Isaiah 60:1-22 Out of Darkness, Into Light
Isaiah 60-62 bring us to the culmination of our theme of God's Highway Project. Having resolved the spiritual conflict between Israel and God, the Servant now ends the physical conflict between Israel and her enemies as He brings her into her final comfort and glorification in the fully-realized kingdom of light. In these chapters, Isaiah details the promises given to Israel that are specific to her restoration first as a nation, and then as individuals.
The intent of Isaiah 60-62 is to show the reversal from Israel serving to Israel reigning and the Gentiles reigning to the Gentiles serving. There are only two classes of people presented in these chapters: Israel and the Gentiles. The "Gentiles" include the following:
These all become servants of Israel who now reigns over them. She is moving from darkness into light, from that which was inferior to that which is superior. This is the grand reversal of fortune and ultimate validation and vindication for her as a victim. This is her closure.
But what is it like, making that transformation from darkness into light? Is it only about the victim gaining ascendancy over her antagonist, or is there a deeper spiritual change that happens in the victim herself as she sheds that persona of darkness and becomes a reflection and instrument of God's light to a darkened world? That is were our application will be today.
In the previous chapter (Isaiah 59), Israel cried out from the darkness and, in response, the Redeemer came and dealt with her enemies. Isaiah 60 now opens with a call to her to arise and step into the light.
Isaiah 60
The chapter opens with a call for Israel to arise and shine. Her light has come. The address is actually to Zion, the City of the LORD (60:14), which personifies corporate Israel at a national level. Jerusalem, her reigning city, is now glorified above the Gentile nations. These nations are drawn to her light, and they bring gifts to her.
Verses 5-11 focus heavily on the wealth of the Gentiles pouring into the city. Certain tribes are singled out for honorable mention. Midian, Ephah, and Sheba bring gold and incense. Sheba is known for her frankincense. (We might add myrrh to the list.) Kedar and Nebaioth bring flocks and rams for offerings. Interestingly, all of these tribes spring from Abraham. Midian, Ephah, and Sheba were descendants of Abraham and Keturah who Abraham sent to the East to keep them from infringing on Isaac's inheritance (Genesis 25:1-6). Kedar and Nebaioth are descendants of Ishmael. So, this is the ingathering of blessing that originated from the promise to Abraham.
This picture of riches being brought to a king and kingdom is a type that we have seen before and we will see again. We have seen it before in the days of Solomon, when the Queen of Sheba brought him vast gifts of gold and spices in return for knowledge and enlightenment (1 Kings 10:1-13). We saw another fleeting instance of it when three wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, following the light, seeking the king, and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11). All these fit the pattern.
Verses 9-16 focus on the rebuilding of the city, physically. Verse 9 mentions the coastlands and the ships of Tarshish. The ships of Tarshish were the one who sailed around the Mediterranean marketplaces, buying and selling luxury items. They were the merchants that Solomon engaged to bring the building materials for the Temple and palace. Here the sons of the foreigner build the walls and luxury materials from Lebanon beautify the sanctuary. The gates are open continually to receive these gifts. She is also built up in prestige. Any nation or kingdom that does not serve Israel will perish and suffer utter ruin. The aggressors who afflicted her will bow to her. Where she had once been forsaken and hated, she is now an eternal excellence and a joy of many generations.
Verses 17-18 now set up a series of contrasts between light and dark, superior to inferior, described this way:
The difference is like night and day, and Israel is called to live wholly in the light, as described in verses 19-22. The sun and moon offered fleeting light to a dark world, but the LORD Himself now becomes the everlasting light that lights her from within.
Light and Dark
We have the motif of light and dark in this passage. When we talk about a people of light or a city of light, we envision them being filled with enlightenment (moral guidance, knowledge and instruction, truth), justice, love, compassion, unity, and peace. Jerusalem represents a kingdom that is rich materially and full of abundant life, but the kingdom’s true wealth and power lies in its enlightenment, justice, and peace. That is the same kingdom picture that we studied in Isaiah 54-55.
The light of the LORD contrasts to the darkness of the world. Darkness is figurative of misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, and wickedness.
The darkened world isn’t drawn to Jerusalem so much as they are drawn toward God’s light that shines through Jerusalem. Remember, this city isn't just a bunch of buildings but a body of people—living stones—who embody God’s light before the world. That is her role—to walk in light and to bring light to a darkened world. When she functions as this kind of intermediary, she reaps a blessing from that.
Israel, once victimized, is now overflowing with power, riches, and royal prestige, but how does she achieve this place of honor?
There are two different paths to take in search of this kind of wealth and power. One is a path of light, according to God's ways and His grace. Those who walk in the divine light of the LORD's presence enjoy the superior riches of peace, righteousness, truth, justice, and holiness in an eternal kingdom.
The other is the path of darkness, according to the world's way. The darkened world pursues its own inferior version of the power and wealth that God’s kingdom offers, and it pursues these along darkened paths—through wickedness, oppression, degradation of others, and by inciting divisions, hatred, and violence. What the world pursues is an inferior kind of wealth because it is fleshly and temporary. It is like bronze compared to gold or iron to silver when compared to the royalty and wealth enjoyed by those who walk in the light of God’s presence.
Again, there are two course to take. One is the world's way, that perpetuates darkness through counter-oppression and vengeance. The other way is God's way, through truth, justice, and enlightenment, as befitting a people who embody His light.
God’s people are called to walk in light and spread God’s light to the world. We are called to value and pursue the things that of eternal value. But we can walk in a way that brings darkness to the world instead of light.
God’s Highway Project: The Stumbling Block of Our Dark Side
Like Israel here in Isaiah, we, as believers in the Church Age, are called to remember the darkness from which our Savior saved us and how He brought us into His light. Like Jerusalem, we have God’s glory dwelling within us in the form of His indwelling Spirit. Jesus said,
When God’s light truly shines in a believer, that light touches lives and draws people to Him. But even as children of light, we still grapple with our dark side, and we will until such time as we enter fully into the glory of His kingdom. The sin nature that still dwells in our flesh is perhaps the biggest stumbling block that we must overcome because it wars continually with the Spirit who is also dwelling within us and wrecks our fellowship with each other. John teaches this in his first letter:
The bulk of the New Testament writings address this transformation of coming out of darkness and into light. There is too much to cover comprehensively, but we can look at a couple passages. We have been in Ephesians repeatedly these last few chapters, and Ephesians talk extensively about putting off the old man of darkness and putting on the new man. Paul also talks about it in Romans 13.
The picture continues into Chapters 61-62, which I will put into the next blog.
The intent of Isaiah 60-62 is to show the reversal from Israel serving to Israel reigning and the Gentiles reigning to the Gentiles serving. There are only two classes of people presented in these chapters: Israel and the Gentiles. The "Gentiles" include the following:
- The goyim or nations. These represent the physical, non-Hebrew nations who have been Israel’s antagonists throughout Isaiah. They are Gentiles, physically speaking.
- The nekar, or sons of the foreigners. These are also Gentiles, but they are Gentiles spiritually speaking. They are alienated from a spiritual relationship with God and serve foreign gods. The focus is on their spiritual identification and not their association with a physical nation. Note: The sons of the foreigners were mentioned back in Isaiah 56. There was a subset of these Gentiles who joined themselves to the LORD to serve Him, and the LORD promised them that they would be accepted and honored in His kingdom. They are Gentiles physically and yet not Gentiles spiritually. In our passages today, the sons of the foreigner will be mentioned, but they will not be the redeemed Gentiles of Isaiah 56. They will be this heathen version.
- The zur, or stranger, who is someone who has “turned aside” or has “strange” or heathen ways. These also are Gentiles in a spiritual sense like the nekar.
These all become servants of Israel who now reigns over them. She is moving from darkness into light, from that which was inferior to that which is superior. This is the grand reversal of fortune and ultimate validation and vindication for her as a victim. This is her closure.
But what is it like, making that transformation from darkness into light? Is it only about the victim gaining ascendancy over her antagonist, or is there a deeper spiritual change that happens in the victim herself as she sheds that persona of darkness and becomes a reflection and instrument of God's light to a darkened world? That is were our application will be today.
In the previous chapter (Isaiah 59), Israel cried out from the darkness and, in response, the Redeemer came and dealt with her enemies. Isaiah 60 now opens with a call to her to arise and step into the light.
Isaiah 60
The chapter opens with a call for Israel to arise and shine. Her light has come. The address is actually to Zion, the City of the LORD (60:14), which personifies corporate Israel at a national level. Jerusalem, her reigning city, is now glorified above the Gentile nations. These nations are drawn to her light, and they bring gifts to her.
Verses 5-11 focus heavily on the wealth of the Gentiles pouring into the city. Certain tribes are singled out for honorable mention. Midian, Ephah, and Sheba bring gold and incense. Sheba is known for her frankincense. (We might add myrrh to the list.) Kedar and Nebaioth bring flocks and rams for offerings. Interestingly, all of these tribes spring from Abraham. Midian, Ephah, and Sheba were descendants of Abraham and Keturah who Abraham sent to the East to keep them from infringing on Isaac's inheritance (Genesis 25:1-6). Kedar and Nebaioth are descendants of Ishmael. So, this is the ingathering of blessing that originated from the promise to Abraham.
This picture of riches being brought to a king and kingdom is a type that we have seen before and we will see again. We have seen it before in the days of Solomon, when the Queen of Sheba brought him vast gifts of gold and spices in return for knowledge and enlightenment (1 Kings 10:1-13). We saw another fleeting instance of it when three wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, following the light, seeking the king, and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11). All these fit the pattern.
Verses 9-16 focus on the rebuilding of the city, physically. Verse 9 mentions the coastlands and the ships of Tarshish. The ships of Tarshish were the one who sailed around the Mediterranean marketplaces, buying and selling luxury items. They were the merchants that Solomon engaged to bring the building materials for the Temple and palace. Here the sons of the foreigner build the walls and luxury materials from Lebanon beautify the sanctuary. The gates are open continually to receive these gifts. She is also built up in prestige. Any nation or kingdom that does not serve Israel will perish and suffer utter ruin. The aggressors who afflicted her will bow to her. Where she had once been forsaken and hated, she is now an eternal excellence and a joy of many generations.
Verses 17-18 now set up a series of contrasts between light and dark, superior to inferior, described this way:
"Instead of bronze I will bring gold, instead of iron I will bring silver, instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. I will also make your officers peace, and your magistrates righteousness. Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise." - Isaiah 60:17-18 NKJV
The difference is like night and day, and Israel is called to live wholly in the light, as described in verses 19-22. The sun and moon offered fleeting light to a dark world, but the LORD Himself now becomes the everlasting light that lights her from within.
Light and Dark
We have the motif of light and dark in this passage. When we talk about a people of light or a city of light, we envision them being filled with enlightenment (moral guidance, knowledge and instruction, truth), justice, love, compassion, unity, and peace. Jerusalem represents a kingdom that is rich materially and full of abundant life, but the kingdom’s true wealth and power lies in its enlightenment, justice, and peace. That is the same kingdom picture that we studied in Isaiah 54-55.
The light of the LORD contrasts to the darkness of the world. Darkness is figurative of misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, and wickedness.
The darkened world isn’t drawn to Jerusalem so much as they are drawn toward God’s light that shines through Jerusalem. Remember, this city isn't just a bunch of buildings but a body of people—living stones—who embody God’s light before the world. That is her role—to walk in light and to bring light to a darkened world. When she functions as this kind of intermediary, she reaps a blessing from that.
Israel, once victimized, is now overflowing with power, riches, and royal prestige, but how does she achieve this place of honor?
There are two different paths to take in search of this kind of wealth and power. One is a path of light, according to God's ways and His grace. Those who walk in the divine light of the LORD's presence enjoy the superior riches of peace, righteousness, truth, justice, and holiness in an eternal kingdom.
The other is the path of darkness, according to the world's way. The darkened world pursues its own inferior version of the power and wealth that God’s kingdom offers, and it pursues these along darkened paths—through wickedness, oppression, degradation of others, and by inciting divisions, hatred, and violence. What the world pursues is an inferior kind of wealth because it is fleshly and temporary. It is like bronze compared to gold or iron to silver when compared to the royalty and wealth enjoyed by those who walk in the light of God’s presence.
Q: How does Israel, the vindicated victim, now rule over her oppressors?
Again, there are two course to take. One is the world's way, that perpetuates darkness through counter-oppression and vengeance. The other way is God's way, through truth, justice, and enlightenment, as befitting a people who embody His light.
God’s people are called to walk in light and spread God’s light to the world. We are called to value and pursue the things that of eternal value. But we can walk in a way that brings darkness to the world instead of light.
Q: How does that happen?
God’s Highway Project: The Stumbling Block of Our Dark Side
Like Israel here in Isaiah, we, as believers in the Church Age, are called to remember the darkness from which our Savior saved us and how He brought us into His light. Like Jerusalem, we have God’s glory dwelling within us in the form of His indwelling Spirit. Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
When God’s light truly shines in a believer, that light touches lives and draws people to Him. But even as children of light, we still grapple with our dark side, and we will until such time as we enter fully into the glory of His kingdom. The sin nature that still dwells in our flesh is perhaps the biggest stumbling block that we must overcome because it wars continually with the Spirit who is also dwelling within us and wrecks our fellowship with each other. John teaches this in his first letter:
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
- 1 John 1:6-7 NKJV
- 1 John 1:6-7 NKJV
The bulk of the New Testament writings address this transformation of coming out of darkness and into light. There is too much to cover comprehensively, but we can look at a couple passages. We have been in Ephesians repeatedly these last few chapters, and Ephesians talk extensively about putting off the old man of darkness and putting on the new man. Paul also talks about it in Romans 13.
Q: Read Ephesians 4:17-5:21. How do we step out of darkness and into light? What is involved in the transformation?
Q: Read Romans 13:11-14. How do we “put on” Christ?
The picture continues into Chapters 61-62, which I will put into the next blog.
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