Monday, November 18, 2024

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 162, The Glory Of Zion, Part One

Chapter 60 is titled "The Glory Of Zion" as the Lord talks about the wonderful things the future holds.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (Isaiah 60:1) The Lord speaks of His glory like the sunrise. There is no glory for us apart from Him; He is our glory. 

Isaiah's people have been through some dark times. There are some dark times still ahead. But as our previous chapter stated, the Redeemer is coming to Zion. The glory of Zion was partially fulfilled at the advent of Christ, after which many Gentiles and a number of Jews believed on Him. "See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:2-3)

The complete fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy will occur when Christ returns to reign over the whole earth forever, but we already see "peoples" and "nations" coming to Him. These are expressions used to describe the Gentiles who have placed their faith in Him. 

This next passage was partially fulfilled when the people were allowed to return to their land and rebuild after their defeat and captivity. It found another partial fulfillment when Israel became a sovereign nation in the world again in 1948, after which many Jewish people returned to their ancestral land. It's complete fulfillment will occur when, presumably, all the Jewish believers return to their ancestral land when Christ reigns over the world from Jerusalem.

"Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come." (Isaiah 60:4-5) The Apostle John foresaw this in Revelation 21:24 when he said of Jerusalem: "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it."

The Apostle John also foresaw the entire earth restored to an Eden-like state in Revelation 22, where he describes the beauty and bounty of the world. The world will flow with milk and honey; Jerusalem will be the crown jewel of the world because the Lord's throne will be there. Isaiah speaks of the prosperity of Jerusalem and of the eternal kingdom. "Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaith will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on My altar, and I will adorn My glorious temple." (Isaiah 60:6-7)

The passage above had some literal fulfillment when the people went home from captivity and rebuilt their ruined temple. They were able to set up an altar to the Lord, consecrate it, and resume making offerings to Him. But I think the passage above is being used figurately as well, to denote the overflowing goodness of the reign of Christ. I think the language used is intended to indicate that no one will do without anything they need. No one will be hungry or thirsty. No one will be homeless. No one will be without clothes on their back and shoes on their feet. No one will ever have an illness or injury. No one will ever die. 


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