Isa 60:6-9 | KingComments | STEP | The nations will not only go up to Jerusalem as the center, but they will also bring back God’s people there from all the countries to which they are scattered ( ; ). Here it is about the lost ten tribes. These heathen will handle them with care. What the people of Israel will then experience will give them great, moving joy ( ). “Thrill and rejoice” is literally “tremble and open wide”. The enormous change in their situation will not only give them immense joy, but also a widening of their hearts to understand the infinite goodness of God. The national revival of Israel has been promised before ( ). We see this also in the vision of the valley with the dry bones ( ). There we see that not only the two tribes realm, but also the ten tribes realm will be restored. The nations will make an effort to provide God’s people with all the riches ( ). “A multitude of camels”, a symbol of a thriving economy, will be used to bring all that is valuable to Israel. They come “from Sheba”, the land from which a queen once came to visit Solomon, also with “camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones” ( ). Just as when Israel carried with them the riches of Egypt at their redemption ( ), in the future the ten tribes will return laden with the wealth of the nations ( ). The peoples living in the immediate vicinity of Israel will be the first to come to faith. The names mentioned here: Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar and Nebaioth, speak of the Arab countries that are still islamic countries today, but will also come to faith in Christ in the future. They will bring gold, frankincense and flocks in abundance to Israel. “Gold and frankincense” are also brought as tribute by wise men from the East as representatives of the nations to the Child Jesus when He is born ( ). Matthew also mentions myrrh, which is missing here. Myrrh is in place there, because it speaks of the suffering that the born King of the Jews will have to endure at His first coming. But there is no more suffering here, because at His second coming He reigns in glory. Gold speaks of His Divine glory, He is Immanuel ( ), God with us. Frankincense speaks of His glory as Man, He is the Man Jesus, Who saves His people from their sins ( ). Yet also in the realm of peace there will always be the remembrance of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross. This is what the great crowd of “flocks” and “rams” speaks of that are given to the people of God to bring an abundance of sacrifices on the altar of the new temple ( ). The fragrance of these sacrifices will surround and fill this house and shall “glorify” the “glorious house” of the LORD. These sacrifices will go up “with acceptance” on God’s altar and God shall give His house the greatest splendor and glory.

‏ Isaiah 60:6-9

Brought to Israel

The nations will not only go up to Jerusalem as the center, but they will also bring back God’s people there from all the countries to which they are scattered (Isa 60:4; Isa 49:22-23). Here it is about the lost ten tribes. These heathen will handle them with care. What the people of Israel will then experience will give them great, moving joy (Isa 60:5). “Thrill and rejoice” is literally “tremble and open wide”. The enormous change in their situation will not only give them immense joy, but also a widening of their hearts to understand the infinite goodness of God.

The national revival of Israel has been promised before (Isa 26:19). We see this also in the vision of the valley with the dry bones (Eze 37:1-14 ; 21-22). There we see that not only the two tribes realm, but also the ten tribes realm will be restored.

The nations will make an effort to provide God’s people with all the riches (Isa 60:5-6). “A multitude of camels”, a symbol of a thriving economy, will be used to bring all that is valuable to Israel. They come “from Sheba”, the land from which a queen once came to visit Solomon, also with “camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones” (1Kgs 10:1-2). Just as when Israel carried with them the riches of Egypt at their redemption (Exo 12:35-36), in the future the ten tribes will return laden with the wealth of the nations (Isa 60:5).

The peoples living in the immediate vicinity of Israel will be the first to come to faith. The names mentioned here: Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar and Nebaioth, speak of the Arab countries that are still islamic countries today, but will also come to faith in Christ in the future. They will bring gold, frankincense and flocks in abundance to Israel.

“Gold and frankincense” are also brought as tribute by wise men from the East as representatives of the nations to the Child Jesus when He is born (Mt 2:11). Matthew also mentions myrrh, which is missing here. Myrrh is in place there, because it speaks of the suffering that the born King of the Jews will have to endure at His first coming. But there is no more suffering here, because at His second coming He reigns in glory. Gold speaks of His Divine glory, He is Immanuel (Mt 1:23), God with us. Frankincense speaks of His glory as Man, He is the Man Jesus, Who saves His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

Yet also in the realm of peace there will always be the remembrance of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross. This is what the great crowd of “flocks” and “rams” speaks of that are given to the people of God to bring an abundance of sacrifices on the altar of the new temple (Isa 60:7). The fragrance of these sacrifices will surround and fill this house and shall “glorify” the “glorious house” of the LORD. These sacrifices will go up “with acceptance” on God’s altar and God shall give His house the greatest splendor and glory.

Nations and Kings Serve Israel

The question in Isa 60:8 might well be realized in the large numbers of passengers arriving in the land with planes in our time. This makes it possible for large numbers of Jews to return to their land in a brief period of time. Yet in our days they are only a foretaste of the great return to the land that will take place after the Lord Jesus has come to earth, defeated the enemies and established His kingdom.

They will also come by ship from far away countries (Isa 60:9). The LORD will signal those lands to let His people go. This will not be by political decisions, but in a conscious act for the honor of the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. They will provide them with gold and silver. At the same time, the nations will personally help to rebuild the walls of the city (Isa 60:10; cf. Zec 6:15). The help of King Hiram of Tyre in the construction of the temple is a foreshadowing of the help the nations will give in the future in the building of the state of Israel (2Chr 2:3-16).

Everything serves as a proof that the time of anger and discipline is over and that the LORD takes care of them now with pleasure. Therefore, the gates will be constantly open (Isa 60:11), indicating that there is no more evil to fear and that peace has come. The nations will be free to enter in order to pay homage to this people who were so tormented and oppressed at the time (cf. Rev 21:25-26).

Isa 60:12 shows that God’s judgment during the realm of peace will come on nations that reveal a rebellious spirit and refuse to support Israel (Zec 14:17-19). However, nations that do support Israel will be blessed. A principle that we also see when God blesses Potiphar because of Joseph (Gen 39:5). This proves that it is not yet about the eternal state, but about a state on earth where the Lord Jesus rules and where He directly punishes evil.

In Isa 60:13 in an intermediate sentence the joy of the LORD is mentioned that He has in the prospect of the glory of His sanctuary, the beautiful temple of the realm of peace. He calls it the “place of My feet”, which is the ark in the temple (1Chr 28:2; Psa 99:5 ; Psa 132:7), indicating that He will dwell there (Exo 25:21-22). It is the place of His rest. The trees of Lebanon, here called “the glory of Lebanon”, will increase the splendor of the temple. Possibly we should think of planting them in the vicinity of the temple, or decorating avenues that lead to the temple.

Then the LORD in Isa 60:14 goes on to talk about the nations from whom they suffered so much in the great tribulation. Now their sons will come and bow down before them. Their fathers will be wiped out by the judgments in the day of the LORD. Also “all those who despised you” will bow down before them. These are the people who did not gather in a direct way against the LORD and His Anointed, but despised God’s people in the time of enmity. These groups will call Jerusalem “the city of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel”. What a difference compared to the old days when people looked down on them!

Instead of being abandoned and hated like an unloved woman (cf. Deu 21:15), the LORD will make the city “an everlasting pride, a joy from generation to generation” (Isa 60:15). Joy will pass through the generations. The nations and their kings will make their life force available to this people, just as a mother gives milk to her child (Isa 60:16). Above all, they will no longer be blind, but will know that the LORD is their Savior and the Mighty One of Jacob their Redeemer.