Epiphany 2 January 14, 2007

“Why Can’t the LORD Keep Quiet?”

Isaiah 62:1-5

1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent; for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. 2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (my delight is in her), and your land Beulah (married); for the LORD will take delight in you and your land will be married. 5 As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Names are important to us. It has been said that the most beautiful sound anyone can hear is their own name. When you casually listen to another conversation in another room, what perks your ears up the most? When those other people say your name. Before you were casually listening, but when they drop your name, now you are really listening. We love the sound of our own name, no matter who you are. And that is why when anyone undergoes a name change, it is not a small matter. It’s a big deal.

Did you know that Abraham had a name change? His given name was Abram. When he was childless and 75 God told Abram, “You and Sarai your 65-year-old wife will have a miracle son; your descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky.” But 24 years later, at the age of 99, Abram doubted the promise. “Will I really have a son? It’s already been 24 years since God said I would and I just am not so sure.” So God said, “In one year you will have a son and your name will now be Abraham – which means “father of many.” God changed his name for a reason. Every time someone would call Abraham by his new name he would be reminded of God’s amazing promise. “Father of many, come to eat! Father of many, will you read a story to Isaac? Father of many, let’s go to church.” The new name was special and significant. It was a big deal.

Having a name change is a big deal. Getting a new name isn’t weird or unfamiliar for us, at least not for females. The day the wedding bells ring is the day a name changes. Your wedding day is the day Miss Moldenhauer becomes Mrs. Buege. Your wedding day is the day when Miss Streckfuss becomes Mrs. McCormick for the rest of her earthly life. And what is the significance of that name change? After your wedding day you are reminded that you are in a new family now. You are committed to your spouse and separate from your parents.

So why am I talking about name changes and weddings? Because the Scriptures today tell us we have undergone a name change because we have taken part in a wedding. We’re not just the ringbearer or the flower girl in this wedding, either. We are the bride and the LORD is the groom. We have been married to God because God has picked us to be his very own. Because of our wedding day with God, our name has changed permanently.

But before you talk about the new names, you need to get to know your maiden name well. What was our maiden name? It was “Deserted” and our land/home/property was called “Desolate.” What awful names those are! Can you imagine what it would be like if your name was “Deserted?” Every time someone looked you they’d say, “Hello, Deserted. My, don’t you look especially abandoned, forsaken and unloved today.” We all love the sound of our own name, but in this case the sound of our name would be a curse. The negativity would be impossible to escape. And as if it weren’t bad enough to be named “Deserted”, don’t forget that the name of your land was “Desolate.” Every time someone walked by your home, they’d conclude, “There’s Deserted who lives on Desolate Street.”

And that’s not even the worst part. The worst part is this: the name fit you and me like a hand fits into a glove. It wasn’t that people were being mean as they looked on you and your situation; they were only being honest. The Scripture makes it clear that we are deserted and desolate. All have sinned and all are cursed. Our real and horrible sins and rebellion have made it this way. How should God treat us? If all things were fair, God would say, “I will curse you and punish you. I will make my face to rage against you and be angry with you. I will look upon you with scorn and leave you deserted.” Our name was Deserted and our home was Desolate and we were on the way to hell. We’d be deserted and desolate forever…and there was no way to change the course.

But just as God gave Abraham a new name, so also God gives us a new name. The new name is “Hephzibah” which means “my delight is in her.” Now God looks at us and instead of saying, “Deserted” he says, “My delight is in her.” He was pleased to marry us and make us his own. The owner of everything was happy to clean us up. Maybe everyone else makes us feel deserted but not God. Maybe the world will abandon us but not our loving groom. He will always jump for joy and say, “My delight is in her” when he sees us coming.

Our land/home/property will get a new name too. It used to be called “Desolate” but now will be called “Beulah” which means “Married.” Someone is always committed to us. Someone always loves us. Someone has been welded to us. Someone has promised we will never be deserted or desolate. That someone is not just anyone. That someone is the LORD Almighty the Maker of heaven and earth. Notice that you did not give yourself your own new name. God gave it to you.

And when the mouth of the LORD has spoken, declaring “My delight is in YOU” to you, who are you to over-rule him? Who are you to say he is wrong? Who are you to say, “No, my name still is Deserted.” Don’t let the devil convince you that you are still deserted when God has declared he delights in you. Don’t let the devil tell you God has abandoned you when God has declared he is married to you and committed to you for eternity.

Think of how steady and comforting this is compared to the world. Money can go up and money can go down – but God’s love never changes for us. It stays the same. We long to be honored by the world and have everyone around us think we are very important. God promises he will always think we are important no matter what those in the world think. We can have the mirage of security and routine on earth – and we can be blindsided by a problem that comes out of nowhere and the security is gone. But God’s security for us is always there. He is easy to find in times of trouble. He will never leave or change or quit.

Every groom knows on the day of his wedding that his bride is not perfect. Yet on that day all that is running through his mind is, “She’s perfect!” The LORD who knows everything knows perfectly well that you are not perfect – he knows all your faults and sins. Yet in the unending commitment of his love for you, the only thing on his mind is “You are perfect – perfectly cleansed by the blood of Christ.”

So can you answer the question that is the theme of the sermon? Why can’t the LORD keep quiet? Because he is very excited that he has given you a new name and a new family. What an amazing God we have! Would you ever have guessed he’d be that committed to you? Would you ever have thought he’d take that kind of delight in you? Your Savior rejoices in you. And we rejoice in Him too. Amen.