601 " Arise , shine ; for your light has come , And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 "For behold , darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples ; But the Lord will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3 " Nations will come to your light , And kings to the brightness of your rising . 4 " Lift up your eyes round about and see ; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar , And your daughters will be carried in the arms . 5 "Then you will see and be radiant , And your heart will thrill and rejoice ; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 "A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah ; All those from Sheba will come ; They will bring gold and frankincense , And will bear good news of the praises of the Lord . 7 "All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you, The rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; They will go up with acceptance on My altar , And I shall glorify My glorious house . 8 " Who are these who fly like a cloud And like the doves to their lattices ?
9 "Surely the coastlands will wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first , To bring your sons from afar , 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 minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you, And in My favor I have had compassion on you. 11 "Your gates will be open continually ; They will not be closed day or night , So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations , With their kings led in procession . 12 "For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish , And the nations will be utterly ruined . 13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, The juniper , the box tree and the cypress together , To beautify the place of My sanctuary ; And I shall make the place of My feet glorious . 14 "The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you, And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet ; And they will call you the city of the Lord , The Zion of the Holy One of Israel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-14
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-8
(Read Isaiah 60:1-8)
As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light is come. And if God's glory is seen upon us to our honour, we ought, not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return its praise. We meet with nothing in the history of the Jews which can be deemed a fulfilment of the prophecy in this chapter; we must conclude it relates principally to future events. It predicts the purity and enlargement of the church. The conversion of souls is here described. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves to their own home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter, thither they fly for rest. What a pleasant sight to see poor souls hastening to Christ!
Commentary on Isaiah 60:9-14
(Read Isaiah 60:9-14)
God will be very gracious. We must begin with his promise, thence all mercies take rise. Many shall be brought into the church, even from far countries. Christ is always ready to receive all who come to him; and the gate of mercy is always open, night and day. All that are about the church shall be made serviceable to it. But those who will not be subject to Christ's golden sceptre, to his word and Spirit, who will not be kept in by the laws and rules of his family, shall be broken in pieces by his iron rod. The peculiar advantages of every nation, and of every description of men, shall join to beautify the church of Christ. We must suppose this to be accomplished in the beauties of holiness, and the graces and comforts of the Spirit, with which gospel ordinances are adorned and enriched. Blessed be his name, the gates of Zion are ever open to returning sinners.