Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 60
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 60
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 60
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" — Isaiah 60:1-8 (ASV)
As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light has 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 find nothing in the history of the Jews that can be considered a fulfilment of the prophecy in this chapter; we must conclude it relates primarily to future events. It predicts the purity and expansion of the church.
The conversion of souls is described here. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves to their own home; there they fly for refuge and shelter, there they fly for rest. What a pleasant sight to see poor souls hastening to Christ!
"Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel." — Isaiah 60:9-14 (ASV)
God will be very gracious. We must begin with His promise; from it all mercies arise.
Many will be brought into the church, even from distant countries. Christ is always ready to receive all who come to Him; and the gate of mercy is always open, night and day.
All who are connected to the church will be made useful to it. But those who will not be subject to Christ's golden scepter, to His Word and Spirit, who will not be kept in by the laws and rules of His family, will be broken in pieces by His iron rod.
The distinctive advantages of every nation, and of people of every kind, will join to beautify the church of Christ. We must understand 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.
"Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time." — Isaiah 60:15-22 (ASV)
We must look for the full accomplishment in times and things, exceeding those of the Old Testament church. The nations and their kings will devote themselves to the good of the church. Such a salvation, such a redemption, will be worked out for you, that reveals itself as the work of the Lord. Everything will be changed for the better.
In your land will no longer be heard threats from those who do violence, nor complaints from those who suffer violence. Your walls will be a means of safety; your gates will be written on with praises to God. At the end of this chapter are images and expressions used in the description of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:23; 22:5. Nothing can correspond to this except some future glorious state of the church on earth, or the state of the church triumphant in heaven. Those who make God their only light, will have him as their all-sufficient light.
And the happiness will know no change or impurity. No people on earth are all righteous; but there are no mixtures in heaven. They will be wholly righteous. The spirits of just men will there be made perfect. The glory of the church will be to the honour of God. When it is 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 postponed; 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.
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