Living in Beulah Land
Living in Beulah Land
By John Woodward
October 18, 1999
Last night we enjoyed a service of praise music which featured a variety of hymns and gospel songs. What an encouragement to sing songs of joy and divine truth! One of the selections which is not well known these days is titled "Beulah Land."
"Far away the noise and strife upon my ear is falling,
Then I know the sins of earth beset on every hand:
Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling,
None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.
Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation,
Hearing now His blessed voice, I see the ways He planned:
Dwelling in the Spirit here I learn of full salvation,
Gladly will I tarry in Beulah land.
I'm living on the mountain,
Underneath the cloudless sky,
I'm drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry;
O yes I'm feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
for I am dwelling in Beulah land."
What is the significance of "Beulah"? The hymn alludes to Isaiah 62:2-4 which contains a prophecy of God's blessing on Israel and her land:
"The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
You shall also be a crown of glory
In the hand of the LORD,
And a royal diadem In the hand of your God.
You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,
Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate;
But you shall be called Hephzibah,
And your land Beulah;
For the LORD delights in you,
And your land shall be married."
Isaiah saw beyond the Assyrian invasion of 722 BC which dispersed the northern tribes of Israel, and beyond the Babylonian exile of the southern kingdom in 586 BC. The people of God would repent of their idolatry and apostasy, turn back to the LORD and be restored. God showed the prophets that He would restore the remnant of Judah, drawing them back to the Promised Land. An initial fulfillment of this return took place following the 70 year exile in Babylon (Cf. Ezra and Nehemiah).(Premillennialists believe that those events fell short of the scope of blessings which Isaiah's prophecies anticipate --Cf. Is 4:2;11:1-9;61:4). Following Christ's return, God's people will enjoy greater blessings of "Beulah Land"--"For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea."(Habakkuk 2:14).
In addition to the edification which comes from studying God's sovereignty over history and His faithfulness to His promises, we can appreciate the way Isaiah's promises symbolize the believer's blessings in the New Covenant.
Looking again at Isaiah 62 we see some parallels. The believer in Christ has God's righteousness credited to him by grace (2 Cor 5:21); a new name (identity) based upon God's salvation ( 1 Pet 2:9,10; Rev 2:17;3:13 ); and is treasured by God (Eph 2:10). Instead of the unsaved condition of being forsaken by God (Rom 5:8-10), He delights in us ["Hephzibah" ,in Hebrew, means "My delight is in her".] Matt 12:18 states that the Father delights in His Son; believers are in Him!(Eph 1:3). Instead of being spiritually desolate, He makes us fruitful (John 15:5).
"Beulah" means "married". Isaiah 62:5 amplifies this comparison:
"For as a young man marries a virgin,
So shall your sons marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you."
In other words, as a husband loves and accepts his wife, the restored people of God will gladly and permanently live in the Promised Land. We see this same imagery of bride and bridegroom applied to the believer and Christ (Eph 5:31-33; Rev 22:17). So to the hymn writer, C. Austin Miles, the abundant Christian life is "living in Beulah Land" right here and now (John 6:35)!
Fellow Christian, reflect on your spiritual identity in Jesus. You are married to Christ; you are in covenant relationship with Him. Bask in the security of His protective love. Look forward to that day when we will see our heavenly bridegroom face to face and enjoy "the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9).
JBW
October 18, 1999. Vol.2, #42
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