1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
The 60th chapter of the book of Isaiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a prophetic vision of a future time of restoration and glory for the people of Israel. This chapter is set in the context of the Babylonian exile when the people of Israel were living in captivity, away from their homeland. Isaiah's prophecy in this chapter is a message of hope and assurance that God will restore Israel to its former glory. The chapter begins with a call to Israel to "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1). This opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter as it paints a picture of Israel emerging from a period of darkness and despair into a time of light and glory.
Isaiah uses vivid and powerful imagery to depict this future time of restoration. He speaks of the "nations" and "kings" coming to Israel's light and the "wealth of the sea" being turned to Israel. This suggests a future time of prosperity and respect for Israel among the nations. Isaiah also speaks of the "sons of strangers" building up Israel's walls and their kings serving Israel. This is a reversal of the current situation where Israel is in servitude to foreign powers. It is also a fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:2-3).
A significant theme in Isaiah 60 is the restoration and glory of Israel. This is evident in the numerous references to the rebuilding of cities, the return of exiles, and the wealth of nations flowing to Israel. Isaiah's vision is not just of a physical restoration but also a spiritual one. He speaks of the glory of the Lord rising upon Israel and the nations coming to its light. This implies a restoration of Israel's relationship with God and its role as a light to the nations. The prophecy points to a time when Israel will once again be a place where God's presence is manifest and his glory is seen.
The theme of glory is further highlighted in the description of the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem's gates being open continually to receive the wealth of nations and its walls being called "Salvation" and its gates "Praise". This points to a time of unparalleled prosperity and honor for Jerusalem. The city is portrayed as a place where God's salvation and praise are evident for all to see.
Another prominent theme in Isaiah 60 is God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Despite the present circumstances of exile and servitude, Isaiah's prophecy assures the people of Israel that God has not forgotten them. He will fulfill his promises to them and restore them to their rightful place. This is a testament to God's faithfulness. He is a God who keeps his promises and is committed to the welfare of his people.
The sovereignty of God is also evident in this chapter. It is God who brings about the restoration and glory of Israel. He turns the hearts of kings and nations towards Israel. He ensures that the wealth of the sea and the riches of the nations come to Israel. This underscores the fact that God is in control of the affairs of nations. He is able to orchestrate events and circumstances to fulfill his purposes.
While Isaiah 60 primarily speaks of Israel's future restoration, it also points to the ultimate hope in Christ. The imagery of light and glory used in this chapter is often associated with the coming of Christ in the New Testament. For instance, in John 8:12, Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." This suggests that the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy is found in Christ who brings light and salvation to the world.
Moreover, the vision of nations and kings coming to Israel's light and the wealth of nations being turned to Israel is reminiscent of the spread of the gospel to the Gentile nations in the New Testament. The church, which comprises of both Jews and Gentiles, is often seen as the spiritual Israel that fulfills God's promises to Abraham. Therefore, Isaiah 60 not only offers hope for Israel's physical restoration but also points to the spiritual restoration that comes through Christ.
In conclusion, Isaiah 60 is a powerful and hopeful prophecy of Israel's future restoration and glory. It speaks of a time when Israel will emerge from darkness and despair into light and glory. It assures the people of Israel of God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Despite their present circumstances, God has not forgotten them and will restore them to their rightful place. This chapter also points to the ultimate hope in Christ who brings light and salvation to the world. Hence, Isaiah 60 is a message of hope and assurance for both Israel and all believers who trust in Christ.
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