Beulah Land
I love John Bunyan’s metaphorical description of the Christian life in his masterpiece, Pilgrim’s Progress. The pilgrim, Christian, confronts so many trials and adventures along the road toward his final goal of reaching the Celestial City. This city is the Biblical, “New Jerusalem,” and is situated in Beulah Land, or Heaven. John Bunyan wrote this book in 1678 and yet continues to be an inspiration and help to so many Christians as the analogies and metaphors speak so clearly of the struggles and joys that each believer confronts along the road to his eternal home.
The term Beulah land comes from the Hebrew language and is found in the older translations of Isaiah 62:4. It refers to the land of Israel and is in reference to the return of the Jews from their exile in Babylon. God’s Word to Israel is that they shall no longer be called Azubah, (Forsaken), but Hephzibah, (My Delight is in her), and Jerusalem shall no longer be called Shemamah, (Desolate), but Beulah, (Married). Crossing over the Jordan River into the Promise Land was the great hope of the exiled children of Israel. It was what keep their faith strong during the 70 years, (a life time), in captivity.
Since John Bunyan used this term, Beulah, to describe Heaven, others, down through the years, have done the same. The idea of “crossing over Jordon,” and entering into the “Promise Land,” have been popular expressions of going to Heaven. Edgar Stites, in 1876, wrote a hymn that became very popular during the Holiness Revivals. The chorus goes like this:
O Beulah land, sweet Beulah land!
As on thy 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 forever more.
Even though the use of Beulah to describe Heaven is not the best exegesis, it does speak of the nature of God in relation to His promises. The land of Israel was given to the Hebrew people through a perpetual covenant. It was not conditional to the faithfulness of the people, but was based on God’s Will and His faithfulness. Beulah means Married. It speaks of covenant. In this way, Heaven is the same for the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ and Heaven is the place where we will celebrate our marriage to the Lord. Heaven is our hope and God’s covenantal promise.
Jesus went to prepare this place for us. Soon He will come again to bring us to this glorious home. The Bible says that without this hope, we are of all people most miserable. Though life with God is good now, what He is preparing for us in Heaven is so much better. Don’t be waylaid in Bunyan’s, Enchanted ground, just outside of Beulah land, but let’s go on in.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Isaiah 62:4; Col. 1:5; John 14:3; I John 3:3; Heb. 12:2