IsaiahStudy Guide

Chapter 60

Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.

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Scripture

KJV

1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2For, 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.

4Lift 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.

5Then 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.

6The 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.

7All 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.

8Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

9Surely 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.

10And 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.

11Therefore 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.

12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13The 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.

14The 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.

15Whereas 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.

16Thou 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.

17For 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.

18Violence 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.

19The 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.

20Thy 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.

21Thy 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.

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

Key VerseIsaiah 60:1

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Overview

Isaiah proclaims a glorious vision: 'Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.' While darkness covers the earth, the Lord's glory rises upon Zion, and the nations come to her light. Camels and gold flow in from distant lands, the sons of foreigners build her walls, and kings minister to her. Violence is no more, the sun is replaced by the Lord as her everlasting light, and all her people are righteous — the planting of the Lord for His glory.

Key Themes

1

The Glory of the Lord Upon Zion

While thick darkness covers the peoples, God's glory rises upon Zion like the dawn — she becomes the beacon that draws all nations out of the darkness.

2

The Nations Stream to God's Light

Kings come to Zion's brightness, the wealth of the nations flows in, and former oppressors serve — God reverses the order of the world in favor of His redeemed people.

3

The Lord as Everlasting Light

The sun and moon are no longer needed — the Lord Himself is Zion's everlasting light. Mourning ends, and the days of sorrow are finished.

Study Questions

1.

What does the command 'Arise, shine' (v. 1) call God's people to do?

2.

How does the image of nations coming to God's light (v. 3) picture the spread of the gospel?

3.

What does it mean that 'the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light' (v. 19)?

4.

How does the vision of this chapter relate to the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21?

5.

What does it mean that God's people are called 'the planting of the LORD' (v. 21)?

Connection to Christ

Jesus declares 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12) and 'Ye are the light of the world' (Matthew 5:14), fulfilling Isaiah 60's vision. The glory of the Lord that rises upon Zion is the light of Christ, and the new Jerusalem of Revelation 21:23 — where the Lamb is the light — is the ultimate fulfillment of this chapter.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Isaiah 60. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

Isaiah

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