PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 59-60
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:3)
To get these words, we have to recall the context in which they were spoken.
Israel was a mess, of the 12 tribes only ‘the Jews’ (Judah) remained.
The glory days of the past were a dream, God’s promise to David seemed lost.
Yet Isaiah dreams of a day when God will set everything straight for Israel.
Oppression, violence, abuse, enslavement, injustice, crime will all end.
God’s people will shine like a bright light, and others will be drawn to them.
The day is coming when everyone will want to be a part of God’s family.
Everyone will desire God’s kingdom of love, joy, peace, etc.
Right now that seems a dream too, people are not eagerly coming to church.
Maybe in part because the church doesn’t shine so well (59:9-10).
But when Jesus followers shine with the love of Jesus, people are drawn in.
God still promises a day when people will see the light, and come to it.
In order to see this dream come true, we need to start living the dream.
As we shine with love, joy, peace, etc, Jesus is attracting people to God!
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see that I can help or hinder making your kingdom attractive to others. Let there be love, joy and peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
This passage begins with God hiding His face from his errant people – the opposite of the priestly blessing: the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace – so there is no peace. God is displeased “that there was no justice.16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.” And passage ends with pictures of what God promises to do – pictures of peace, prosperity and joy! It ends with this commitment: “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” With what is happening now in Ukraine – it can’t come quickly enough. Yet we must stand up for justice and openly love – so much so that the aggressor to will strive for peace and give up arms! Praying that the soldiers will break ranks and not kill any more! We want peace – as does our Lord!
Each day I greet the Lord for the new day and new opportunities. Each day I need to clothe myself with the full armour of God. When I do this I will be able to stand. The wrong oft seems so strong but God is the Ruler yet. I need to walk in His SonShine each day and look upon Him for my strength. Then others will see whose I am and may also be drawn to the Light. May I daily see the work of His hand.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!