Tuesday, March 16
What is Isaiah 60:1, 2 talking about? What principle do you see at work there that’s seen all through the Bible? What hope does it offer?
In Isaiah 60:1, 2, we are given a picture of God’s deliverance of His people, following the exile, expressed with the imagery of God’s creating light out of darkness and pointing forward to an ultimate fulfillment in salvation through Christ.
In Isaiah 60:3, to whose light do nations and kings come?
In Hebrew this person is feminine singular (see also Isaiah 60:1, 2). It must be “Zion,” personified as a woman, who is mentioned near the end of the previous chapter (Isaiah 59:20). So, the people of the earth, who are covered in darkness, will come to Zion. They will be drawn by the light of God’s glory that has arisen over her (Isaiah 60:2). “Zion is summoned to enter into the light that is hers and then to observe and react to the nations as they gather to the same light.” — J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary, p. 494. Notice that although Zion is Jerusalem, the emphasis is more on the people than on the physical location of the city.
The rest of Isaiah 60 develops the theme introduced in verses 1-3: The people of the world are drawn to Jerusalem, which is blessed because of God’s glorious presence there.
How does this prophecy compare with God’s covenant promise to Abraham? Genesis 12:2, 3. Are they not saying the same thing?
God had a universal purpose when He chose Abraham and his descendants: Through Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, Genesis 18:18, Genesis 22:18). So, God's covenant with Abraham was ultimately intended to be a covenant with all humankind through Abraham. He and his descendants would be God's channel of revelation to the world.
Isaiah sought to bring his people back to their ancient, universal destiny. As the representatives of the true God, they were responsible not only for themselves but for the world. They should welcome foreigners who seek God (see also Isaiah 56:3-8), for His temple “shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:7).
In this context, how do you understand the role of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or even, more specifically, your individual role in that church?
