Isaiah 60:1-16: a reflection

1“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the LORD’s glory has risen on you! 2For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. 3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in arms. 5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of the LORD. 7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house. 8“Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9Surely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far away, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10“Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will serve you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. 11Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. 12For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you; and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet. They will call you the LORD’s City, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16You will also drink the milk of the nations, and will nurse from royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Into a world where darkness covers the earth, God speaks a command that is also a gift: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. The light is not something the people generate. It rises upon them from God. Their task is to arise and reflect it, and as they do, nations and kings are drawn toward the brightness.

The chapter overflows with images of homecoming and abundance: sons and daughters returning from far away, the wealth of nations streaming in, gates that never close, a ruined and hated city made into an everlasting joy. To a people who had felt forsaken, God promises that their long night is ending. He names himself their Savior and Redeemer, the Holy One who has had mercy on them.

Whatever darkness surrounds you, the gospel speaks the same command over those who belong to Christ: arise and shine, because a light has risen on you that is not your own. You do not have to produce the brightness; you receive it and reflect it. Lift your eyes from the covering gloom, let God's glory rest on you, and live as one whose long night is giving way to his everlasting joy.

Lord, my Savior and Redeemer, into the darkness you speak your command: arise and shine, for your light has come. I cannot make this light myself; it rises upon me from you. Lift my eyes from the gloom around me, let your glory rest on me, and make me a reflection of your brightness, until your everlasting joy dawns fully. Amen.