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Is. 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 

Is. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

The wording of this verse declares that the people cannot get beyond God’s ability to intervene on their behalf.  They have prided themselves for so long in being God’s chosen people that they think their actions have no bearing on all the rights and privileges that are connected with that relationship.  They have not made any connection with their wickedness and rebellion against Him to the fact that God is not answering their prayers.

This is such a needed message to the church today specifically and our nation in general.  The scripture is clear that God’s response to our prayers is directly connected to our heart attitude before and obedience to Him.  Our actions impact whether or not God “hears” us.  The Hebrew for hear implies hearing intelligently and responding positively.

Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 

1John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us….

Is. 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

The poetic prophet continues to declare the sin of the people.  He is not worried about being politically correct.  He is concerned about declaring the truth and bringing the people to a position of repentance before the LORD.  Oh that those who claim to be His messengers were so bold and concerned today.  I am truly sickened to see men who claim to love the LORD and who serve as shepherds to the flock today be so wishy washy and cowardly when it comes to standing up for God’s truth according to His word.  They are so afraid of alienating people by identifying sin.  Because of that there will be many who will never recognize that they can have a better life and overcome that sin through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.  All of us as God’s children need to have that same mindset, but those who have been called to shepherd the flock carry greater responsibility.  This reminds me of the warning God gave to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 33:6-9 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.  When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Is. 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 

The prophet moves from actions and words against others to apathy and unconcern for the well-being of others.  Sin is a result of not doing what is right as much as doing what is wrong.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

The last half of this verse seems to tie directly to the preceding verse.  It would seem that their lies are consistent with their trust in vanity (a worthless thing)—idols.  The actions they conceive and carry out are consistent with appeasing those false gods.   

Is. 59:5 They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. 

Is. 59:6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 

I liked the wording of the NLT for verse 5: “They spend their time and energy spinning evil plans that end up in deadly actions.”

Nothing about their actions results in good.  Instead of righteous garments, these workers of evil and wickedness are covered in garments of their own making.  Like a spider’s web, these garments are useless for any other purpose than to facilitate their evil actions and to ensnare or trap other people to join their wickedness. 

Is. 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Isaiah continues to declare the wickedness of the people.  When I read this verse, the first connection my mind made was to Proverbs.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

The people of Israel had no excuse.  They were given the oracles of God to know what was right and wrong, to know what was acceptable to Him and what was not.

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? …. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Is. 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 

The first thing I thought about in this verse was that all God’s paths are associated with being straight.  

Psalm 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Proverbs 4:25-27 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Crooked paths are associated with wickedness and evil.

Proverbs 2:12-15 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

Again, back to Romans 3, the apostle Paul seems to be referencing this section.

Romans 3:12-17 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known….

Then in verse 18 he gives the root cause of the problem.

Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

To act in direct rebellion to the revealed will and command of God is evidence that you have no fear of God.  If we truly feared God, it would be reflected in how we live.  We have been so conditioned in the church today to think of God as our Father and Jesus as our Savior and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, that we have lost a healthy “fear” of the LORD.  Without that fear, we will never make wise choices.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

In the last phrase of this verse, Isaiah hammers home a point, a truth he has made at least twice before in this book.

Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. 

Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Is. 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 

“Therefore” – Because of all the wickedness and evil that predominates my people and because they do not fear God…

Isaiah seems to be speaking as representative of the people at this point.  He is drawing the conclusion for them to be certain that they understand.  This builds on the thoughts from the last verse regarding our inability to do what is right without a healthy “fear” of the LORD.  In our natural sinful self, we will never be able to make truly righteous judgments.  Our judgment will always be based on personal beliefs and circumstances that determine what we deem to be “right” rather than on God’s unchanging righteousness that is no respecter of persons.  Light and brightness are associated with the things of God, while obscurity and darkness represent wickedness and evil.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not….

Is. 59:10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. 

This is obviously talking about spiritual blindness.  Instead of living an abundant life in submission and obedience to Him, God’s people were living as those with no hope, those “who were dead in their trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

Is. 59:11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. 

I thought it interesting that the Hebrew for roar referenced “moan and mourn” as well as making a loud uproar.  This would fit more in with Isaiah’s poetic style of writing.  The point being that rebellion from God has resulted in a time of great trouble for the nation, a time of mourning and moaning with sorrow—a time when they have caused God to remove His protective hand and use that hand for judgment and correction.

Is. 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; 

Is. 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 

Is. 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 

Is. 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 

One thing that jumped out at me as I was reading this section was how Isaiah identified with the sin of his people.  This seems to be the heart of a true intercessor as exampled by the prophets.  Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9 is another good example of this attitude of heart.  

Knowing that we are sinners and repenting of our sins are two different things.  Isaiah knows that the people cannot deny that they have openly rebelled against God, especially involving the public worship of idols.  Verses 13-15 seem to be a summary of those sins.

• “Transgressing and lying…away from our God” – The Hebrew for transgressing is a reference to rebellion, turning away from God as their LORD, their authority.  The rebellion and lies mentioned here are “against the LORD”—calling the truth a lie and accepting lies as truth.  The LORD is the embodiment of truth.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life….

Seems to speak loudly about what is happening in the “church” today.

• “speaking oppression and revolt” – This seems to emphasize the fact that they are trying to encourage others to follow them in their rebellion.  The Hebrew for oppression implies the use of torture to get unjust gain.  It seems that those in rebellion are abusing those who don’t choose to join with them.

• “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood” – Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.”  A person who has rebelled against God not only births lying thoughts, he is willing to share them with others usually resulting in wicked actions.

• “judgment is turned…standeth afar off” – Those who seek justice are not able to get it.  Getting justice seems to be impossible.

• “truth is fallen…truth faileth” – Truth and honesty are no longer common character traits among the people.  This seems to be the root cause that justice can’t be found.  Without truth and honesty, dispensation of justice is impossible.  The next phrase in verse 15 indicates that those who do stand for righteousness are subject to attack and becoming victims of those in rebellion to God and all that He represents.

YHWH knows everything that man does, but I believe He takes special note of the things done by those that are called by His name.  The honor of His name is important to Him.

Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

Is. 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. 

Is. 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. 

As I read these verses, I immediately thought of the Ephesians 6 passage on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God….  

Armor and weapons are not just about defense; they are needed for offense as well.  As the LORD watched His people, He was stunned/amazed that there was no one willing to step into the role of intercessor, one seeking reconciliation between parties—in this case YHWH and the people of Judah.  God’s plan will not be thwarted.  His people will be brought to their knees in repentance through judgment.  God shows Himself ready to exact vengeance/punishment as necessary to bring about His purposes.

I can’t help but think that God is just as amazed as He looks at America today.  I don’t think we are to the point of “no intercessor,” but I can’t help but wonder at the heart connection of the intercessors involved.  I make this statement based on my own prayers for my country.  It’s hard for me to have faith that true revival is possible when I see so much identifying us as being in the “end times” which are described in such a way as to make true revival seem impossible.  

LORD, increase my faith and give me a true burden for my people, my country.  In my head I know that “with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27); please help me move that faith to my heart.

His arm is representative of His power, which is unequalled.  His righteousness is the trait that allows Him to be stedfast and unmovable toward His purposes.  The fact that God is acting in vengeance and zeal/jealousy is directly in opposition to the unrighteousness of the people and in regard to the honor of His name.  

I think the point needs to be made that vengeance is the prerogative of God alone, and is therefore not included as part of the armor of the Christian.  All the armor and weapons of the Christian are provided as empowerment for defeating the attacks of the enemy as they work to serve God according to His will.  God’s armor, however, is a part of Him and is not dependent upon empowerment from another source; it represents His authority, power, and righteousness in judgment.

Is. 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. 

To whom is God’s vengeance and zeal directed?  To those who are His adversaries and enemies.  This would include those of His own people that have rebelled against Him.  He also holds accountable those from other lands who have contributed to the corruption of His people and have acted in total disregard of Him.  In this situation His vengeance and zeal will be exacted “according to their deeds”—not His mercy.  The Psalmist was well aware of the difference; he believed the truth stated by the writer of Hebrews.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 119:124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy….

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Is. 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. 

Is. 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

Especially beginning in verse 16, I can’t help but see foreshadowing of future fulfillment when Jesus Christ the Messiah comes as King.  At this point I think the message is one that is yet to be fulfilled.  The directions of east (rising of the sun) and west encompass the whole earth.  Though actions of mankind on this planet declare loudly that they have no fear of the LORD, the time is coming when that will change.  

“The enemy coming in like a flood” seems to be a reference to the armies of Antichrist at Armageddon.  

The Hebrew for standard reflects the idea of putting to flight.  This seems to fit better with the reading of the KJV.  The armies from east to west will be gathered against Him at Armageddon, and the appearance of the LORD will send them running—but in vain.  They will be destroyed with the sword from His mouth.

Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations….

It will be at this time that the Redeemer will come to Zion in response to the repentant people of Israel.  This is the time spoken of by the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 12:9-10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Is. 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

It is at that time that the Lord will establish a new covenant with the nation of Israel.  This is the covenant described by the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:31-37 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.  Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.  Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. 

Every time I read sections of scripture like this, I just don’t see how anyone can believe in replacement theology—that the church has replaced Israel regarding God’s covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Each has a special place in God’s plan for planet earth.

Is. 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

The context continues from the previous chapter.  The prophet’s words are addressed to the restored nation of Israel to whom the Messiah, the LORD, has come to rule as King.  

“Arise, shine” – This is a call to standing boldly and proudly in restored fellowship before the nations.  It is the attitude that we believers, those who have been forgiven and restored in fellowship to the LORD, should exhibit as we live before the unbelieving world today.  We have the glory of the Holy Spirit living in us and should strive to share the light of His truth in every possible way.

Is. 60:2 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. 

Prior to the return of Jesus, the Messiah, the darkness of wickedness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance and sorrow (all from the Hebrew) will cover the earth.  The Antichrist indwelt by Satan will be on the throne and all will seem lost.  The Hebrew for “gross darkness” indicates gloom with the idea of a heavy cloud having descended upon them.

All is not lost.  Upon Israel and Mount Zion (Jerusalem) the LORD will return with great glory and victory as well as great blessing for His people.  This reminds me of the following verses from Matthew.

Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Is. 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

The presence of the glory of God in the Messiah will attract the peoples, both small and great, from other nations.  The nation of Israel may be hated by the nations today, but the day is coming when she shall occupy the most honored position among nations.  Jerusalem may be a burdensome stone to the nations today, but she will be considered the jewel of the nations when the Messiah returns to her to rule as King of kings.

Is. 60:4 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. 

This verse, as well as many others, declares that the Jews will not return to Israel in totality until Jesus returns.  “Thy sons” and “thy daughters” are referencing Jews.  They will immigrate to Israel from all the nations to which they have been scattered.  They will finally be able to live in peace in the land of Israel without fear of the enemy and with confidence that they will never be driven from their land again.

Is. 60:5 Then thou shalt see, 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. 

“flow together” = sparkle, be cheerful

“fear” = stand in awe, make to shake

“forces” = whether of men, means or other resources….wealth, riches, substance

I like the wording of the CJB for this verse:  Then you will see and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with delight; for the riches of the seas will be brought to you, the wealth of nations will come to you.

Is. 60:6 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 shew forth the praises of the LORD. 

Is. 60:7 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. 

As I looked up these proper names, there was notable connection to the descendants of Ishmael.  Finally, Abraham’s children will live at peace with one another.  Ishmael’s descendants will no longer act with envy and hate toward their brethren; they will rejoice in the blessings of Israel and will want to bless them with their own wealth.  Verse 5 seems to emphasize wealth that would arrive in Israel by sea, while these verses speak of wealth coming by land.

There was a good observation by William MacDonald in the Believer’s Bible Commentary:  “Note that myrrh is missing in verse 6.  Myrrh speaks of suffering.  Christ’s atoning sufferings are finished forever.  At His Second Advent there will only be gold (glory) and incense (fragrance).”

Ezekiel is clear that there will be an active temple in the millennial kingdom.  All who come to sacrifice in thankfulness to, obedience to and appreciation of the King will be accepted.  The temple will finally function as the temple of God’s glory that it was meant to be.  God Himself will see to it.

Is. 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 

Is. 60:9 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, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 

These verses indicate that the number of people bringing gifts to the King and His people will be many.  Most importantly, they will be bringing the dispersed Jews home to Israel.  The isles and Tarshish are referencing far away lands in reference to Israel.  This verse makes it clear that it is YHWH, the God of Israel, who has established Israel in such an honored position.  

Is. 60:10 And the sons 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. 

This verse was a bit thought provoking.  The walls of the city are for protection.  Israel and her cities will need no protection with Jesus on the throne.  Maybe the thought is that the walls are representative of the cities.  The word wall comes from a root that means “to join.”  Maybe this means that the nations will join together in ensuring the well being of Israel and helping to rebuild her cities instead of treating her with abuse and disrespect as she has been throughout past centuries.  This would fit in well with the idea of ministering or giving service to Israel.

The fact that Israel has suffered so throughout the years is because the LORD has had His hand of judgment upon them.  With the coming of the Messiah, that time has ended; it will be God’s delight and pleasure to show them great mercy. 

Is. 60:11 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. 

Is. 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 

These verses affirm the security and protection that Messiah the King will provide His people.  There will be no need to shut the gates of the city.  In fact, the need will be for the gates to remain open in order to accommodate the numbers of people who will be bringing gifts to the King and His people.

Jesus will rule with complete authority.  His reign will be righteous and just.  His word will be law.  Part of that law will include obediently serving the King and His people.  Verse 12 states that those nations who do not choose to serve Israel and her King will not long survive.  The prophet Zechariah indicates that one of the penalties would include the withholding of rain.

Zechariah 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

Is. 60:13 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. 

Just as Solomon’s temple was known for its great beauty, so too will be the millennial temple.  The reference to the trees of Lebanon indicates that the best lumber will be part of that beauty.  We are so used to concrete and plaster, that we have forgotten how beautiful the building materials of nature can be.  “The place of my feet” is an affirmation that God is going to dwell with His people in the person of His Son.  With God as the master builder, the temple is assured of being the most glorious dwelling on earth.  “The place of my sanctuary” I think is a reference to the city of Jerusalem as a whole.  It will also benefit from the Master’s touch and will surely be the most glorious city on the face of the earth.

Is. 60:14 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 day is coming when all the former enemies of Israel will come with humility to Jerusalem in acknowledgement of their privileged position before the one true God, the God of Israel.

Is. 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 

This verse states the complete contrast of Jerusalem/Israel throughout its history, except for maybe the times of David and Solomon, and the time when Jesus comes to rule as King during the millennial kingdom.  A nation that has been tolerated at best and despised by so many will now become a majestic place of delight.  This will happen because of the work of the mighty hand of God.

Is. 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 

I like the wording of the NLT for this verse:  Powerful kings and mighty nations will bring the best of their goods to satisfy your every need. You will know at last that I, the LORD, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

The people of Israel will recognize that the change in the attitude of the nations toward them is a miracle of God.  They will know that YHWH is:

• their Savior – Avenger, Deliverer, Defender, Preserver

• their Redeemer – the One Who purchased their salvation with His own precious blood

• the mighty One of Jacob – This phrase identifies Him as the mighty God of Israel that delivered them from Egypt and brought them into the promised land according to His covenant with Abraham.

Is. 60:17 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. 

This is a statement of the wealth that Israel will possess.  Again, the material blessings and the relationship of peace with other nations remind me of what I have read of the days of King Solomon.  Added to the physical wealth and the security that will be theirs, God will also ensure that they are governed in righteousness.  They will never again have to fear being oppressed by unjust taskmasters.

Is. 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 

The Israel of the millennial kingdom will experience nothing of the violence and bloodshed that has been so much a part of her history. Again, I like the NLT for this verse:  Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.

I think it is interesting that Salvation and Praise are emphasized as defining the walls and gates, the defense and protection of the cities of Israel.  These are descriptive of the recognition of the Messiah by His people.

Is. 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

Is. 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 

Light and day are associated with goodness and righteousness; dark and night are associated with wickedness and unrighteousness.

Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

YHWH is going to dwell with His people in the person of His Son Jesus, the Messiah; therefore, they will never be in darkness or in fear of wickedness and unrighteousness.  I believe this goes beyond the millennial kingdom for the Jewish nation.  Paul tells us in Romans that “ALL Israel will be saved.”  

Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

I believe that all those Jews who enter the Messianic Kingdom as well as all of their progeny will never again rebel against God.  God Himself is going to see to that.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.   And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

That will not be true of the progeny of the Gentile believers that enter the Kingdom.  One of the great mysteries to me is that after living under the righteous rule of the Messiah for 1000 years, Satan will be able to gather an innumerable army for one more attack against the saints and their King with a special focus on Jerusalem.

Revelation 20:7-9 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

I think these verses look forward to the New Jerusalem that will be revealed after the Kingdom Age as described by the Revelator.

Revelation 21:23-26 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Is. 60:21 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. 

I believe this verse emphasizes the truth of my thoughts from the previous verses.  All the people of Israel will be righteous.  They will inherit the land forever (time without end).  

“the branch of my planting, the work of my hands” = the restoration of the believing remnant of Israel and the preservation and salvation of the nation from that point on.  This would never have happened without God’s miraculous intervention.  Why does He do this?  To bring glory to Himself—the only One worthy of glory and honor.  This is not a statement of arrogance and unhealthy pride; it is just and holy recognition of what is right.  It’s the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham and of the plan He established before creation. 

Genesis 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Is. 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

This seems to be a statement of the population explosion in Israel, as well as on the rest of planet earth, that will be a result of the nations living in peace under the righteous rule of the Messiah.  It will be a time of the greatest health for those on planet earth since the time of Eden.

The last phrase emphasizes that the happenings on planet earth are ultimately in YHWH’s control.  When the time is right according to His plan and purpose, events will happen quickly.  Time is an interesting commodity.  In the lifetime of a man, what seems so long is but a blink in the eye of God.  The church has been waiting for the return of the Messiah for almost 2000 years; the Jewish people have been waiting even longer since they did not recognize His first coming.  I think this last phrase could be a reference to the 70th week of Daniel, the time we know as the tribulation, which will encompass the last seven years of the age before Jesus comes back to earth to set up His throne.  In perspective, that will be quick even in human understanding.