December 5, 2024 - Arise, Shine

 Arise, Shine

Thursday, December 5, 2024

by: Donna Taylor

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

      and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

      and thick darkness is over the peoples,

      but the LORD rises upon you

      and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

      and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

      your sons come from afar,

      and your daughters are carried on the hip.

Then you will look and be radiant,

      your heart will throb and swell with joy;

      the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

      to you the riches of the nations will come.

Isaiah 60:1-5 

To appreciate Isaiah chapter 60 it helps to have a bit of context. The author and date of this passage is uncertain. Some scholars ascribe Isaiah chapters 55-66 to a 3rd Isaiah. Others believe these chapters result from a collection made up of material from various persons or groups and from various dates.  Even so, a case can be made that our text refers to the period of 540-500 BC. During this time, Israel was captive in Babylon. Persia conquered Babylon in 539, after which the Persian king Cyrus authorized the displaced Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Our reading begins with Isaiah issuing a command to the remnant of God's people in Jerusalem: Arise, shine. Why? Because God's glory is rising upon them. The whole world is presently full of darkness, and darkness is over the peoples (note the plural). God is taking action, rising upon His people and making His glory appear over them. God goes on to say that nations and kings will come to their brightness, to the irresistible light shining from God's people. How amazing! In the future, this remnant of weak, once subjugated refugees will attract others to themselves. Not as a missional invitation or in a coercive manner. Rather, because the glory, the righteousness of God is shining through them.

God then announces that two past wrongs will be made right. First, their sons will be returned from afar and their daughters will be carried home, making their faces radiant and their hearts throb and swell for joy.  Second, wealth from the seas and riches from the nations will be brought to them. 

In these verses is God simply telling his people that better days are ahead—restoration and reparations—after a long captivity? Is the prophet foretelling a time when those who have been cast out or sent away will be welcomed back to the very center of God's action and presence? Does Isaiah hint at a Messiah who will come and be a light to all nations?

Perhaps God longs for a light to shine out from God's people with power that cannot be ignored.

God of all ages, 

amaze your people once again. 

By your Holy Spirit, set our hearts ablaze 

with the light of your love, 

A light that is so strong, so attractive, 

others will be drawn to worship you. 

Amen