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 .
15 "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated With no one passing through , I will make you an everlasting pride , A joy from generation to generation . 16 "You will also suck the milk of nations And suck the breast of kings ; Then you will know that I, the Lord , am your Savior And your Redeemer , the Mighty One of Jacob .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-16
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.
Commentary on Isaiah 60:15-22
(Read Isaiah 60:15-22)
We must look for the full accomplishment in times and things, exceeding those of the Old Testament church. The nations and their kings shall lay themselves out for the good of the church. Such a salvation, such a redemption, shall be wrought out for thee, as discovers itself to be the work of the Lord. Every thing shall be changed for the better. In thy land shall no more be heard threats of those that do violence, nor complaints of those that suffer violence. Thy walls shall be means of safety, thy gates shall be written upon with praises to God. In the close of this chapter are images and expressions used in the description of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:23; 22:5. Nothing can answer to this but some future glorious state of the church on earth, or the state of the church triumphant in heaven. Those that make God their only light, shall have him their all-sufficient light. And the happiness shall know no change or alloy. No people on earth are all righteous; but there are no mixtures in heaven. They shall be wholly righteous. The spirits of just men shall there be made perfect. The glory of the church shall be to the honour of God. When it shall be finished, it will appear a work of wonder. It may seem too difficult to be brought about, but the God of almighty power has undertaken it. It may seem to be delayed and put off; but the Lord will hasten it in the time appointed by his wisdom, though not in the time prescribed by our folly. Let this hope cheer us under all difficulties, and stir us up to all diligence, that we may have an abundant entrance into this everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.