A new name: Is 62:2

“The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate.” (Isaiah 62:2)

At the time of this prophesy “righteousness” and “glory” would not be what you would typically associated with the nation of Israel. Israel had already slid into apostasy and her younger sister Judah was following right behind her. By the time of Ezekiel, God had new names for Israel and Judah, “Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters.” (Ezekiel 16:46) How is it then that God prophesies of their righteousness and glory? God was declaring that, one day, He would give Israel a new name; a name of His own choosing. In the Hebrew understanding, a person’s name spoke of their nature. Remember the story of when Abigail fled to David to plead for the life of her husband and his men. “Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him.” (1 Samuel 25:25) As his name was, so was he.

God is into changing name, and not just names, but also natures. God not only wants to give us a new name but also a new nature. Our lives are not limited by our past. It does not matter who or what we were before we came to Jesus, in Christ we are made new. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our future in God is not dependent on our past. It does not matter what kind of sinner we were. It doesn’t matter what background we came from. In Christ we are made new and our potential in His is unlimited. It’s good to be new!

David Robison