Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
The final consolation of Elul gives us a breathtaking picture: the Bride, radiant and ready, clothed not in her own efforts but in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. This is the joy of the Bride who knows the love of her Bridegroom has covered her. She does not stand ashamed or unprepared, but adorned, beautiful, and confident in His covenant love.
Yet Isaiah does not stop there. In the very next breath, God appoints watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6–7) — men and women who will not be silent day or night until Zion is established and made a praise in the earth. This is the dual identity of the Bride in Elul: she is both clothed in intimacy and steadfast in intercession. She prepares herself for her Beloved, and she takes her stand as a prophetic watchman for Israel’s redemption and Jerusalem’s restoration.
This is not an either/or calling — it is both/and. The Bride must be radiant in holiness and relentless in watchfulness. She must walk in intimacy with the Bridegroom and cry out for Zion’s deliverance. She must be ready in her own heart and ready on the wall, declaring and interceding until the King comes in glory.
Beloved, as the last shofar blasts of Elul fade and the Feast of Trumpets draws near, hear the call with fresh urgency: be clothed, be radiant, be steadfast. Do not approach this season with half-hearted devotion. Put on the garments of salvation. Adorn yourself with the robe of righteousness. Take your place as a watchman on the walls. Cry out until Jerusalem shines with glory. The Bridegroom is at the altar. The King is in the field. The Spirit and the Bride together cry: “Come.” And soon — very soon — the heavens will answer, and He will.