Future Glory (Isa 60:1-18)

In these verses, we catch a glimpse of God’s promise to restore Israel and restore His relationship with them.

(A) Beautify the LORD’s house with praise (Isa 60:1-9)

In Isaiah 60:2 we see how darkness shall cover the earth and the peoples have been covered by thick darkness. This is a result of their sin, which has caused a separation between them and God (c.f. Isa 59:2, 9, 14). The absence of God therefore, results in a blindness, and also absence of justice and righteousness, which is darkness. 

But this is not the end. A light has come. We see that a Redeemer will come to Zion to those who repent and turn from transgression (Isa 59:20). This is one sent from God who brings salvation, and is committed to His work of bringing righteousness, salvation, vengeance and zeal (Isa 59:15-17).  The prophet is also speaking of a day that is not yet here for the people! This has implications for how they are to live currently.

This light has an effect on the LORD’s people and the nations (Isa 59:2b-3). The LORD will arise upon them and His glory will be seen by then. Notice how there’s nothing in them or a result of their work. The nations will come to their light and the kings to the brightness of their rising. 

Isaiah also calls for God’s people to lift up their eyes all around. They will see the return of the sons and daughter from afar (Isa 60:4). This is a wonderful promise as Israel was in exile now. In the future, those who are scattered will return, even with their young for they have also grown. God’s people would return to His place, under His rule. 

Seeing this would cause them to be radiant, and their hearts shall thrill and exult (Isa 60:5a). This is also because they are not returning to poverty but the abundance of the sea and the wealth of the nations will populate their land (Isa 60:5b). 

In Isaiah 60:6, God is calling back the exiles and is also providing the means to rebuild. The camels carry the materials for worship — such as gold and frankincense (Isa 60:5). God is calling the people back and also bringing the means for worship. Midian and Ephah are near to Israel and are known for camels. Sheba is further southeast and is also known for gold. Thus, nations far and near, are bringing the best they produce to honour God. 

Even the flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth will come to Israel bringing things that are needed for worship (Isa 60:7). God accepts the sacrifice as it is acceptable to Him .

The people who are located from as far away as Tarshish turn to God quickly (“fly like a cloud”, “doves to their windows”) (Isa 60:8). God is the one who made them beautiful. 

How will God’s people respond? They respond with great joy (Isa 60:5). They clearly see God’s hand at work, for they were unable to do anything to save and help themselves in exile. They had no hope. But God acted and caused these things to happen. 

As a result, God makes His house beautiful (Isa 60:7b). From Genesis, God desires to dwell among and with His people. In the wilderness, the tabernacle marked His presence among them. The temple marked a more permanent presence, once God’s people entered the land He prepared for them. 

Let us not gloss over this work of God. Isaiah 56:7 also reminds us that God intended for His house to be one for all the nations. Though His face was turned away from His people because of their sins, it was not for forever. It was to discipline them and He desires for them to repent and to save them. He sent a Redeemer to His people, and also for the nations to turn to Him, and for Him to dwell with them. 

But, what did this mean for them? How does God’s people participate in the beautifying of God’s house? In Isaiah 60:1, we see that they were told to arise and shine for the glory of the LORD has risen upon them. They were not inherently beautiful on their own. Like mirrors, they were to reflect who their Redeemer is. Their job is to let the nations see who God is. 

What then, does it mean for us today? Ephesians 2:19-22 tells us that the house of God is His people, the church, made up of those who have repented and placed their faith in Christ. This is what we are to do today as a church — to reflect the God who has saved and redeemed us. 

Friends, do you know this Redeemer? If you have heard the gospel, but have been hurt by the church, tonight, see that His Redeemer also entered our messiness, experienced temptation but did not sin, and took on all our sins to purchase our salvation. In doing so, He has made the way for all who turn from their sins and turn to Him! See God as He has revealed Himself in His word tonight. See how He desires for the nations to know Him and be in His house. 

This is also a call for us to love the church! There is no description of Christian life apart from God’s house. 

Notice also how they bring their best! Don’t hold back what you have. This God is worthy of our best and our everything. He is worthy of our time, emotion, effort, energy etc. What has God blessed you with? How might you use it to beautify His house? Doing so is a no-brainer for He is due all the glory! It could also be something simple like loving and getting to know the awkward person in the corner in church. It could be patiently walking with someone who is struggling to see God in a difficult season, and even inviting them into your house (just as God invited the nations in). 

(B) Glorify the LORD’s city with reliance and trust (Isa 60:10-18)

God will also involve the nations. Foreigners shall build up their walls and even their kings minister to them (Isa 60:10). They participate personally in rebuilding and strengthening the walls. Kings lay down their crowns before the king of this city. As we saw in Isaiah 49:14-17, God always thought about His people. He never forgot them and neither are they far away from His thoughts. 

The nations come continually to bring their wealth and even their kings will do so (Isa 60:11b). This will take place day and night and their gates will not be shut (Isa 60:11a). This is also a picture of safety, for their is no need to close the gates with a threat of invasion. This is a picture of great wealth, so much that the gates cannot shut to accommodate the influx of people. 

God’s people, once destroyed and ravaged by the nations, will now receive the wealth of the nations in safety, under God’s rule. 

This is similar to what was written in Psalm 118:17-22. God’s people had been disciplined but also preserved by God’s mercy. The gates represent people exiting devastation and hopelessness and entering salvation, as they enter into the King’s domain and His city, with the security, protection and hope He provides. 

On the other hand, those that refuse his Lordship will be judged and utterly laid waste (Isa 60:12). Those who afflict God’s people and despise them will end up worshipping (Isa 60:14). 

Lebanon here, is an example of a nation that has served God’s people (Isa 60:13, c.f. 1 Ki 5:5-6) as they provided for the building of the temple. God will beautify the place of His sanctuary.

Isaiah also provides a series of contrasting pictures of the LORD’s holy city in the past and future. (Isa 60:15-18). Once forsaken and hated, they will be majestic forever (Isa 60:15). This is a picture of reversal, as a city once avoided, will now be glorious. People will see their glory and will turn to them.  A city that was malnourished and raved will now be nourished by the nations (Isa 60:16), not because of their works but because of their Saviour, Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Israel was once built by bronze, iron, wood, stones, but in the future, they will be built by gold, silver, bronze, iron. (Isa 60:17). This is a picture of improvement. Israel used to be in exile and oppressed, but we are a given a picture of freedom and peace as their overseers rule in peace, and taskmasters in righteousness (Isa 60:17b). Violence was once rampant but in the future, they will know the peace of God’s salvation (Isa 60:18).

Their walls will be called Salvation and their gates Praise (Isa 60:18). Previously in Isaiah 30:12-17, the perversion and oppression of God’s people was likened to a crack in the wall. This was due to their own sins. Yet we see that there will be a new wall, one that keeps them safe! God promises their safety and rest in Isaiah 30:15. By trusting in God, they will receive true rest and peace. 

Do you trust in God, or do you place your trust in swift horses? Do not forget that God is in control of all things, even the nations around you. Safety is in returning and rest in God’s city, in relying on the safety created for us in Christ. Trust in the salvation God has won for us through Christ’s death on the Christ, and now, His resurreciton. It is not through our performance. 

Today, we still look forward to the day when the city will be made beautiful and when we can finally rest and enjoy on His present. We may still struggle to live by faith today, but remember today, tomorrow and every day, that salvation comes when we trust in Christ, and dwelling within the city, within the walls and gates that Christ has built. Do not run out to build our own lives, and our own ways of salvation.