God's Glory Will Be Seen

Isaiah 60:1-22

Introduction

We move back into familiar territory for many as we make our way to the end of Isaiah

The mood lightens as we shift from sin & judgement to salvation & restoration

While this focusses on Israel, Jerusalem especially, the scope is world-wide

We look well beyond the restoration of Jerusalem after their captivity

Our eyes are lifted up to see the grand fulfilment of God’s work

We see why God chose Israel, results and the glory of God

It’s not popular, even amongy many Christians, to speak positively about Israel

I believe Scripture to be very plain in regards to Israel

Though they aren’t different from any other nation or people in their need of salvation from sin

God has used them uniquely to bring about salvation from sin for all people

Result of God’s work through Israel is that all of God’s people, Jew & Gentile, share in the same eternal glories of God

God fulfilling His promises to Israel are part of our eternal hope

In Isaiah 60 we begin to see how God faithfully keeps His promises to Israel and draws us all together in Jesus Christ

READ Isaiah 60

We’re looking forward here to Christ’s Kingdom, often referred to as the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:1-6)

Literal 1000 years when Christ reigns on earth to completely fulfil His promises to Israel

It begins when Christ returns in power & great glory (2nd Advent)

While I believe this is pretty clear in Scripture it isn’t without difficulty

e.g. Details of Isa. 60:19-22 are used in Rev. 21-22 describing the eternal kingdom - so there is some blending & overlap

Why does such a Kingdom matter to us?

While it is important in showing God’s truthfulness, faithfulness, consistency, etc.

It’s not just about Israel being blessed or us knowing about what will come

This passage & Kingdom it describes is about revealing the glory of God, Himself

God’s Glory Shines on His People

Isaiah 60:1-3

Shines in the Darkness

Isaiah 60 opens like the light at the end of a tunnel

Darkness of Isaiah 59 is broken

It’s as if the warmth we feel from Isaiah 59:20-21 finally bursts in light

Darkness of Isa. 60:2 is the spiritual darkness that covers the world

Some suggest it may refer to darkness & trouble of Tribulation

I think that stretches the text

It is a familiar scene though

Before the light of Isaiah 60 comes we have to pass through the darkness of Isa. 53

Gen. 1:2 Darkness covers the earth

Gen. 1:3 God brings light to the dark earth

That physical scene helps describe a spiritual reality about to take place

Sin enters the world & deep darkness comes on us

God immediately promises that light will come

Finally, because of the work of Jesus, our light has come

God’s great purpose & work is coming to its end

God is returning everything back to the way it was intended

Connection of Isaiah 60 with Rev. 21-22 tells us that this light is Jesus Christ

Jesus, truly is the light of the world

Not just a light in a dark world but the light that breaks the darkness of our own sin

Ephesians 5:8 “8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Shines in Promises Kept

So much of Isaiah’s prophecies of God’s work in the future have been connected to His promises of the past

He’s reminded us of the covenants made with Abraham, at Sinai, with David

He’s pointed to how these will be finally, completely fulfilled

That is part of what the Kingdom is all about - keeping His promises

We don’t have to look that far back to see this light

God made a promise in Isa. 58

Isaiah 58:8 “8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

When they seek Him in repentance light will come

Israel recognises their problem in Isa. 59

Isaiah 59:9 “9 Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!”

Admit God is right & repent

God fulfils His promise in Isaiah 60:1-3

God’s Glory is Exalted by His People

Isaiah 60:4-9

Exalted in Gathering Israel

This is one of those controversial issues - Israel’s regathering

Some see this as a description of the Gentiles being brought in and transferring the promises to the church

I think we do the text injustice if we don’t accept it as written

Speaks of Israel being regathered as a nation, not spread throughout the world

It’s not the first time Isaiah has suggested this will happen

Isaiah 27:12 “12 And it shall come to pass in that day That the Lord will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.”

Isaiah 53:5–7 “5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”

Jesus teaches us the same thing in the ‘Olivet Discourse’

Matthew 24:30–31 “30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Just as we see in the progress of Isa.58, 59, 60 this isn’t without conditions

It is a gathering of true Israel, those who turn to Christ

This regathering of Israel is preceeded by regeneration

2 Corinthians 3:14–16 “14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

It is what Paul prayed for, desired and knew one day would come

Romans 11:25–27 “25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.””

Exalted in Worship

These verses describe resources and wealth being brought to build a place of worship for God

Isaiah 60:7 “7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar, And I will glorify the house of My glory.”

This, among other passages, suggests there will be sacrifices in Kingdom

Given what Hebrews says that because of Christ no more sacrifice is needed this is puzzling

Seems sacrifices like OT didn’t actually save but pointed to the Saviour

What is clear from Isa. 60 is that heart of this Kingdom is worship

Despite particular blessings on Israel this isn’t to exalt Israel

This Kingdom is to exalt God

To gather all of God’s people to see God’s faithfulness & fidelity and worship Him

Exalted in Gathering the Nations

Isa. 60:3 Israel will be used like a flame to a moth to gather the elect from every nation

Here is where we see the wider scope of God’s work

Nations bring their wealth to Israel to build a temple for God

Their not just being used, not just taking their goods

Saved of the nations voluntarily bring their wealth & themselves

Here is the beauty of this passage for us

Isaiah 60:7 “...They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar...”

God accepts their worship as true worship

They truly proclaim the praise of the Lord (Isa. 60:6)

God will gather all of His sheep together (Jn. 10:16)

God’s Glory Frees His People

Isaiah 60:10-14

Frees from Wrath

God despised their sin & punished them for it

God’s punishment, chastisement wasn’t to destroy them

It leads to His mercy, favour and grace

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Our sin puts us under the wrath of God

Through belief in Jesus Christ and repentance we find God’s favour & mercy

Frees from Sin

Of course, in Jesus we are freed from the power & penalty of sin

Sin doesn’t control you any more & you are no longer condemned for your sin

Nevertheless, we still live in the presence of sin

Isa. 60:12 - is both tragic & refreshing

Tragic for all who don’t believe in Jesus and remain under God’s wrath

For those who are God’s children this tells us His Kingdom is a place free from sin

No sinners will enter His Kingdom & eternally no sinner will enter the eternal Kingdom

Frees from Oppression

Isa. 60:13-14 talk about the nations serving Israel

How then can I say it’s a kingdom free from oppression?

Yes, the nations will serve & honour Israel in this time

They will have a position of honour

Note why they serve & honour Israel

Finally recognise their place in the program of God

It isn’t because Israel is innately worthy of honour but to honour their unique role in the work of God

Ultimately, this is service for the glory of God

God’s Glory Transforms His People

Isaiah 60:15-18

Transforms the Heart

Notice the contrast between description in Isa. 60 & Isa. 59:13

Problem Israel faced wasn’t just because of what they did but who they were

Their wickedness & hypocrisy came from the heart

God hasn’t just taken these wicked people & put them in a better environment & hope for the best

That never works

God has changed their heart, redeemed them, filled them with joy, made them excellent, saved them

This is God’s work in all of His people through Jesus Christ

God transforms your heart, makes you a new creation

One who can truly enjoy the blessed Kingdom of God

Transforms our Religion

He takes what they had & gives them better

Every part of this is about God making everything better

Remember some of God’s harshest words have been about their empty religion

Religion that appears to do good but breaks relationships & acts unjustly

Religion that causes division and leaves destruction behind them

With the change of heart comes transformed religion

Instead of broken relationships there is peace

Instead of injustice there is righteousness

What once left destruction will know have strong walls of salvation and gates of praise

We don’t need to wait until the Kingdom to know this transformation

Jew or Gentile can experience this transformation of heart & religion today through Jesus Christ

God’s Glory is Coming for His People

Isaiah 60:19-22

Coming in Person

Glory of this Kingdom isn’t just that its God’s Kingdom

Its glory is the very presence of God Himself

He is the light that rises & shines

This light is meant to remind us of the Shekinah of the OT

Fire that dwelt above the Holy of Holies to show God was present

It is a place of God’s unhindered, glorious presence

Coming for Eternity

He will be your everlasting light

This isn’t the description of a Kingdom only to fulfil specific promises for a specific time

It is a Kingdom to lead us into an eternal Kingdom of God’s light, love & righteousness

It is a promise to be with God, in His majesty forever

Coming as Promised

Isaiah 60 ends in anticipation

I, Yahweh, will hasten it in it’s time

We see this promise fulfilled in 2 times

Galatians 4:4 “4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”

First coming of Jesus Christ to bring salvation from sin

Then finally, when the time is right & all His purposes are complete, His Kingdom will come

This is His promise

There is another aspect to this promise, more personal

hasten it has same root word used in Eccl. 2:25 and Isaiah seems to have meant this double meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:25 “25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?”

This isn’t just work for God, this will bring God joy

Conclusion

Benediction

Revelation 22:20–21 “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”