. It is a call to elevate our lives and communities to reflect God's holiness and purpose.

Clear it of stones
This phrase involves removing obstacles that could cause stumbling. Stones in the path can represent sin, distractions, or anything that hinders spiritual progress. The act of clearing is intentional and requires effort, symbolizing the need for repentance and purification. Historically, clearing stones was a practical task to ensure safe travel. Spiritually, it is a metaphor for sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ by removing sin and distractions from our lives.

Raise a banner for the nations
A "banner" is a signal or standard that is lifted high for all to see. In ancient times, banners were used in battle to rally troops or to signal a gathering point. Here, it symbolizes a call to unity and a proclamation of God's sovereignty. "For the nations" indicates that this message is not just for Israel but for all people. It reflects the universal scope of God's salvation plan and the call to be a light to the Gentiles. Spiritually, raising a banner is an act of declaring God's truth and inviting others to come and see His glory.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
The prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Israel, calling them to repentance and offering hope for restoration.

2. Jerusalem
The city symbolizing God's presence and the center of worship for the Israelites, often representing the people of God as a whole.

3. The Nations
Refers to the Gentiles or non-Israelite peoples, indicating the universal scope of God's salvation plan.

4. The Highway
Symbolic of the path of righteousness and the way of salvation that God prepares for His people.

5. The Banner
Represents a signal or standard that draws people together, often used in a military or rallying context to gather and guide.
Teaching Points
Preparation for God's Work
Just as the Israelites were called to prepare the way, Christians are called to prepare their hearts and lives for God's work. This involves removing obstacles and sin that hinder our relationship with Him.

Inclusivity of God's Salvation
The call to raise a banner for the nations underscores the inclusivity of God's salvation plan. Believers are encouraged to share the Gospel with all people, reflecting God's heart for the nations.

Active Participation in God's Mission
The repeated command to "build up" and "clear it of stones" suggests active participation in God's mission. Christians are called to be proactive in their faith, contributing to the building of God's kingdom.

Symbolism of the Highway
The highway represents a clear and direct path to God. Believers are reminded to walk in righteousness and to guide others on this path through their witness and testimony.
Bible Study Questions
1. What obstacles in your life might be hindering your spiritual journey, and how can you "clear them of stones" as Isaiah 62:10 suggests?

2. How does the imagery of raising a banner for the nations challenge you to think about your role in sharing the Gospel with others?

3. In what ways can you actively participate in building up the "highway" for others to come to know Christ?

4. How does the concept of preparing the way for the Lord in Isaiah 62:10 connect with the ministry of John the Baptist in the New Testament?

5. Reflect on the inclusivity of God's salvation plan. How can you be more intentional in reaching out to those who are different from you, culturally or otherwise?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 40:3-5
This passage also speaks of preparing the way for the Lord, emphasizing the removal of obstacles and the revelation of God's glory.

Matthew 3:3
John the Baptist's ministry is described as preparing the way for Jesus, echoing the call to prepare a path for the Lord.

Psalm 67:1-2
Highlights the desire for God's ways to be known among all nations, aligning with the call to raise a banner for the nations.

Revelation 22:14
Speaks of those who enter the gates of the New Jerusalem, connecting to the imagery of passing through gates in Isaiah 62:10.
The Mission of Those Who Remove HindrancesR. Tuck Isaiah 62:10
Clearing the Road to HeavenIsaiah 62:10-12
God's Summons to the EnslavedW. Clarkson Isaiah 62:10-12
The Conversion of the JewsE. Bickersteth.Isaiah 62:10-12
The Homeward CallE. Johnson Isaiah 62:10-12
People
Hephzibah, Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem, Jerusalem's, Zion
Topics
Banner, Build, Cast, Clear, Doors, Ensign, Flag, Gates, Gather, Highway, Lift, Lifted, Nations, Pass, Peoples, Prepare, Raise, Ready, Remove, Standard, Stones
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 62:10

     5223   banner
     5336   highway

Isaiah 62:10-12

     5499   reward, divine

Library
The Heavenly Workers and the Earthly Watchers
'For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest ... I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest'--ISAIAH lxii. 1, 6, 7. Two remarks of an expository nature will prepare the way for the consideration of these words. The first is that the speaker is the personal Messiah. The second half of Isaiah's prophecies forms one great whole, which
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Call to Prayer and Testimony
Mark well, beloved, how he would have his people to be in tune with himself! He will have no rest till salvation work is done; and he would not have us take rest; but he would have us stirred with passionate desire, and fired with holy zeal for the accomplishment of the divine plan of grace. Till he holds his peace he will not allow us to be silent. You that have the Revised Version will be struck with the more literal and forcible rendering of our text--"Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Ministry of Intercession
THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION A PLEA FOR MORE PRAYER BY THE REV. ANDREW MURRAY WELLINGTON, S. AFRICA AUTHOR OF "THE HOLIEST OF ALL" "ABIDE IN CHRIST" "WAITING ON GOD" "THE LORD'S TABLE" ETC. ETC. "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." ISA. lxii. 6, 7. THIRD EDITION London JAMES NISBET & CO.
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

God Seeks Intercessors
"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, keep not silence, and give Him no rest till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."--ISA. lxii. 6, 7. "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor."--ISA. lix. 16. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered, and there was none to uphold."--ISA. lxiii. 5. "There is none that calleth upon Thy name, that
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Watchmen that Go About the City Found Me, to whom I Said, Saw Ye Him whom My Soul Loveth?
Since I have not found my Beloved in any mortal creature, I have sought Him among those happy spirits that go about the city to guard it; they found me because they are ever on the watch, These are the watchmen (Isa. lxii. 6) whom God has set upon the walls of Jerusalem, and who shall never hold their peace day nor night. I asked them news of my Well-beloved, of Him for whom I burn with love; but though they themselves possess Him, they could not give Him to me. Methinks I see Mary Magdalene (John
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

And the Manner of his Entry into Jerusalem, which was the Capital of Judæa...
And the manner of His entry into Jerusalem, which was the capital of Judæa, where also was His royal seat and the temple of God, the prophet Isaiah declares: Say ye to the daughter of Sion, Behold a king corneth unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass, a colt the foal of an ass. [233] (Isa. lxii. 11, Zech. ix. 9) For, sitting. on an ass's colt, so He entered into Jerusalem, the multitudes strewing and putting down for Him their garments. And by the daughter of Sion he means Jerusalem.
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

Man's Crown and God's
'In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 5. 'Thou shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord.'--ISAIAH lxii 3. Connection of first prophecy--destruction of Samaria. Its situation, crowning the hill with its walls and towers, its fertile 'fat valley,' the flagrant immorality and drunkenness of its inhabitants, and its final ruin, are all presented in the highly imaginative picture of its fall as being like the trampling
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sixth Day for the Spirit of Love in the Church
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Spirit of Love in the Church "I pray that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and Thou in Me; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me ... that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them."--JOHN x"The fruit of the Spirit is love."--GAL. v. 22. Believers are one in Christ, as He is one with the Father. The love of God rests on them, and can dwell in them. Pray that the power of the Holy
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Twenty-Fourth Day for the Spirit on Your Own Congregation
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Spirit on your own Congregation "Beginning at Jerusalem."--LUKE xxiv. 47. Each one of us is connected with some congregation or circle of believers, who are to us the part of Christ's body with which we come into most direct contact. They have a special claim on our intercession. Let it be a settled matter between God and you that you are to labour in prayer on its behalf. Pray for the minister and all leaders or workers in it. Pray for the believers according to their needs.
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

A Model of Intercession
"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and shall say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine is come unto me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: I cannot rise and give thee? I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet, because of his importunity, he will arise and give him as many as he needeth."--LUKE xi. 5-8.
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

"And He is the Propitiation,"
1 John ii. 2.--"And he is the propitiation," &c. Here is the strength of Christ's plea, and ground of his advocation, that "he is the propitiation." The advocate is the priest, and the priest is the sacrifice, and such efficacy this sacrifice hath, that the propitiatory sacrifice may be called the very propitiation and pacification for sin. Here is the marrow of the gospel, and these are the breasts of consolation which any poor sinner might draw by faith, and bring out soul refreshment. But truly,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The First Day in Passion-Week - Palm-Sunday - the Royal Entry into Jerusalem
At length the time of the end had come. Jesus was about to make Entry into Jerusalem as King: King of the Jews, as Heir of David's royal line, with all of symbolic, typic, and prophetic import attaching to it. Yet not as Israel after the flesh expected its Messiah was the Son of David to make triumphal entrance, but as deeply and significantly expressive of His Mission and Work, and as of old the rapt seer had beheld afar off the outlined picture of the Messiah-King: not in the proud triumph of war-conquests,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Among the People, and with the Pharisees
It would have been difficult to proceed far either in Galilee or in Judaea without coming into contact with an altogether peculiar and striking individuality, differing from all around, and which would at once arrest attention. This was the Pharisee. Courted or feared, shunned or flattered, reverently looked up to or laughed at, he was equally a power everywhere, both ecclesiastically and politically, as belonging to the most influential, the most zealous, and the most closely-connected religions
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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