Study Questions:
1. When was the last time you felt God in a sunrise and experienced how the darkness fled from your heart? (Isaiah 60:1-2)
2. Once you experience God’s light, surrender to His will for your life, and receive His blessings, are you willing to be His ambassador to others? (Isaiah 61:1-3)
3. Write in your journal how you would like to do this and include the name of someone to whom you can show God’s light.
Commentary and Reflection:
It is beautiful to witness a sunrise. Its brilliant hues of orange, red, yellow, and blue create a sense of awe and wonder. I feel small in the face of its majesty and grandeur. In 2010, my family began a tradition of waking up before dawn on the first day of the year. This started while we lived in Georgia. On January 1, 2010, we woke up early and drove about 45 minutes to climb Stone Mountain. We began the hike around 5 a.m., well bundled up because it was cold at the top. But we felt it was all worth it when we saw the sun rise. We remained silent and asked for God’s blessing for the new year. Since that day, we have continued this tradition, even now that we live in Florida. Here, we go to the beach and enjoy the incredible sunrise. Oh, and by the way, there’s only one person in the family brave enough (or maybe a little crazy) to dive into the cold waters of Ponce Inlet.
Why mention the sunrise in connection with today’s chapters, Isaiah 60 and 61? The people of Israel needed to be reminded once again of whom they belonged to. The word “remember” appears in the Bible over 8,600 times. In theological studies, we learn that when a word is repeated more than twice in Scripture, it means it is essential to God, especially when it relates to our origins, existence, and spiritual growth. This is the reminder and message that the prophet and poet Isaiah brings. From the very first verse of chapter 60, Isaiah declares:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, ESV).
In the final verse of chapter 61, he states:
“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11, ESV).
God wanted the people of Israel to remember to whom they belonged and that tomorrow would be a better day.
The Andrews Bible Commentary titles this section of Isaiah, “The Glory of the Restored Covenant Community” (p. 892). Restoration begins with recognizing the sovereignty, majesty, and glory of God:
“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” (Isaiah 60:2, ESV).
“…for I will beautify you” (v. 9, ESV).
“You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (v. 16, ESV).
Faith and hope are grounded in the knowledge of God’s constant presence. The source of all our joy, happiness, peace, and success lies in accepting God and surrendering to His will for our lives.
As a result of submitting to God’s will, the fruits we bear will naturally manifest. These fruits will be visible to all, to every person we encounter. Isaiah describes this beautifully:
“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. 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” (Isaiah 60:21-22, ESV).
This idea continues in chapter 61, affirming:
“Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed” (Isaiah 61:7, 9, ESV).
Praise the Lord for the hope we find in Jesus and for the promise that tomorrow will be a better day! Thank You, Jesus, because tomorrow the sun will rise again, and we will witness Your glory and majesty.
