Isa 60:1-14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 60:1-3: 60:1-3 God will come to be with his people and will transform Zion’s destiny from the darkness as black as night caused by sin and judgment.

Summary for Isa 60:1-3: 60:1-3 ^a God will come to be with his people and will transform Zion’s destiny from the darkness as black as night caused by sin and judgment.
60:3 ^b The transformation of all nations and mighty kings will be so radical that all kingdoms will take notice and be drawn to God through his people (see also Rev 21:24 ^c).
Summary for Isa 60:5-7: 60:5-7 ^d Zion’s losses from warfare will be restored by the wealth of many lands; foreign nations will be eager to make a contribution (60:11 ^e; 61:6 ^f; 66:12 ^g; see Rev 21:26 ^h).
60:6 ⁱ Midian and Ephah were Midianite tribes located southeast of Israel.

• Sheba was a region in southern Arabia (see 1 Kgs 10:1-2 ^j) famed for frankincense (Jer 6:20 ^k).

• These were real nations—the restoration would be a historical reality, not just an idealistic vision. Many nations would submit themselves to and worship the Lord.
60:7 ^l Kedar was a tribe in Arabia (21:16-17 ^m).

• Nebaioth was an Ishmaelite tribe.

• I will make my Temple glorious: The glory of God will be even more evident than it was in Solomon’s Temple (see 6:1-5 ⁿ; Hag 2:9 ^o; Rev 21:11 ^p, 22 ^q).
60:9 ^r filled you with splendor: See Rev 21:26 ^s.
Summary for Isa 60:10-16: 60:10-16 ^t Those who previously oppressed the people of God will one day participate in restoring the holy city (see 2:2-4 ^u; 19:18-25 ^v; Neh 2:8 ^w; Amos 9:12 ^x). 60:10 ^y their kings will serve you: God’s people who were previously humiliated (2:11 ^z) will be exalted.
60:11 ^aa There are two likely reasons for why the gates are not closed at night (see also Rev 21:25 ^ab): (1) So much traffic will be coming into the city (Isa 60:8-10 ^ac) that the gates will need to be open. (2) The citizens of Zion will no longer need to fear enemies because the Lord is their protector (60:18 ^ad); the nations that remain will be serving the Lord and his people (60:9 ^ae, 12 ^af).
60:12 ^ag In the coming age, nations that refuse to obey God will be destroyed.
60:13 ^ah The Temple was God’s sanctuary, the symbol of his presence on earth. Believers now are the temple of God by the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor 3:16 ^ai). We still await the fullness of God’s presence (Rev 21:22 ^aj).