Isaiah 60
A lovely contrast is afforded in this chapter with the one we have just been studying. Chapter 59 turned the light of God's truth on man, and particularly the Israelites, revealing a state beyond remedy at the end of the present day of grace with which the Lord Jesus will deal at His appearing.
Chapter 60 shows us the Jerusalem that will be when the outpouring of judgment on the living is over, and the world is no longer the scene of Satan's power.
We are again reminded that the world will not be converted to God through the preaching of the gospel,
"For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples" (verse 2).
This is at the climax of the world's boasted progress. Telephone, telegraph, steam and electric power, the gasoline motor, the radio, the air plane, and countless other inventions have been contributed to our day, but God has not the place in human planning that He had even a few years ago. We are hastening to the end of the day of grace.
There will be no rivalry of cities or of nations, then; Jerusalem will be the central city, the metropolis of the whole earth. And the nations shall walk in her light, and kings by the brightness of her rising.
From far off lands the sons and daughters of Israel will come, no longer content to live anywhere that they can make money. To the land of Israel, the "abundance of the sea" shall be turned, and the wealth of the nations by land and sea. Not unwillingly will gifts be brought: the carriers shall "publish the praises of Jehovah." May that day soon come!
"Midian" is the Arabs; Sheba's position is not so easily found; Kedar and Nebaioth are Ishmaelites. "Tarshish" is another locality which has not been identified. It was to that place that the ship on which Jonah sailed from Joppa was bound, but whether this was, as some think, a port of Spain, or somewhere south or southeast, cannot now be determined. The ships of Tarshish are mentioned in 1 Kings 10:2222For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (1 Kings 10:22) and 22:48; 2 Chiron. 20:36, 37 and Psa. 48:77Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. (Psalm 48:7).
After all, the "ships of Tarshish" (verse 9) may be a term to symbolize the principal shipping lines of the world. Whatever it may mean, it is clear that many ships will be called upon to bring Israel's sons, their silver and their gold, to the land of their fathers and to Jerusalem (verse 9).
What a change is in early prospect for Jerusalem and the Holy Land! (verses 11-21). The glory of Jehovah will so mark the city, that the sun and the moon will riot be looked on as the sources of light.
"Jehovah shall he thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous."
Messages of God’s Love 5/20/1934