…thy land Beulah…(Isa. 62:4)

The pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, after they got over the trial of Enchanted Ground, entered into the country of Beulah, the pilgrim way to the Heavenly City lying directly through this country. Here no problem of air pollution exists, the atmosphere being very sweet and pleasant. Here the continued singing of birds is heard, for the Christian is a bird who sings in the winter as well as spring. Here every day the flowers of the field are in bloom, the desert itself blossoming as the rose. Here the sun goes no more down, but continually rises with healing in its beams. Here the inhabitants of the land are in sight of the city to which they are going. Here in this land they have a more perfect view of that City than any where else. Here some of the inhabitants of this country are said to be Shining Ones (I Cor. 4:9; 11:10), for it is a land on the borders of heaven. They had more joy in this land than in other parts more remote in God’s Kingdom. Beulah Land extends down to just before the Crossing of Jordon, which is why it has a view to the other side putting the heavenly Canaan in sight. As children in our Sunday School days we delighted to sing:

Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling,

Then I know the sins of earth beset on ev’ry hand:

Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling,

None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.

I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky,

I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry;

O Yea! I’m feasting on the mannah from a bountiful supply,

For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.

Another snatch of the song comes to mind:

Safe am I within the castle of God’s Word retreating.

Nothing then can reach me – ‘tis Beulah Land.

Or, as in another stanza:

Here the sun is always shining, here there’s naught can harm me,

I am safe forever in Beulah Land!

We also loved to sing another but similar song:

I’ve reached the land of joy divine,

And all its beauty now is mine;

Here shines undimmed one blissful day,

For all my night has passed away.

The Savior comes and walks with me,

And sweet communion here have we;

He gently leads me with His hand,

For this is heaven’s borderland.

A sweet perfume upon the breeze

Is borne from ever vernal trees,

And flowers that never fading grow

Where streams of life forever flow.

The zephyrs seem to float to me,

Sweet sounds of heaven’s melody

As angels, with the white robed throng,

Join in the sweet redemption song.

O Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land,

As on they highest mount I stand,

I look away across the sea,

Where mansions are prepared for me,

And view the shining glory shore,

My heaven, my home for evermore

Dwelling in this land himself the Seer could prophecy of it and sing. “Thou shalt no more be termed Azubah (Forsaken), neither shall thy land any more be termed Shemamah (Desolate), but thou shalt be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her), and thy land Beulah (Married), for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married” (Isa. 62:4). Thomas Scott, in harmony with the New Testament, sees the Christian Church represented here in the virgin and her sons. John Calvin is very right when he says, “this relates strictly to the Church…God being the Husband of his Church…marries to his Church all the nations that are assembled to her.” For, as the Seer prophecies, “the Gentiles shall see Thy righteousness, and all kings Thy glory” (62:2). This was historically fulfilled in the preaching of the gospel by the Church through the apostles (Acts 2:9-11; Rom. 15:9-12,16,18). Beulah (Married), says Delitzsch, is “the loving relation in which the Church (ital., RCH) stands to it God.” John Gill calls this a prophecy of the glory of the Church in the latter day, when the presence of God will be very manifest in His churches, and that Hephzibah and the land of Beulah are fit names for the Church of Christ. To this agrees the whole Book of the Song of Sings, so bright with the love Christ has for His Church. So Christ delights in His Church now, clothing it with righteousness, cleansing it with His blood, filling it with His Spirit. He will delight in His Church when it shall come down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband, and His tabernacle shall eternally be with redeemed and glorified men. Then He will be presenting His Church to himself and delighting in it a a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. So Beulah (Married) signifies the Church married to Christ from all eternity, and is the house and family of God full of sons and daughters born in her to Christ, both of Jews and Gentiles. In this Connection, Isaiah 60 is fulfilled in Revelation 21. (Cp. Isa. 60, v. 3 with Rev. 21:24; vv. 4-5 with Rev. 21:26; v.10 with R 21:24,26; v.11 with R 21:25; v.20 with R 21:4; v.21 with R 21:27). Beulah Land, then, is the communion of saints in the church on earth, their enjoyment of the preaching of the Word and the sacraments, their continued and faithful dwelling in her fellowship, ways and worship. Beulah Land is the local and visible church institute where the saints are united in love to her and her Lord, confessing the same faith, joining in concerted worship, and walking with her and her testimony before the world in all the commandments of the Lord. Beulah Land is no mere optional, occasional, care-free attendance of the church at one’s convenience, as though it were some sort of country club organized for the casual pleasure of its members.

Who, O Lord, shall dwell with Thee

In the temple of Thy grace?

Who Thy constant guest shall be

In Thy high and holy place?

In answer to that question, dwellers in Beulah Land have such devotion to the true church institute as a young man married to a virgin, who faithfully loves her, seeks her, delights in her, keeps her, protects her, fights for her and lives with her. (Isa. 62:5). But such devotion is a rarity in this world.

When the virgin’s sons are called “the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord,” being “sought out,” what is this but the Christian Church and her sons (v.12)? Nor do we have in this chapter a return of the Jews to the “holy land”, but rather that the Jews are restored to a place of honor with God in the Church of Jesus Christ. Not the Jews returning to Palestine, but the church becoming co-extensive with the world, is in view. This is realized in the coming of Christ as our Salvation, and the accomplishing of His will and work in the preaching of the gospel in all the world to the end thereof (v. 11), and in the gathering of Jews and Gentiles (vv. 1-2) into His cleansed and purified Church. Christ calls His ministers watchmen (v.6), and appoints their labors, which must be for the Church, and no opposition is to hinder or stay them. Elders are also watchmen, and are aids and overseers of the ministers to see that this labor for the Church is accomplished. When ministers and elders faithfully serve Christ, the air of Beulah Land indeed is sweet and pleasant because it is so carefully cultivated, cared for, protected and no longer Forsaken. Beulah Land is the place where the Church in its earthly manifestation is kept and delights to be kept in the unbreakable bond of covenant love.

I am dwelling in Beulah Land!

Are you?

* The last in book-length comment on places and characters in Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress.”