Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 60

Verses 1-22

1. Intro:
   1. This chapter describes the glorious kingdom that Jesus will establish when He returns.
      1. Glory will appear 23 x’s in these last 7 chapters.
   2. How discouraging for the children of Israel to return to their land & see the war-torn land, the walls broken down, & especially the Temple left in ruin.
      1. So Isaiah looks ahead to the Glorious Holy City, w/rebuilt walls & gates, & a Glorious New Temple.
      2. What impressed him most was “Glory”! (vs.1,2,7,9,13,19,21)
         1. 1 Pet.5:10,11 “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
2. THY KINGDOM COME! (1-17)
   1. THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY! (1-3)
   2. 1985 Kelly & I would drive out to see the progression of our new home in Rancho California. [Framing, electrical/plumbing, drywall, paint, carpet]
      1. Picture Zion’s restoration process!
   3. Here the progression of the sun just rising(3); to full blown light(19).
      1. Kind of like the progression of Jesus as our morning star(still dark out, but the sun’s-a-comin!); to our Dayspring (sunrise dawn) (Lk.1:78); to the Light of the world; to the everlasting light(Is.60:19)
      2. He bids them to catch the 1st glimpse of the earliest rays of the splendor of dawn! (adapted from FB Meyer)
   4. Israel, today the scorn of most all the Gentile nations. (Most recently Iran’s President comment’s - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad)
      1. CNN.com Dec, 8^th 2005 –
         1. Iran’s leader called for Israel “to be wiped off the map!”
         2. Have suggested Israel be moved to Europe (if the Holocaust really happened)
         3. Tehran calls Israel a "terrorist state". (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/08/iran.israel.reut/index.html)
   5. How dark it was in Isaiah’s day, how dark it is in our day, but how much darker in the tribulation!
      1. But the darkness would end w/the return of The Light of the World!
   6. Can you imagine one day Jerusalem will be the very throne of God. All will come to worship there.
   7. REGATHERING! (4-9)
   8. (4,9) Israelites who were living in foreign lands would return to Israel. [See sons & daughters (esp.4 & 9)]
   9. (5-9) Gentile nations will pay homage bringing their wealth to Israel.
      1. Vs.6 reminds us of the Wise men w/gold & frank incense.
      2. “God’s glory deserves the best offerings we can make.”
      3. They bring them from: Overland(6,7) & Overseas(8,9).
   10. (8,9) The many ship’s white sails look like a cloud or a flock of doves.
   11. FOREIGN AIDE! (10-16)
   12. (10) Because the Lord has compassion on Israel, He uses the foreign nations to help the rebuild process in Jerusalem.
   13. (11) I hear of small towns in our country where people leave their cars running to keep them warm while in the store. Their front door is left open in case their neighbors need to get in & borrow something.
       1. Open gates in a city is like unlocked cars/homes for you & I today.
       2. Here we have the promise of final victory.
       3. This is the triumphal procession after a battle!
          1. 2 Cor.2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
   14. (12) National Suicide - Nations that would rebel will be destroyed.
   15. (13) Lebanon will take care of their choice lumber needs once again!
       1. For the building of the millennial Temple.
   16. The Lord loves Beauty!
   17. The place of my feet(obviously the Sanctuary/Temple)
       1. Ps.132:7 “Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool.”
   18. (14) Israel’s former enemies will be subject to Israel’s authority.
   19. (15) Oh, to be made an “eternal excellence!” ☺
       1. Or, everlasting pride(NIV); “I will make you majestic forever”(ESV)
   20. (16) As a nursing child gets sustenance from his mother, so shall Israel be sustained by the wealth of the nations.
   21. Savior, Redeemer, & Mighty One!
   22. THE NEW DAY! (17-22)
   23. (17) (Message) I’ll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs!
   24. Finally, physical peace & spiritual righteousness!
   25. (18) Violence shall no longer be heard in the land – Peace in the Middle East? Wow!
       1. No more division or conflict…but peace!
   26. (18b) Zion’s citizens will know the Lord(Salvation) & give Him praise! – The Kingdom of heaven is always marked w/Peace & Rt!
   27. (19,20a) The Lord God Himself will light the nation w/His glory!
       1. Rev.21:23; 22:5.
       2. No more sundowns; no shadows; no more sorrow, crying, heartbreak, or hopelessness; The inheritance is forever!
          1. It’s “Immanuel for Good!….God with us!”
   28. (20b) The days of your mourning shall be ended – Israel’s suffering will be over.
   29. (21,22) The Lord will bless the people spiritually & materially in the land. (Shepherd’s notes; pg.92)
   30. Q: What is the place that God occupies in Zion?
       1. He has the central place!
       2. Q: Does He have the central place in your life presently?
       3. Q: Does He have the central place in your Christian Fellowship?
       4. He lights up dark hearts!
          1. 1 Jn.1:9 “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
   31. That I may be glorified – What’s it all about? Bringing Him glory!
       1. When God is glorified, all else is glorified in Him.
          1. 2 Thes.1:12 “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
   32. It is quite the City!
       1. Is.60 - It is where the Lord is acknowledged & reigns.
       2. Is.1:26 – It is the faithful city, the city of rt.
       3. Is.62:4 - It is the city married to God & therefore delightful.
       4. Ezek.48:35 – The name of the city is “The Lord is There!”
       5. Zech 8:3 – It is called the City of Truth.
       6. Heb.12:22 – It is the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.
       7. Rev.22:9 – It is “us”…The Bride, the Lamb’s wife!
   33. “We will live in such a close intimacy not only w/the Lord Himself, but w/one another. A sense of community, fellowship, & love beyond imagination!”
       1. Dr. A. Criswell was once asked, “Will we know each other when we get to heaven?” he replied, “We won’t really know each other until we get to heaven!!!”
   34. Some see Heaven as: Clean but too spacious; white but perhaps too hospital white(not enough color); well you get your own cloud; & this glowing ring thing that follows close to your head like a shadow!, Oh & ya get a harp with a lifetime supply of strings!
   35. Heaven is: Aren’t you glad U can’t reduce heaven to earthly terms? KBell
       1. Don’t see a city & say but I like the country! Don’t see the paved streets & say I like bare foot on the grass! Don’t see enormous claustrophobic walls & long for open space!
       2. These are symbols to ponder!
       3. We’ve all seen pictures of the moon - Don’t you think it’s a bit different for those who have got to walk on it?
       4. Joni sees heaven as a place she’ll be able to run using her arms & legs.
   36. Colors beyond your wild imagination; hearing Sounds way beyond our present range; a highly sensitive palate for a heightened sense of Taste; a keen ability to Smell heavens aroma & perfumes; every precious stone, multifaceted, reflecting prisms of light in every direction, like a kaleidoscope; Worship so overwhelming it’s next to impossible not to join in; walking w/the giants of the faith; Walking w/Jesus; Conversing w/God; Understanding the Trinity; Knowing Him as He is!
   37. Have you ever had a layover at an airport & walked into the bathroom & frowned at its decor & started redecorating it?
       1. NO! You don’t live there, your just passing thru! Life here is like the airport, & it’s almost time to board! Confirm your flight!