119. Arise, Shine (2)

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes Tagged with , , ,

Hymns: RHC 103 Sunshine in My Soul 104 All that Thrills My Soul 105 I Will Praise Him!

Isaiah 60

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. 3And 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. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Arise, Shine (2)

OUTLINE

  • Worship in the Millennium (1-12)
  • Life in the Millennium (v13-22)

INTRODCUTION

God through the prophet cries, Arise, He enables Jerusalem to arise. It is a word of power, as when Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth (John 14:13). The second command is “shine”, by a use of words which sound alike with the first. 

Having received from the LORD His own perfect, holy light, her true salvation, Zion is to radiate that light. As “arise” refers to the outer man, so “shine” to the inner. Were not the light of salvation in her heart, Zion could not rise. [EJ Young]

The reason for the command is that Jerusalem’s light has come to her. Salvation is light and it dispels the darkness of ignorance, sin and evil. It is Zion’s salvation, for in accordance to the covenant promised to her – the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee (v2b) with Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee (v1). 

Sandwiched in between verse 2a – For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:

Like a blazing sun, so the glory of the LORD has arisen upon Jerusalem subjecting it to its full and glaring light.

This light of salvation will draw nations unto it, and therein lies the reason why Zion is glorious. 

  • Worship in the Millennium (v1-12)

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isaiah declares that nations will walk with respect to Zion’s light. Not only nations, but kings, the head of nations, will walk with respect to the brightness of Zion’s arising. Isaiah is saying that not only the common people but even those of high rank with come to the saving knowledge of the truth.

Zion is rising and in rising is shedding its brightness. 

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.

Jerusalem is personified as a mother who looks about with love and tenderness as her children are gathered again unto her. Referring not only of Israelites but heathen who have been converted and are coming from afar in all directions. The heathen seek Zion, the dwelling place of the one living and eternal God.

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.

Tremendous emotion will seize Zion as she sees the heathen coming to her in faith, her true sons and daughters. All that at one time belonged to the heathen nations will now be turned over to Zion, for the people and all that they have will be dedicated to Jerusalem.

6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Traders from distant nations will bring their treasures to the LORD. An abundance of camels will cover the land, as a flood had overflowed the land, covering all.

They came to Jerusalem to worship the LORD at the Temple.

All of these (all the camels and dromedaries) will come from Sheba, a district in Arabia that may probably be identified with what is today known as Yemen. 

The animals will not come empty but bearing burdens of precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Those who bring these gifts desire to offer the best unto their God, an expression of heartfelt devotion.

This devotion manifests itself in the praises of God which are proclaimed.

7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Nations will bring their animals to serve the LORD in offerings. All the flocks of Kedar perhaps stands for Kedar’s wealth and the rams of Nebaioth for the best that Nebaioth can offer. Kedar was the second son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13), whose descendants lived in the deserts between Syria and Mesopotamia.

1 Chronicles 1:29 (KJV) These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

Kedar’s flocks will be gathered for the benefit of Zion, and Natatea’s rams will serve Zion, speaking of free-will service as opposed to compulsory labour.

Isaiah speaks of the influx of the heathen as he looks out toward the Mediterranean sea and sees that shadowy forms which seem to be flying like a cloud. 

Tarshish speaks of Spain from western Europe.

  • Life in the Millennium (v13-22)

13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 

Zion is to be beautified with the glory that Lebanon will bring. This glory, name Lebon’s tree, will come unto Zion to be her perpetual possession.

Three types of trees are mentioned, taken from Isaiah 41:19.

Isaiah 41:19 (KJV) I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

All these trees together will give an appearance of luxuriousness and beauty. The trees are common to Syria and Palestine, and Israel delighted to use such figures. A

The figure of tree and water had also been found in the account of Eden in Genesis 2. 

Genesis 2:9-15 (KJV) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 And the gold of that land isgood: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Through the entrance of sin into the world, however, the garden was forfeited, and man entered a world where thorns and thistles would grow and he would labour by the sweat of his brow. 

In the picturing of the future age of blessing, the eschatological period when the restoration will occur, Isaiah uses the combined figures of water and trees. It is as though a bit of heaven had come sown to earth; and indeed, those who one day will be blessed of these rivers and these trees are in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

The place of God’s feet is another designation for the Temple, which is often referred to as God’s footstool.

1 Chronicles 28:2 (KJV) Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

God raises us from the feet to a consideration of the head. This is the double work of beauty. When Lebanon gives her glory. Zion is beautified when those who are converted to the truth yield to the Lord all that they have. A heart that is deeply devoted to God and consecrates to Him all its possessions is a heart whose possessions beautify the place of worship.

14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 

Instead of Zion being a forsaken or abandoned one, there stake change will come.

16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 

Isaiah sets forth the great influx of wealth and power that will come to Zion from the converted Gentiles. As a mother gives milk of her breasts to her children so do the nations give their own life and vital energy to Israel so that Israel is in the possession of nourishing food for a healthful growth.

17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 

God declares in what manner He will beautify and stabilize Zion, namely by the replacement of good materials with better.

The outward beauty and stability will reflect an inner like condition. 

Peace herself is to be the government, and righteousness the rulers, and viceregents of the Lord. No longer will human rulers be needed.

18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 

The walls, therefore, will afford salvation, for they will protect from the enemy and the gates an occasion for joy.

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

The idea is, the light and beauty of truth would be so great; the divine perfections shine forth so illustriously under the gospel, that the eye would be attracted to that light as superior to all the natural splendour of the sun and moon. All the wonders and beauties of the natural world would be lost in the superior brightness that would shine in the moral world. [Barnes]

20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 

There shall be no total and long night of calamity, error, and sin. This is designed to describe the flourishing and glorious state of the church. It, of course, does not mean that there should be no times of calamity, no period of ignorance, no scenes of persecution; but it means that there should not be total night. Truth should reign on the earth, and there never would be a time when the light of salvation would be extinct. There never would be a time like that when Jerusalem was wholly destroyed, and a long total night came over the land. There never would be a time when the Sun of righteousness would not shine, or when the world would be wholly deprived of the illumination of his beams. The church would be perpetual. It would live through all changes, and survive all revolutions, and to the end of time the light of salvation would shine upon a darkened world. 

21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 

The branch of my planting – On the meaning of the word branch, here it means a scion or shoot which the LORD had planted, and which had sprung up under his culture. Grotius supposes it means posterity. The idea seems to be, that they would inherit the land and all which would grow up under the culture of the hand of the LORD.

The work of my hands – The language here is taken from the cultivation of the land of Canaan; but the sense is, that the church would inherit all that God had done for its welfare. Applied to the work of redemption, it means that the result of all the labours, self-denials, and sacrifices of the Redeemer, become the inheritance of the church. The comforts, joys, hopes, consolations of his people are the fruit of his self-denial, ‘the work of his hands,’ and they are permitted to enjoy it all – as if God should cultivate a fruitful field and give the avails entirely to them.

22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

There shall be a great increase, as if one, and that the smallest, should be multiplied to a thousand. The idea is, that the people, then small in number, would be greatly increased by the accession of the Gentile world.