Isa 60:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah 60-62 summarize the message of Isaiah 58-66. They show us the end result of Israel as the people that the LORD will restore and save in order to show the salvation of God in this world. We clearly see that this salvation is not the result of the work of Israel itself, but of what the LORD works. As a result of what has just preceded this (Isaiah 58-59), suddenly an encouraging message comes to Zion. For a long time it has remained in darkness and desolation, but the glory of the realm of peace is coming. The new day is coming and “the sun of righteousness” will shine ( ). This is also true in the sinner’s life when the light shines in his heart when he hears and obeys the call of the gospel ( ). The light comes to God’s people in the Person of the Messiah ( ; ). The command “arise” is a word that contains the power to obey ( ; cf. ) and contrasts with their situation as described in the previous chapter ( ). Zion must arise from the dust, in which it has lain for so long as in a death sleep, to shine, for her Light, the Giver of light, comes, through which the glory of the LORD rises upon her (cf. ). It speaks of the restoration of Israel to finally be God’s beacon of light, a lighthouse for the nations. reveals the condition of the nations in their thick darkness that will be there especially when the antichrist reigns. Normally there is little knowledge of God among the nations. Only the eternal power of God in creation is known to them ( ). But even that will disappear completely in the years under the reign of the antichrist. Through this man, the antichrist, there will be an unprecedented eclipse about God. This man declares himself to be God ( ; ; ). That darkness will remain until the LORD will rise upon His people and His glory will be seen upon them. Then the nations will come to that light ( ). Until the Lord comes to take His church to Himself, the light of the gospel shines in the individual hearts, while the nations are still in darkness. This gospel will not bring all nations to receive the light. Only when Israel is restored the nations will receive the light of God’s testimony and acknowledge the truth about the living God and His Christ. In Psalm 67 we find the prayer of the faithful remnant of Israel: “God be gracious to us and bless us, [and] cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God” ( ).

‏ Isaiah 60:1-2

Light breaks through

Isaiah 60-62 summarize the message of Isaiah 58-66. They show us the end result of Israel as the people that the LORD will restore and save in order to show the salvation of God in this world. We clearly see that this salvation is not the result of the work of Israel itself, but of what the LORD works.

As a result of what has just preceded this (Isaiah 58-59), suddenly an encouraging message comes to Zion. For a long time it has remained in darkness and desolation, but the glory of the realm of peace is coming. The new day is coming and “the sun of righteousness” will shine (Mal 4:2). This is also true in the sinner’s life when the light shines in his heart when he hears and obeys the call of the gospel (2Cor 4:4 ; 6).

The light comes to God’s people in the Person of the Messiah (Isa 9:2 ; Isa 49:6; Jn 1:9). The command “arise” is a word that contains the power to obey (Isa 60:1; cf. Mk 3:5b) and contrasts with their situation as described in the previous chapter (Isa 59:10). Zion must arise from the dust, in which it has lain for so long as in a death sleep, to shine, for her Light, the Giver of light, comes, through which the glory of the LORD rises upon her (cf. Isa 2:5). It speaks of the restoration of Israel to finally be God’s beacon of light, a lighthouse for the nations.

Isa 60:2 reveals the condition of the nations in their thick darkness that will be there especially when the antichrist reigns. Normally there is little knowledge of God among the nations. Only the eternal power of God in creation is known to them (Rom 1:20). But even that will disappear completely in the years under the reign of the antichrist. Through this man, the antichrist, there will be an unprecedented eclipse about God. This man declares himself to be God (2Thes 2:4; Gen 3:5; Acts 12:21-23). That darkness will remain until the LORD will rise upon His people and His glory will be seen upon them. Then the nations will come to that light (Isa 60:3).

Until the Lord comes to take His church to Himself, the light of the gospel shines in the individual hearts, while the nations are still in darkness. This gospel will not bring all nations to receive the light. Only when Israel is restored the nations will receive the light of God’s testimony and acknowledge the truth about the living God and His Christ. In Psalm 67 we find the prayer of the faithful remnant of Israel: “God be gracious to us and bless us, [and] cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God” (Psa 67:1b-3).