A Change Of Name

Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride.

Isaiah 62:4

GOD HAS CHANGED many names in biblical history. Abram (“father”) became Abraham (“father of nations”). Jacob (“cheat”) became Israel (“God strives”) after he wrestled all night with God to gain God’s blessing. Simon became Peter, which means “rock.”

When God changed the name of someone or something, it usually carried great significance. In the above passage, we see the city of Jerusalem, devastated by the Babylonians, being called “The Forsaken City.” People from neighboring nations believed that God had forsaken the Jews and derisively called their capital city that. But God had no intention of leaving the Jews desolate. So Isaiah wrote that the new name would be “The City of God’s Delight.” That’s certainly a nicer term.

You also have a new description as a Christian. From “lost” to “found.” From “slave” to “free.” From “Gentile” to “Friend of God.” And God says in Revelation that one day we will have new names only he will call us (see Revelation 2:17). It’s a great promise of God’s love and the fact that you belong to him.