Explore the Bible Online

Isaiah 60:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy] side. 5. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Isaiah 60:1-5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 60:1

Theological / Devotional

Arise, shine. Isaiah here proceeds to describe a glorious work to be accomplished by Israel, on the assumption that a reformation, in harmony with ch. 58:6-14, has taken place. Chapters 60-62 describe this great work.

Such was the divine plan for ancient Israel. But as a nation they failed in the work of reformation within, and God was unable, therefore, to deliver them from their enemies without or to make them His agents in bringing salvation to the Gentiles (see pp. 26-30). Accordingly, the covenant privileges and responsibilities were transferred to spiritual Israel. Hence, the bright picture of the glorious triumph of the gospel outlined in chs. 60-62 clearly belongs to God’s people today (see pp. 35, 36).

Thy light. Light was ever a symbol of the divine presence (DA 464; see on Gen. 3:24). Christ came to earth as the light of life (John 1:4, 5; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 36, 46; see on Isa. 9:2). Those who received Him and believed on His name (John 1:9, 12) were, in turn, to let their light shine forth in glory to God (see on Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9). Before the return of Christ the gospel message is to be proclaimed with such power that the whole earth will be ablaze with the light of truth (Rev. 18:1).

By SdaBc