It’s always good to keep the big story of the Bible in mind when reading. Reading so much in one day has actually helped me see this grand story more clearly.

God is the central character of the story. He is orchestrating all the events and his purposes will stand.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

God has a purpose and God has a people. And God’s purpose for his people is gloriously good. In spite of all the disobedience, sin and rebellion; in spite of God’s declarations of judgment on his adulterous people, God continues to woo and work for their good.

In Hosea, God’s people were pictured as the wayward prostitute but at the end of the book of Isaiah, there is this beautiful description of the future of God’s people as his bride.

“No longer will they 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. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:4-5

The New Living Translation translates “Hephzibah” as “The City of God’s Delight” and “Beulah” as “The Bride of God”. The prostitute will receive a new name and be clothed in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness.

Here in Isaiah is a foreshadowing of the end of the story that will come to its culmination in Revelation where all of God’s people will be clothed in white and invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.