Sought Out: The Identity of the Redeemed
"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." - Isaiah 62:12
Isaiah 62:12 proclaims, “And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” This profound verse speaks to the identity of God’s people, illuminating the immense value and promise held within the heart of God for those who have been redeemed by Him.
The opening phrase, “The holy people,” is striking. It reflects a positional truth that transcends our circumstances. To be ‘holy’ means to be set apart, distinct, and dedicated to God. It’s easy to associate holiness with perfection or a state of moral flawlessness. However, in the biblical sense, holiness speaks to belonging; it signifies that we are children of God. Once, we were lost and scattered, but through the redemptive work of Christ, we are set apart for His purpose. It’s a transformation where our identity shifts from that of estrangement to belonging, making it essential for us to reject any narrative that seeks to diminish our worth.
The second phrase “The redeemed of the LORD” encapsulates the crux of our salvation. Redemption speaks of deliverance; it entails a complete rescue from the bondage of sin and death. When God calls us ‘redeemed,’ He acknowledges that we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). This price was not silver or gold but the precious blood of Christ. The concept of redemption suggests that we were once in a state of captivity, yet through God’s grace, we have been set free. In a world fraught with challenges and condemnation, being labeled as ‘redeemed’ is a powerful testament to the depth of God’s love and mercy.
Following this, we see a name bestowed upon us: “thou shalt be called, Sought out.” This is both humbling and uplifting. It implies that we are not overlooked or abandoned; in fact, quite the opposite is true. God actively pursues us. In our humanity, we often feel inadequate, rejected, or lonely. Yet, this statement reassures us that we are on God's heart, that He seeks us out in the middle of our trials and tribulations. When the world rejects us, He calls us, making us known as His own.
Lastly, the phrase “A city not forsaken” evokes images of safety, community, and purpose. In ancient times, cities were lifelines for people, providing shelter, resources, and companionship. To be called a ‘city not forsaken’ conveys that we exist within a divine community. We are never alone; God built us into a family where each believer has a role, and together we reflect His glory. It emphasizes God’s abiding presence with us, where we are guaranteed that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Our gathering as a church, or community of believers, serves as a testament to this divine assurance.
Reflecting on Isaiah 62:12 encourages us to accepted our identity as both holy and redeemed. As we embrace these truths, we are challenged to live accordingly. How can we embody holiness in our daily lives? How can we extend the message of redemption to those around us? Each day, we are called not only to remember our value in God’s eyes but also to be instruments of His love, shaped by our understanding of who we are in Christ.
As we move forth, let us embody the spirit of being ‘sought out’ and ‘not forsaken.’ Let us reject feelings of abandonment and inadequacy by standing firm in our divine identity as God’s holy, redeemed people. In our journey, may we continuously remind ourselves that we are cherished, pursuing Him actively, and called to be a beacon of hope in a world desperately longing for connection and belonging.
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Isaiah 62:12 - "And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."
"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." - Isaiah 62:12
ISAIAH 62:1
Isaiah 62:7 - "And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
Isaiah 62:3 - "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."
Isaiah 62:9 - "But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness."
ISAIAH 62:1 CAN YOU ADD A HAWAII & ISRAELI FLAG AS ADVOCATES OF JERUSALEM
Psalms 62:12 - "Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work."
Isaiah 62:2 - "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
Isaiah 62:5 - "¶ 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."
Isaiah 62:10 - "¶ Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people."
Isaiah 62:1 - "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."
Isaiah 62:6 - "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,"
Isaiah 62:11 - "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him."
"And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." - Isaiah 62:7
Isaiah 62:10-12 - "Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples. Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.' And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."
Isaiah 62:8 - "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:"
"Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." - Isaiah 62:3
Isaiah 62:4 - "Thou shalt 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: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
"But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness." - Isaiah 62:9
"Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work." - Psalms 62:12
"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." - Isaiah 62:2
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