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Open Gates

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Your Light Has Come: Isaiah 60 (3)

Pray Psalm 24.3-5.

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Read Isaiah 60.8-12.

Reflect.
1. The gates of God’s city “shall be open continually.” In the context of these verses, what does that mean?

2. Why are the nations coming to the gates of God’s city? What will they do there?

Meditate.
The apostle John brought this vision into His own vision of the coming City of God, the Church (cf. Rev. 21.22-27). It is a vision for the last days, and tells us what to expect as the Lord fulfills His eternal covenant through the work of the suffering Servant.

The flood of people making their way to the City of God continues. Peoples fly like doves “to their roosts” (v. 8). From the coastlands, ships bring “your sons from afar” (v. 9), and all their treasures with them. God has glorified His City by filling it with Himself (v. 9) and bringing His people into His glory.

Foreigners from every nation contribute to building the City of God. Their kings become servants of the Lord, as God continues to draw them from every part, “day or night” (v. 11). Those nations that will not serve the Lord and His City will perish and “be utterly ruined” (v. 12).

God struck His people in His wrath, sending them away to captivity in Babylon (v. 10). But in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house is exalted as chief among the mountains of the earth (Is. 2.1-4), and an unending stream of peoples will come, bringing all their talent and time and treasure, to share in the work of building God’s City of peace. This is what God teaches us to expect, and therefore what we should be working to realize.

Is this the way it is in our churches?

Prepare.
1. How do your own expectations for the Gospel compare with what Isaiah is showing us in chapter 60?

2. Why are we not seeing this vision coming to pass in the churches in our day?

3. This is a work of God’s favor and mercy (v. 10). What does that mean? How does this work proceed in a local church?

It is possible to contemplate the fulfillment of the divine word when one sees, in consequence of the conversion of the nations, such souls dedicating themselves to the message of godliness and being diligently busy in the ministry of the altar of God. It is then especially on account of the conversion of such souls and their salvation that the church of God receives glory. Eusebius of Caesarea (260-340 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 2.50

Lord, what about in my own Personal Mission Field? How does this vision apply to me and my calling as a citizen of Your Kingdom? What should I be doing so that…

Pray Psalm 24.

Pray that the King of glory will come into the gates of your soul, and the gates of all His churches, for revival, renewal, and awakening.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 24 (Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
The earth is the Lord’s, as is all it contains.
The world and its peoples He daily sustains.
He founded it fast on the seas long ago, 
and bid gentle rivers throughout it to flow.

Oh, who may ascend to the Lord’s holy place?
And who may appear to His glorious face?
All they who are clean in their hearts and their hands
and true in their souls with the Savior shall stand.

A blessing all they from the Lord shall receive
who seek Him and on His salvation believe.
For these are His people, the children of grace, 
who earnestly, eagerly seek for His face.

O lift up your heads, all you gates of the soul,
for the Savior would enter and render you whole!
The Lord strong and mighty in battle draws nigh; 
He rules in His glory above us on high. 

O Who is this King, Who approaches our gate?
His might is before us, His glory is great!
This King is the Lord of all glory above,
Who comes to indwell us in mercy and love!

T. M. Moore

If you value Scriptorium as a free resource for your walk with the Lord, please consider supporting our work with your gifts and offerings. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button  at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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