Isaiah 60 · The Lantern

Future Glory for Zion

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[Christ] made our poverty his own, and we see in Christ the strange and rare paradox of lordship in servant's form and divine glory in human abasement. That which was under the yoke in terms of the limitations of manhood was crowned with royal dignities, and that which was humble was raised to the most supreme excellence.

Arise, be enlightened. Here he begins to set out the promise of salvation. And first, as to prosperity; second, as to joyfulness: the spirit of the Lord (ch. 61); third, as to the honor of glory: for Zion's sake (ch. 62). Concerning the first, he does two things.

For see, the darkness covers the earth, and thick gloom the peoples; but upon you the LORD will rise, and his glory will be seen upon you.

And nations will walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

It is the church whose children shall come to it with all speed after the resurrection, running to it from all quarters. [The church] rejoices, receiving the light that never goes down and clothed with the brightness of the Word as with a robe.

Prophecy did not lie, then, when it said, "Kings shall walk in thy light." They shall walk openly, and especially Gratian and Theodosius before other princes, no longer protected by the weapons of their soldiers but by their own merits; clothed not in purple garments but in the mantle of glory. In this world they took delight in pardoning many.

And he sets out the effect of the light: and the Gentiles shall walk, to knowledge of and devotion to God, seeing the benefits given to you by God; in the brightness of your rising, like the sunrise, glowing like a star: when the holy city (2 Macc 3:1). Or in your light, in the faith of Christ: the nations shall walk in the light of it (Rev 21:24).

Lift up your eyes all around and see: all of them gather, they come to you. Your sons come from far off, and your daughters are carried at the side.

Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will be in dread and be enlarged; for the abundance of the sea will be turned over to you, the wealth of nations will come to you.

(Verse 5) Then you will see, and you will be wealthy, and your heart will be amazed and expanded: when the multitude of the sea turns to you, the strength of the nations will come to you. LXX: Then you will see, and you will be afraid, and you will be astonished in your heart: for the riches of the sea and the nations and the peoples will be transferred to you.

When the soul is lifted up, it must not be idle, but should look around. "Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow." Then, indeed, the soul must be fixed, and standing, and expecting. Then follows divine induction. When a worthy admission has come about together with a holy perception, then the soul is rapt in God, that is, in the beloved.

Second, as to the servitude of the peoples: then shall you see; when the multitude of the sea, namely, the traders of the sea, shall be converted to you, serving you in commerce; the strength, kings and princes, providing peace and tribute to you. Or, this refers to the conversion of the gentiles to the Church: then shall you abound in delights in the Almighty (Job 22:26).

A throng of camels will cover you, young camels of Midian and Ephah; all of them from Sheba will come. They will carry gold and frankincense, and the praises of the LORD they will herald.

(Verse 6, 7) The flood of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be offered on my acceptable altar, and I will glorify the house of my majesty.

Third, as to abundance of riches. And first, as to merchandise, he sets out beasts of burden: the flood, that is, an abundance like a flood of water, of camels, on which merchandise was carried; which signifies, mystically, the rich, turned to faith, who carry the burden of riches and the hump of sin, above: they carry their riches upon the shoulders of beasts (Isa 30:6); drome…

All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will go up with acceptance on my altar, and the house of my beauty I will beautify.

Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their cotes?

Thus, typically, under the leadership of the Law (for Moses was a type of the Law that was coming) Israel passes unwetted over that sea, while the Egyptian who crosses in her track is overwhelmed. Each fares according to the disposition which he carries with him; one walks lightly enough, the other is dragged into the deep water.

And what is more, they (Ethiopians, Midianites, Arabians) are also in the habit of offering these beasts as presents to the God of the universe, some, in gaining closeness to some apostle, offer them as gifts; others, in approaching a martyr, look for his intercession to reconcile themselves to God and lead [their beasts] by way of firstfruits of offerings that they have promis…

Who are these? Here he shows the manner in which they will come into this prosperity. And first, as to the restoration of the city; second, as to the subjection of foreign peoples: and the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you (Isa 60:14); third, as to the multiplication of riches: for brass I will bring gold (Isa 60:17).

For the coastlands wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far off, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God and for the Holy One of Israel, for he has made you beautiful.

It is possible to contemplate the fulfillment of the divine word when one sees, in consequence of the conversion of the nations, such souls dedicating themselves to the message of godliness and being diligently busy in the ministry of the altar of God. It is then especially on account of the conversion of such souls and their salvation that the church of God receives glory.

He calls the ships "from Tharsis," those that come from Tharsis in India, which is situated in the far east and puts us in mind of Jonah. These will come to Jerusalem not for its sake but for God, who wished to ratify the promise made to the ancestors through his great mercy.

And he sets out the help in coming, which they had from the gentiles: the islands, the various nations by the sea, and even far off, wait for me, as though subject to the choice of my will; the ships of the sea from the beginning of the place in which they were held captive, for perhaps some returned through the sea, or the Lord was able to lead them back thus.

And the sons of the foreigner will build your walls, and their kings will serve you; for in my wrath I struck you, and in my favor I have had compassion on you.

(Verse 10 and following) And the sons of strangers will build your walls, and their kings will serve you. In my indignation I struck you, but in my mercy I have shown you compassion; and your gates will always be open, never closed day or night, so that the strength of the nations may come to you and their kings may be brought.

Cyrus ordained the reconstruction of Jerusalem, but the work remained unfinished. Under Darius, the son of Hystapis, only the temple of God was reconstructed. Under Artaxerxes the Long-armed, Nehemiah—who was not a stranger but a Jew—was engaged in the reconstruction of the walls.

Second, he sets out the restoration of the city as to the building of walls: and the children of strangers; and first, as to the structures of the city; second, as to the structures of the temple: the glory of Libanus (Isa 60:13). Concerning the first, he does two things.

And your gates will be open continually; day and night they will not be shut, to bring to you the wealth of nations, with their kings led along.

For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve you will perish, and the nations will be utterly laid waste.

The glory of Lebanon will come to you — cypress, fir and box tree together — to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and the place of my feet I will honor.

(Verses 13, 14.) The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the cypress, the fir tree, and the pine tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet. The descendants of those who oppressed you will come to you bent low, and all who spoke against you will bow down at your feet and call you the city of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.

Scripture likes to compare the multitude of the saints with trees of this kind.… Paul calls us in one place "the plantation of God." Some interpreters say that Scripture calls the nations Lebanon (just as Carmel can mean Jerusalem, though it is a mountain in Samaria) on the grounds that it comes from another race.

The glory of Libanus. Here he sets out the rebuilding of the structures of the temple: the glory of Libanus, which is the fir tree, and the box tree, and the pine tree; to beautify the place, namely, the temple, of my feet, in which adoration is given to me, as is given to kings at their feet: the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet (Ezek 43:7).

And the sons of those who afflicted you will walk to you bent low, and all who spurned you will bow down at the soles of your feet. And they will call you City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Instead of your being forsaken and hated with none passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a rejoicing from generation to generation.

(Verse 15, 16.) Because you were abandoned and hated, with no one to pass by, I will make you a pride for all generations, a joy from generation to generation. You will suck the milk of the nations and nurse at the breast of kings. And you will know that I am the Lord, your Savior and strong Redeemer, Jacob.

Those who are strangers to godliness are said to be cut off and hated and to have no help. But those from the wild olive branch come to take their place and are made to be joined into one people out of each. And in the Savior's power there is made the full number of those being saved, the one city out of both tribes that is called Zion, and to it is the following promise made.

Second, he sets out the reason for their subjection: because you were forsaken, it is just that you should be comforted after your distress; into the pride, height, of ages, through many ages. This also mystically befits the Church; after a storm you make a calm (Tob 3:22).

And you will nurse on the milk of nations, and on the breast of kings you will nurse. And you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, and your Redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob.

Instead of the bronze I will bring gold, and instead of the iron I will bring silver, and instead of the wood bronze, and instead of the stones iron. And I will make your oversight peace, and your taskmasters righteousness.

The apostles received the gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus the Christ was sent forth from God. So then Christ is from God and the apostles are from Christ. Both, therefore, came of the will of God in good order.

(Vers. 17 seqq.) I will bring gold instead of bronze, and silver instead of iron, and bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stones; and I will appoint peace as your overseer, and justice as your ruler. No more shall iniquity be heard in your land, devastation and destruction within your borders; but your walls shall be called Salvation, and your gates Praise.

For brass. Here he sets out the manner of restoration as to the restoration of riches: for much greater things will be offered to the temple by kings than what would be taken by Nabuchodonosor.

Violence will no longer be heard in your land, devastation and breaking within your borders; and you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

Some give the definition that a city is an established community, administered according to law. And the definition that has been handed down of the city is in harmony with the celestial city, Jerusalem above.

Everyone will see a truer fulfillment of these promises in the future life. That life is free from all injustice. That life is adorned with the highest justice. That life is in truth without sorrow and exempt from troubles. However, one also finds, as it were, a prefigurement of a similar state of affairs even now in the church of God.

And he also sets out the effect of justice as to the absence of wickedness: iniquity shall no more be heard in your land, because for some time the laws will be well observed (2 Macc 3:1); or iniquity, of idolatry. Mystically, this refers to the state of future beatitude: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us (Ps 102[103]:12).

The sun will no longer be your light by day, and for brightness the moon will not shine for you; but the LORD will be for you an everlasting light, and your God your beauty.

We must keep in mind, however, that the Word promises to the righteous through the mouth of Isaiah that days will come when not the sun but the Lord will be to them an everlasting light, and God will be their glory.

This is exactly what the future life possesses. It will need neither moon nor sun, since it has the ineffable light of God. But those who believe can take advantage of it in a provisional form. Nevertheless, in a figurative sense, believers enjoy this light even now.

This also pertains mystically to the state of future beatitude, when, although the sun may be much brighter than it is now and the moon also, nevertheless, not for the saints, for they have no need of their brightness: and the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God has enlightened it: and the lamb is the lamp thereof (Rev 21:23).

Your sun will no longer go down, and your moon will not withdraw; for the LORD will be for you an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be completed.

And your people, all of them righteous, will possess the land forever — a branch of my planting, the work of my hands, to show my beauty.

(Vers. 21, 22.) But your people, all the righteous, will inherit the land forever, the offspring of my planting: the work of my hands for glorification. The least will become a thousand, and the smallest will become a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will do this suddenly in its time.

From the various translations and the Septuagint we find that the author of these words, and so to speak, the gardener, is the God of the universe. For it is he who has planted his church. It is he who watches over it now. It is he who has made it grow and he who receives the glory that proceeds from it.

Second, he sets out the observance of justice: and your people shall be all just; to glorify me, above: every one that calls upon my name, I have created him for my glory (Isa 43:7). They shall inherit the land for ever, as long as they remain in justice; but mystically, this clearly refers to the blessed saints.

The small one will become a thousand, and the least a mighty nation. I, the LORD, in its time will hasten it.

Isaiah60

Future Glory for Zion