Passage Reading: Isaiah 60-63
Continuing the hope that was introduced at the end of chapter 59, there is a declaration of future hope and glory for Israel in today’s passage. Darkness might cover the earth, but the glory of the Lord will be seen upon Israel and the nations will come to their light (60:2-3). Isaiah prophesies that the nations will bring blessing to Israel and even work to build up Israel’s walls (60:4-18). We know that later when Nehemiah was moved to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild that the king of Persia aided him with relief (see Nehemiah chapter 2). However, this passage is certainly not fulfilled fully. For there is also the promise that the sun will be no more, and the Lord will be the everlasting light (60:19-20) a promise that we know is reserved for the new creation (Rev. 21:23).
“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.”
Revelation 21:23-25, ESV
These final hopes for Israel and for all creation were pronounced in the Old Testament, were inaugurated with the coming of Christ, and await their final fulfillment at the end of the age. Isaiah also prophesies of the Messianic servant that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of prison doors, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (61:1-2). With Jesus’ earthly ministry, this prophecy was fulfilled (Luke 4:17-21). He truly is the light of the world (John 8:12).
So, some of the things we’re reading in Isaiah are fulfilled, some are still awaited. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come and inaugurated a new age. The Kingdom of God is advancing, but the promises haven’t fully come to pass yet. Israel was rebuilt, and they enjoyed foreigners helping in the aid, but certainly there has yet to be a time when they didn’t need to lock their gates (see 60:11) just look at the middle east today! There are so many wonderful hopes contained in these pages today, but many of them await a final day.
Just like Israel, as believers today, we’re stuck in between. We’ve seen the Kingdom inaugurated, but not yet consummated. We’re living in the age that many scholars refer to as, “The already, but not yet.” We know the Messiah by name, He has come, He completed His earthly ministry. He brought good news, and He is now the content of that good news for He died for our sins and rose again on the third day. Thus many promises of the new age are available to us today, such as the forgiveness of sins, but many are still awaited.
We can look back and find great encouragement in what God has done for us in saving us through His Son. At the same time, we look forward to the consummation of all things. We live in the “in between” stage and await these final promises in faith just as Israel has for centuries. God’s plans will surely be fulfilled in His timing. For now, we can read about the splendor and glory of that final day in passages such as this one and the passages about the new creation. They should make us homesick for that final day as we’re stuck in the here and now and we patiently await God’s promise.
Come Lord Jesus.
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