Isaiah has been relaying the Lord's message about the future glory of Zion (Jerusalem). There is far more in view here than the return from captivity that Isaiah has already foretold. What we are seeing in this prophecy is the prosperity of the nation of Israel during what is known as the "millennial kingdom" and then later during the eternal reign of the King of kings.
Today's verses regard the way the Lord intends to give these believers only the very best of all things. "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn My sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for My feet. The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 60:13-14)
The superiority of the fine woods grown in Lebanon is mentioned a number of times in the Bible. I believe the mention of these woods in the verses above have to do with the Lord's sanctuary during the millennium (the thousand years when Christ reigns from Jerusalem before the final judgment). We will study more about the millennium when we arrive at the book of Revelation, but we know from the book of Revelation that there is no temple in Jerusalem after the final judgment, during the eternal reign of Christ, because when the Apostle John beheld the city he said, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:22) This is how we know that the reference to the Lord's sanctuary must have to do with the millennial kingdom.
Gentile believers from all over the world will glorify the God of Israel and will make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, for it will be the capitol city of all nations. "Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Isaiah 60:15-16)
Many nations throughout history have attempted to wipe out the people of Israel. The people of Israel are still hated by a number of nations in the world today, who would love to see every descendant of Jacob gone from the earth, who would love to take over the land for themselves. But God will be true to His word. No matter how many obstacles have been in the path of the people of Israel, and no matter how many times this future glorious prosperity has appeared impossible, the Lord will do exactly what He has promised.
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