Your Light Has Come: Isaiah 60(5)

Pray Psalm 51.18.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Read Isaiah 60.16-18.

Reflect.
1. God uses only the best materials to build His City. What do these materials represent?

2. How would you describe the condition of things in this City?

Meditate.
As Jews and Gentiles assemble in the City of the LORD, they share in the work of building its walls and gates (v. 18). Only the finest materials are used (v. 17), and officers and magistrates who rule in righteousness and peace oversee the work. Violence and destruction do not exist within the LORD’s City, as it rises to be a bastion both of salvation and praise.

These images all point forward to the temple which the Spirit of God is building in the lives of individual believers and in the Church (cf. 1 Cor. 6.19; Eph. 2.19-22). The materials used in this work are the most precious by far: God’s Word and Spirit, together with prayer. Believers are built up for ministry by faithful “officers” and “magistrates” – pastors and teachers (Eph. 4.11, 12), who equip them with vision, gifts, skills, and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Thus they realize more of the Lord’s salvation, and increase in praise and thanks to Him. As believers work their ministries – their Personal Mission Fields – the church as a whole grows to maturity in Christ (Eph. 4.11-16; 1 Cor. 12.7-11).

As the City of the LORD is a place of peace and collaboration, salvation and praise, so churches should aspire to be the same. Thus our churches become both signs of the Kingdom and outpostsfrom which the Kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

As we see this happening, we will know that God the LORD is indeed our Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. And all the people who see our churches like this will know it, too.

Reflect.
1. Is your church known as a community of peace, righteousness, salvation, and praise?

2. How does the work of building your church compare with the symbolic representation of that work which is set forth in Isaiah 60.16-18? 

3. Working at building the Lord’s City and knowing Him as Savior and Redeemer are clearly related. Explain.

Therefore, having raised the eyes of your souls, seek, in a manner worthy of things above, what pertains to the city of God. What could anyone consider as deserving of the happiness in that city, which the river of God makes joyful and of which God is the craftsman and creator? Basil the Great (330-379 AD),Homilies on the Psalms 18.4)

Build me as Your temple, O Lord, and use me to build our church as I…

Pray Psalm 51.14-19.
How is the Lord using you to build His Church? Pray for wisdom, grace, and the Presence of the Lord to work your Personal Mission Field today. 

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 51.14-19 (He Leadeth Me)
Deliver us, from guilt, O Lord,  You Who have saved us by Your Word;
And let our tongues Your mercy bless, and sing of Your great righteousness!
Refrain vv. 15, 18
Lord, open now our lips to raise to You sweet songs of joyous praise!
Thus let Your favor on us fall, and build and strengthen Zion’s wall!

No sacrifice, no offering would You have us, Your people, bring; 
But broken spirits, cleansed of lies, and pure hearts You will not despise.
Refrain

Now build Your Church, raise high the wall of those who on Your mercy call.
And take our lives and let them be sweet sacrifices, Lord, to Thee!
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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