Welcome to Week 10 in our study from the book of Isaiah and to Isaiah chapter 60, which is a look into the future (even our future!) at the Messianic kingdom. How far into the future? Well, it was on the mind of the disciples as Jesus was ascending to heaven and Jesus answered the question with these, his last words spoken on earth.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:6-8
This chapter isn’t just prophecy, it’s also poetry, and that can make it difficult to understand at times. You probably don’t think “being covered in camels” is a sign of prosperity but the people in Isaiah’s day certainly did. If some of the wording seems unusual to you, therefore, you are not alone. A more dynamic translation, such as the Christian Standard Bible or the New International Version, may help you out this week.
Let’s get started and examine “Five Things the Messianic Kingdom Brings to an End.”
My wife Tracy has shared her wisdom once again in this week’s guided prayers.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
Spiritual Darkness
Observe
Our chapter begins with the prophet reminding us of a sad truth. Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness covers the peoples of the earth.
Isaiah 60:1-3
The Future Glory of Israel
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Ephesians 5:8
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:14
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Philippians 2:15
15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
The source of light here is the Lord. As is almost always the case with passages like this, we are reflecting the light that comes from God. This reflected light will be so bright that it will dispel the darkness that covers the earth and attract its residents to the city of God. There are different interpretations of where we Gentile believers in the New Testament era fit in this verse. Some say that this passage is speaking to Jerusalem and the light of God will shine forth first through the redeemed of Israel, and attract the redeemed of all the Gentile nations (that’d be us!). Others say that this is the New Jerusalem, spiritual Israel, and we are included in reflecting God’s light to the nations. The redeemed who then come are new believers, who respond when that light pierces the darkness they’re presently under. Whichever you accept, the point is the same: God’s light will be so bright that it dispels spiritual darkness.
- Where have you seen this light vs. dark conflict play out? Do you see spiritual darkness keeping people away from God?
- Perhaps not on a global scale as this prophecy describes, but the light of God does break through spiritual darkness today. How did God’s light reach you? How have you seen it reach others?
Heavenly Father, The darkness around me can feel overwhelming. Then I realize that my own heart is sometimes dark also. Lord, lift this darkness. Open my eyes to the brightness of your light, the rightness of your ways and the fullness of your mercy. I pray that those around me will see your light in me, and that I won’t get in the way of their seeing you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Day 2
Lack of Resources
Observe
The prophet urges us to lift up our eyes and see, as an abundance of wealth and provision are brought to the city of God by grateful nations.
Isaiah 60:4-7
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Matthew 6:19-21
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This influx of people will bring with them offerings to Yahweh, so much that they can scarce be counted. This infusion of wealth into the city of God means there will be no more lack of resources, poverty will not exist. Whatever is needed to make the house of the Lord beautiful will be immediately on hand. It is tempting to view such a prophecy with skepticism because we imagine what greedy humanity might do with unlimited resources, but this is the Messianic kingdom. Those numbered among its citizens are the redeemed for whom Christ died and neither corruption nor greed will have any place in them.
- Why do you think people become so obsessed with the provision for their material needs?
- How do you imagine it will be to live in a world where you never have to give any thought to wealth or material provision?
Dear Lord, I confess that my memory of your provision in my life is so short. You provide my needs over and over, yet I become fearful at each turn. Thank you for this promise of fullness in your kingdom. I pray that I will remember your faithfulness, that you love and care for my family more fully than I could ever care for them with the effort of my own hands, and that I will open my hands in generosity. Amen.
Day 3
Disunity and Division
Observe
The prophet describes a city that never closes, with gates open day and night, because people from all over the world are continually coming into it.
Isaiah 60:8-14
8 Who are these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?
9 For the coastlands shall hope for me,
the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
for the name of the Lord your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has made you beautiful.
10 Foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom
that will not serve you shall perish;
those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons of those who afflicted you
shall come bending low to you,
and all who despised you
shall bow down at your feet;
they shall call you the City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Matthew 12:25
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
1 Corinthians 1:10-14
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
The world that the people of Jerusalem knew was certainly nothing like this! In their world, foreigners didn’t undertake construction projects on their behalf and you closed the gates tight every night, to protect your residents. The Messianic kingdom will reverse this completely. There will be no more us vs. them, no more conflict between nations. The entire world will be unified around this new king and kingdom; the nations will do willingly that which no one could compel them to do before. Although it’s fairly long to reproduce here, this passage from The Prayer of the Lord by R.C. Sproul is too good not to share.
In 1990, I was invited into Eastern Europe to do a series of lectures in three countries, first in Czechoslovakia, then in Hungary, and finally in Romania. As we were leaving Hungary, we were warned that the border guards in Romania were quite hostile to Americans and that we should be prepared to be hassled and possibly even arrested at the border.
Sure enough, when our rickety train reached the border of Romania, two guards got on. They couldn’t speak English, but they pointed for our passports, then pointed to our luggage. They wanted us to bring our bags down from the luggage rack and open them up, and they were very brusque and rude. Then, suddenly, their boss appeared, a burly officer who spoke some broken English. He noticed that one of the women in our group had a paper bag in her lap, and there was something peeking out of it. The officer said: “What this? What in bag?” Then he opened the bag and pulled out a Bible. I thought, “Uh-oh, now we’re in trouble.” The officer began leafing through the Bible, looking over the pages very rapidly. Then he stopped and looked at me. I was holding my American passport, and he said, “You no American.” And he looked at Vesta and said, “You no American.” He said the same thing to the others in our group. But then he smiled and said, “I am not Romanian.”
By now we were quite confused, but he pointed at the text, gave it to me, and said, “Read what it says.” I looked at it and it said, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20a). The guard was a Christian. He turned to his subordinates and said: “Let these people alone. They’re OK. They’re Christians.” As you can imagine, I said, “Thank you, Lord.” This man understood something about the kingdom of God—that our first place of citizenship is in the kingdom of God.
- It’s time for an honesty check. Can you truthfully say that you consider your first place of citizenship to be the kingdom of God?
- How does such a consideration manifest itself in your life? What is different about you because of it?
Father God, How I long for your kingdom, a peaceful world. Make it so, Lord! But I confess that I would at times choose to close the gate to your city; I would draw a line between “us” and “them” and choose allegiance to something other than your kingdom. Forgive me Lord, and let me see the people around me as people that you love. Align my allegiance to you and your kingdom. Amen.
Day 4
Failure and Sorrow
Observe
The prophet assures the citizens of this new city that there will be success where there had been failure.
Isaiah 60:15-16
15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one passing through,
I will make you majestic forever,
a joy from age to age.
16 You shall suck the milk of nations;
you shall nurse at the breast of kings;
and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Revelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Jerusalem in the Old Testament era was never a major city. Even when Israel’s influence was at its peak and the kingdom had expanded to its largest size, the actual city of Jerusalem did not dramatically increase in size. It wasn’t a port city, it wasn’t on major trade routes, quite frankly it was a provincial capital. Its importance and its resistance to being conquered came from its God, not its size or strength. But this is a new city (yesterday we read in verse 14 that this would be called the City of the Lord). This city will be cared for by the world as an infant is cared for by its mother (hence the rather awkward bit about sucking the milk of nations and nursing at the breasts of kings). In the Messianic kingdom, there will be no more situations in which we don’t measure up.
- In ten words or less, describe yourself.
- How do you think that self-description will change in the Messianic kingdom we’re describing?
Dear Lord, Your kingdom will be a world with no failure, no rejection, no disappointment and no suffering. It is so hard to imagine, yet it is your promise. I pray that you will reform me for your kingdom even now. Turn my memories of sorrow into joy because of your salvation. Turn my stories of failure into recollections of your comfort and hope. Draw me to your word daily for nourishment and strength. Amen.
Day 5
Violence and Destruction
Observe
The final thing the Messianic kingdom will bring to an end is violence and destruction. (Good riddance!)
Isaiah 60:17-22
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace
and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it.
Psalm 11:5
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Proverbs 10:11
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
James 1:20
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 3:10
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
The prophet closes this chapter with a description of a world without violence, destruction, or devastation. One in which the overwhelming characteristics will be salvation and praise! It’s hard to even imagine such a place. You can’t turn on a smartphone or a television without being flooded with descriptions of people being horrid to one another or some disaster in which lives are lost and homes are destroyed. The Messianic kingdom will have none of that. On every side will be knowledge of God’s salvation and the result will be unending praise.
- We’ve been talking about a future Messianic kingdom, but where is the kingdom of God right now?
- What should the citizens of the kingdom of God today do when they encounter violence or destruction?
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this glorious picture. The instruments of war and oppression will be replaced with treasures used in your praise. Leaders who govern with violence will instead rule with righteousness, but only by your hand. Only you, in righteousness, can change the hearts of men and women and bring this kingdom, so make my heart your kingdom, Lord. Teach me to act with righteousness. Help me to reject oppression and choose peace. Lift my voice in praise to you. Amen.