Isaiah 60

Isaiah 60:9-14

The vigil outset of the gospel church is the subject of this chapter, in which it is promised. 1. That the church shall be enlightened, ver. 1, 2. 2. That it should be greatly enlarged, ver. 3-8. 3. That the new concerts should be very favourable to it, ver. 9-13. 4. That it should be in great honour and repute among men, ver. 14-16. 5. That it should enjoy a profound peace and tranquillity, ver. 17, 18. 6. That the members of it being all righteous, the glory and joy of it shall be everlasting, ver. 19-22.

1. A RISE, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightneils of thy rising.

4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see; all they gather themselves together, they come to thee, thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

5. Then thou shalt be and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

6. The multitude of camels shall cover thee: the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah: all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

7. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the name of Nebaoth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine alar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

8. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

Vol. II.

9. 1-8. The glory and increase of the church of Christ are here beautifully represented.

10. Great light and glory are beftowed on her: Aish, shine, for thy light is come, the light of the gospel illuminating a banished world, wakening up sinners from the deep of spiritual death, and turning their misery into joy and gladness; for the glory of the Lord it rises upon thee, Christ, the sun of righteousness, with healing in his wings, manifesting, in the most transcendent manner, the glory of God, in the pardon and salvation of his people. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: either when this light should break forth it would be the more welcome and surprise, because of the darkness, ignorance, idolatry, and superstition, which every where prevailed, or it breaks the diffroquishing privilege of those to whom the gospel was preached, who, like Israel in Godson, had light in their dwellings, whilst the rest of the world, to whom it hath not come, or who have rejected it, are like the land of Egypt, covered with darkness that may be felt: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee, as it reiled on the tabernacle in the pillar of a cloud and fire, not only protecting his church lately, but making her appear beautiful and glorious, the joy of the whole earth. Note, (1.) Without the light of the gospel, the highest attainment of human wisdom are but daily and darkness. (2.) They who have seen Christ arising upon their souls in his glory, are bound to shine to his youth, and let their light appear before men, that they may take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus.

11. A great increase of the church is promised. Allured by the gospel word, and struck with the bright examples of believers, the Gentiles shall become converts, and how down before Christ the Sun of Righteousness, v. 3. On every side behold, they flock together, as children to their parents, to be married with the sincere milk of the word. See Acts xi. 5. With pleasing surprise the church will behold this strange accession, and in a transport of joy receive the multitude of monsters, and around of Gentile soldiers, that among others shall be converted unto the truth, v. 5. From Midian and Ephah they shall come in vast companies, riding on camels and dromedaries. From Sheba they shall bring gold and incense. See Matt. ii. 11. and show forth the praises of the Lord, for his mercy in calling them to himself. v. 6. The inhabitants of Kedar and Nebaoth, in Arabia, whose riches chiefly confided in their flocks, shall offer themselves and their substance up to God, and through Christ their spiritual sacrifices shall be accepted, and God glorified in their conversion, v. 7. As a cloud before the wind, and as the doves flying to their windows, to thick, unanimous, openly, and eagerly, shall the Gentiles hasten into the church of God, whilst with wonder and delight, the faithful welcome them to their rest. Note, (1.) When our souls, like the doves, are weary with wandering, or purified by our spiritual enemies, as birds of prey, we must fly to Christ for shelter, and under the shadow of his wings shall be safe, and find a pleasing retinence. (2.) It is among the chief delights of a soul that loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, to behold his kingdom established, and many converted unto him.

12. Surely the idles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarbhith fish, to bring thy sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God: and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10. And the Son of Strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually, they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their Kings may be brought. 12. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall perish: yea, thofe nations shall be utterly wafted. 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14. The sons also 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 the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

The same subject is here pursued as in the foregoing verses.

1. The church shall gain vast accessions of strength and wealth. The distant idles shall wait for, and welcome the survivor; the ships of Tarbhith readily convey the sons of God to Zion, the spiritual church, with all their riches, willingly offering themselves, and all they have, to be employed in his blessed service, as the grateful return for the grace and glory he

hath bestowed upon them, v. 9. The sons of Brangers, such as were the Gentile nations, shall now greatly contribute to build up the church, and kings minister in the blessed work; as when Constantine, and other Christian emperors and kings, espoused the cause of truth, and as will be more eminently the case in the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of the days of

2. Many of the enemies of the church shall become converts. Those who despised and afflicted the people of God shall be brought in deep humiliation to acknowledge their sin, and highly respect those they before inflicted and abused, v. 14. Thus the sufferings of the martyrs often confounded their peritentiary; and many who have with bitter enmity opposed the gospel, have been at last convinced by the word, and joined the people they had before evaded. And this will be more especially the case in the expected day of power and grace, when many papilla, pagans, and Mahometans, will be turned from darkness unto light, and make open profession of the gospel.

3. The gates of the church are open night and day continually; all are welcome to enter, and multitudes are daily coming in of all ranks and degrees: and this denotes the security in which they dwell, for none can disturb their reports, v. 11. Note, The gate of mercy in Christ is ever open, and sinners of every rank and degree are sure of admission into the city of God, whenever in faith and prayer they return to him.

4. Those who obstinately refute the proffers of grace, and perish in their impenitence, must rise for it. They will perish, and be utterly wafted, be they never so many, never so mighty, v. 12. Note, They who bow not before the calls of grace, must be broken under the iron rod of vengeance, 2 Thess. 1. 8.