Isaiah 60 - Outline of Isaiah (Book Notes menu page)

C. Restoration secured through Israel's glorious King (The King of Peace), ch. 58-66

1. Israel's false worship contrasted with true worship, 58:1-14
2. Israel's confession of sin, and the Redeemer's remedy, 59:1-21
3. Israel's radiance and peace in the Light of the Redeemer, 60:1-22

  (The lettered subdivisions of ch.60 are adapted from GWms.)

1. The Source of Israel's Light, v.1,2
2. The accession of the nations to Israel, v.3-7
3. The ministry of the nations to Israel, v.8-11
4. The subjection of the nations to Israel, v.12,13
5. The homage of the nations to Israel, v.14-16
6. Israel's Glory, v.17-22

a. The Source of Israel's Light...
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.
  Arise {HB=quwm, stand up}, shine; for thy light is come...-
    The Holy Spirit speaks here to Israel, which through the long night of gentile dominion has been down trodden and oppressed, commanding them to arise out of the dust (cp. Isa 52:1,2), and to glow in the light that has risen upon them. That Light is their Redeemer (Isa 59:20,21; Rom 11:26,27), who, in that future day, will rise like the sun to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Mal 4:2).
  is come... is risen... shall cover... shall arise... shall be seen...- Note the mixture of tenses.
    The Light for which they wait, has already come (cp. Isa 9:1,2; Mat 4:12-16; Luk 1:77-79; 2:32; Joh 1:9; 3:19; 8:12; 12:46). But, having rejected Him, Israel and all the nations will continue in darkness until His second coming. Yet, His coming is so certain that it is stated prophetically, as present fact (the Light is come and He is risen). cp. Isa 58:8
  ...the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness {thick darkness, heavy cloud} the people...-
    This darkness covers the whole earth: Jew (Isa 29:10-14; 59:9,10; Mat 15:14), and Gentile, alike (Joh 3:19; Acts 17:23,30,31; 26:18; Rom 1:21-32; Eph 4:17-20).
    Darkness will grow deeper as the present age draws to its close, compounded by the apostasy of the professing church (cp. Isa 8:20; 2Pet 2:1-2,17), and then, by the Rapture of true believers, who bear witness to the Light, until they are taken out of the world (cp. Mat 5:14-16; Php 2:15,16; 2Cor 4:3-6; 1Pet 2:9; 1The 4:15-17). Following the removal of the true Church, gross darkness will overtake the world, in the grip of the Antichrist's strong delusion (2The 2:3-12).
  ...but the LORD shall arise upon thee... shall be seen upon thee.-
    When Christ returns, Israel will shed abroad the light of their Messiah to the whole world, and the darkness will finally be broken.
    - What does this tell us about the present Church Age?
    Although the church is not seen in this chapter, we do see that the church, despite centuries of labor, will not fill the world with light, nor build the Kingdom of God on earth, to make it a glorious place prior to Christ's return. Even though the glory of the Lord rests upon true believers (Joh 1:14,18; 2Cor 4:6; Heb 1:1-3; 1Pet 2:9), and though we are commissioned to take the light of the Gospel to the world, the church will not bring the world out of its darkness.
  - Neither does Israel usher in the Kingdom of God.
      Rather, the LORD Himself will rise upon them and place His glory upon them, that all the world may know Him. The light comes forth from the Savior, who is the true Israel of God (Isa 49:1-3-6; Mat 16:28- 17:2). It is to Him that the Gentiles will be drawn, in the day that national Israel reflects His glory to them (Isa 2:2-5).
b. The accession of the nations to Israel...
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 {HB=nahar, be radiant},
and thine heart shall fear {HB=pachad, be in awe, tremble (ie., for joy)},
and be enlarged {ie., with joy and blessing, cp. Psa 4:1; Isa 54:2};
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.
  Gentiles shall come to thy light... kings to the brightness of thy rising...-
    Israel's Light is the Glory of the LORD, in the Person of their Messiah. v.1,2; Rom 15:12
    Israel's rising is their restoration, which Paul refers to as "life from the dead" (Rom 11:11,12,15; Zech 8:20-23).
    Israel's rising, in the light of their Messiah, will lead to the conversion of the Gentiles (v.3; cp. Isa 49:7).
  lift up thine eyes... and see...- cp. Isa 49:18-23
  ...the abundance {HB=hamown, tumult, confusion, sound of a multitude} of the sea
  shall be converted {ie., be turned} unto thee...
    In Scripture, 'the sea' is sometimes used figuratively of the mass of gentile humanity, while 'the land' often refers to the nation and land of Israel (eg., Rev 13:1,11).
  ...the forces {HB=chayil, strength, wealth, resources} of the Gentiles shall come unto thee...
  ...Midian... Ephah... Sheba... Kedar... Nebajoth...-
    These people groups occupy regions of the Arabian Peninsula.
    The first three are descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:1-4). The last two are descendants of Abraham through Ishmael (Gen 25:13). They represent the Arab nations and the eastern nations in general. Today, these people are staunch enemies of Israel, but in the Millennial Kingdom, they will bring gifts and offer acceptable sacrifices in Jerusalem. cp. Mal 1:11
    In that day, the kings of the east will bring gold and incense, but no myrrh (v.6; cp. Mat 2:11). At Christ's first coming, the kings of the east presented the young child with myrrh in anticipation of His sacrificial death. At His second coming, their sacrifices look back to His death, while they bestow upon Him gifts of praise and glory. cp. Psa 72:10-15
  ...[the sacrifices of gentiles] will come up with acceptance on mine altar...- v.7; Isa 56:6-8
  ...I will glorify {HB=pa'ar, beautify, embellish} the house of my glory {HB=tipharah, majesty}.-
    The gifts of the redeemed nations will contribute to the construction of the Millennial Temple, which will be a "house of prayer for all people." Hag 2:7-9; Isa 2:2,3; cp. Rev 21:24
c. The ministry of the nations to Israel...
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. {cp. Isa 54:7}
  who are these that fly as a cloud... as doves to their windows {HB= 'arubbah, lattices}...-
    This verse is difficult, but generally understood to refer to the return of the people of Israel to their land. Verses 8,9 may provide a foreview of their transportation by air and by sea.
    The editor sees, in v.8, a possible veiled reference to the church which will accompany the Messiah when He returns to earth from heaven (Rev 19:1,7-9,11,14).
    - In the OT, the church is a mystery ("Who are these...?"; cp. Isa 49:21).
    - The believers in heaven are referred to as a 'cloud,' and Christ's return will be 'in the clouds' (Heb 12:1; Mat 24:30).
    - The word for 'dove' is used as a term of endearment for the King's beloved bride, several times in Song of Solomon (Song 1:15; 2:14; 4:1; 5:2,12; 6:9).
    - In Scripture, this word for 'window' appears several times in the phrase 'the windows of heaven,' which speaks of the source of true blessing (eg., Mal 3:10). It may be, that prior to their return with Christ from heaven, Church Age believers observe the struggles of earth-bound saints. From behind a 'lattice,' one may watch without being observed (as the great 'cloud of witnesses').
  the isles {ie., coastlands} shall wait for {or, upon} me...- cp. Isa 42:4; 49:1; 51:5
  ...the ships of Tarshish...-
    This seaport city, located well west of Israel (on the southern coast of modern Spain), and its seafaring people represent the western gentile nations, which honor Israel and their King, in similar fashion as the eastern nations (v.5-7).
  ...bring thy sons from far... their silver and gold with them...- cp. Isa 14:1,2
  ...because He hath glorified thee...-
    Israel's honor and glory is not their own, but that of their Holy One. Isa 55:5
  ...the sons of strangers shall build thy walls...- cp. Isa 49:22,23
    The gentile nations will assist the reconstruction of Israel's cities, with voluntary investment of their wealth and manpower.
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.
  A city, where gates need never be closed, is in a continual state of peace.
  The forces {or, resources, cp. v.5} of the Gentiles will come to bless, never to harm.
  This and several other characteristics, of the Millennial Kingdom in Jerusalem,
  are also characteristics of the eternal Kingdom in the New Jerusalem (eg., Rev 21:25,26).
d. The subjection of the nations to Israel...
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.
  For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee...
    Israel will be the head of the nations. Deu 28:13; Mic 4:6-8
  ...shall perish, yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted...-
    cp. Psa 2:10-12; Zech 14:12-19; Dan 2:35,44; Mat 21:44
  ...the glory of Lebanon... the fir tree... to beautify the place of my sanctuary...-
    Materials for the Millennial Temple will be brought from Lebanon, as they were when the first Temple was built in Solomon's day. cp. 1Kin 5:1-8
    The 'box tree' is a small fir, perhaps a variety of cedar. cp. Isa 41:19
  ...the place of my feet...- Is the Millennial Temple, in which Christ will stand. Eze 43:7
    However, the blessings of His Presence will overflow from there to the whole earth, which is His footstool (1Chr 28:2; Psa 110:1,2).
e. The homage of the nations to Israel...
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 hast 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.
  The sons of them that afflicted thee... shall bow... at the soles of thy feet...-
    The armies of the Antichrist will have perished. But their surviving sons, recognizing the error of their fathers, will bow in glad submission at the feet of Israel's King (v.13). Nations which formerly were Israel's enemies will give honor to His people (v.14; Isa 62:12).
  the city of the LORD...- The glory of the people and of the place is not their own,
    but that of the Holy One of Israel. Psa 48:1,2; 87:3
  whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated... I will make thee an eternal excellency...-
    cp. Isa 49:14-23; 54:6-14
  thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.-
    See Isa 43:10,11; Eze 34:30.
f. Israel's Glory...
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.
  for brass...gold, for iron...silver...-
    Their former glories will pale in the light of the glories of His Kingdom.
    Compare the relative glory of Solomon's kingdom (1Kin 10:21,27).
  I will make thine officers {ie., overseers} peace {HB=shalom}...
  and thine exactors {ie., tax collectors, task masters} righteousness...- cp. Luk 3:12-14
    The King's appointed officers will serve Him, in true righteousness, for the well-being of the people.
    (Alternately, this may mean that: The officers are 'peace' and 'righteousness' personified.)
  violence shall no more be heard in thy land...-
    This can hardly be said today. But His promise is sure.
    Isa 2:4; 11:9; Mic 4:3; Zech 9:8; Rev 19:1-6
  thou shalt call thy walls Salvation {HB= Yeshuah}...-
    City walls were built for protection. But this city has been forever delivered from all enemies.
    The wall bears the name, which was given to the King, at His birth (Mat 1:21).
  ...thy gates Praise {ie., Songs (or) Hymns of Praise}...
    City gates provide the means of entrance and exit, and also meeting places, for its citizens. Psa 100:2,4; Isa 51:11
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 sun shall be no more thy light...-
    During the Millennial Kingdom, the sun and moon, day and night, will still be present, but their light will not be necessary, due to the glory of the Lord (v.11,19-20). In the Eternal Kingdom, of the new heaven and earth, there will be no sun, or moon, or night. cp. Rev 21:23-25; 22:5
  thy sun shall no more go down...-
    The prior judgment brought deep darkness upon Israel (Amos 8:9-12).
    When the Glory of the LORD arises upon the nation, in the Person of their Messiah and King (v.1,2),
    He will never again allow the dark days of judgment to return (cp. Psa 27:1; 84:11).
  the days of thy mourning shall be ended...- Isa 25:8; 30:19; 35:3-6; Rev 21:4
  thy people... shall all be righteous...- Isa 4:3,4
    This is a primary provision of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34).
  ...shall inherit the land for ever...-
    Therefore, this prophecy cannot refer to the return under Ezra and Nehemiah
    or any other temporary restoration, but awaits the coming of the King.
  a little one {HB= qatan, young, insignificant} shall become a thousand...
  a small one {HB= tsa'iyr, little, insignificant} shall become a nation...- cp. Isa 11:6
    Two different words, with similar meanings, are used to describe the insignificance of this one.
    Who is this?
    - The One who spent His childhood in Nazareth,
    from where nothing good was thought to come. Joh 1:46
  - The One who was regarded as nothing but a lowly carpenter's son.
      Mat 13:55-57; Mark 6:2-4; Luk 4:22-24
  - The Light who came into the blind world,
      who will be seen when He comes again.
      v.1,2; Joh 9:4-5, 39-41; Zech 12:10; Psa 110:1-3
    I the LORD will hasten it in his time.- cp. Hab 2:3
      When the time comes, all of these things will be accomplished quickly,
      for the LORD has spoken it. cp. Isa 58:14

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