Isaiah opens the final section of his book with a call to "Arise!"
Your Light Has Come: Isaiah 60 (1)
Pray Psalm 126.4-6.
Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.
Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Read Isaiah 60.1-3.
Reflect.
1. How is God’s glory like light? What are the effects of this light?
2. How would you describe the mood or tone of these verses? What affect do they have on you as you read them?
Meditate.
The final section of Isaiah, chapters 60-66, is filled with dizzying visions of the promise of the new covenant. The images are bright, exciting, and compelling, and they should lead us to desire more of the Lord’s great salvation every day.
The contrast of light and darkness is a familiar image throughout the Scriptures. Darkness suggests evil, fear, the unknown, and uncertainty. The coming of the light dispels all that. The light accompanies the glory of the Lord, as it rises upon His people and shines through them into the dark world. The light is understanding, life, hope, joy, newness, and truth. It pleases the Lord to bring this light to the world in the salvation won by His suffering Servant and distributed to His chosen people.
So bright and far-flung is the light to come, that the Gentile nations will see it and be drawn to it (recall Is. 2.1-4). Kings and rulers will come to the brightness of God’s glory that shines from within His people. Jesus picked up on this image in Matthew 5.13-16, saying that the light we shine, and by which we glorify God, is the good works we do in every area of our lives to bring righteousness, justice, peace, and joy into the world. It is the light of Jesus Himself, Who has risen to dispel the darkness of the world, and continues to do so more and more (1 Jn. 2.8). As people experience Jesus in us, they will be drawn to the glory of God, and we will have abundant opportunities to give a reason for the hope that shines so brightly in us (1 Pet. 3.15).
The immediate future may have looked dark for the people of Judah and Jerusalem. But their captivity in Babylon would be only for a season. They must look beyond that dark time, far ahead to the coming day of light and glory and salvation. And we must do the same, for although we who believe know the Lord’s great salvation right now, amid the darkness of our sad and weary world, we look forward, in hope and obedience, to an even brighter day of salvation yet to come.
And Isaiah is going to fill out in more detail just what we should be hoping for in the greater coming of our Lord’s salvation.
Reflect.
1. How does the Lord shine the light of His glory in and through His people?
2. Why are people drawn to such light? What is it like to live in darkness every day?
3. How should we pray, so that the light of God’s glory may shine in and through us as God intends?
Hail and shine, thou Jerusalem, for thy light is come, the Light eternal, the Light forever enduring, the Light supreme, the Light immaterial, the Light of same substance with God and the Father, the Light that is in the Spirit, and that is the Father; the Light that illumines the ages; the Light that gives light to mundane and supramundane things, Christ our very God. Methodius of Olympus (d. 311 AD), Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna 13
Let Your light shine in me today, O Lord, so that I…
Pray Psalm 126.
Isaiah 60.1-3 suggests a vision of revival for us to embrace, that we might be “like those who dream”. Pray this psalm with that vision in mind, seeking the Lord for revival for yourself, your church, your community, and our world. Pray for an opportunity to sow and cast the Good Seed of the Kingdom today.
Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 126 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.
Then the astonished nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!
Restore our fortunes, Lord our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.
They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
With joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.
T. M. Moore
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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 fromThe Ailbe Psalter (available byclicking here).
