1. Who is the "you"/"your" being spoken of in this chapter? Give verse.
Jerusalem (v1)
Your people will live right and always own the land; they are the trees I planted to bring praise to me. (v21)
2. Compare Isaiah 60 with Revelation 21, listing passages that contain parallel thoughts.
A. God's presence with his people is woven through both these passages:
Isa 60:13 Wood from Lebanon's best trees....It will be used in my temple to make beautiful the place where I rest my feet
Rev 21:3 I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people.
B. God is their source of light in both:
Isa 60:19 You won't need the light of the sun or the moon. I, the LORD your God, will be your eternal light and bring you honor.
Rev 21:23 And the city did not need the sun or the moon. The glory of God was shining on it, and the Lamb was its light.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
C. Both are "city" centric:
Isa 60:1 Jerusalem, stand up! Shine! Your new day is dawning. The glory of the LORD shines brightly on you.
Rev 21:2 Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.
D. Nations and Kings coming to the city and honoring God are involved:
Isa 60:3 Nations and kings will come to the light of your dawning day.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
E. Riches and treasures are brought to this city:
Isaiah 60:5-6--Treasures from across the sea and the wealth of nations will be brought to you. Your country will be covered with caravans of young camels from Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and spices in praise of me, the LORD.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
F. The city's gates will be open day and night:
Isa 60:11 Your gates will be open day and night to let the rulers of nations lead their people to you with all their treasures.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
Rev 21:25 Its gates are always open during the day, and night never comes.
G. It's an exclusive city:
Isa 60:12 Any nation or kingdom that refuses to serve you will be wiped out.
Rev 21:27 But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city.
H. The city will be known for its justice and peace:
Isa 60:18 Violence, destruction, and ruin will never again be heard of within your borders. "Victory" will be the name you give to your walls; "Praise" will be the name you give to your gates.
Rev 21:27 But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city.
Day Four: Read Isaiah 61-62
1. Read Isaiah 61:1-2 with Luke 4:16-22
Luke--Jesus comes to Nazareth and upon the Sabbath reads in the temple.
a. Why did Christ stop His reading of Isaiah 61 at "the LORD's favor" (v 2a) instead of continuing?
BKC: "When Jesus read from this passage He stopped in the middle of the sentence, after the word “favor” (Luk_4:18-19). By doing this He was showing that His work would be divided into two advents. In His First Advent He did the things mentioned in Isa_61:1-2; in His Second Advent He will do the things in Isa_61:2-3."
b. What was Christ's mission at that point (See John 3:16,17; 5:22-29 for help with your answer)?
To draw people to believe in Him so they might have everlasting life.
c. What did Christ tell His listeners in regard to the passage He had just read? Give verse.
That it was fulfilled this day.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
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There is care and comfort in this image of God clothing his people properly:
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
This is especially true in contrast with the earlier image of the evil trying to clothe themselves:
(Isa 59:6 KJV) 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.
One takeaway---let God do the clothing or the effort is futile.
2. From Isaiah 62
BKC on the significance of names:
a. What are the "old names" by which Jerusalem/Zion has been called? forsaken, desolate (v4)
b. What will be her new names?
Isaiah 62:3, "...and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
Isaiah 62:4, "Thou shall be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah."
Hephzibah (for Palestine)--"my delight is in her"
Beulah--to master, to marry
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:12, "And they shall call them, The holy people, (sacred, a holy place or thing) The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, (to seek or pursue, ask, question) A city not forsaken."
3. What are God's appointed watchmen to do? WE are appointed to speak, "never be silent" until He comes back and establishes His kingdom. We are to remember or recall Him and His works.
From Andrew MacLaren:
On another point--the necessity of prayer:
Isa 62:6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest,
Isa 62:7 and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
E. Riches and treasures are brought to this city:
Isaiah 60:5-6--Treasures from across the sea and the wealth of nations will be brought to you. Your country will be covered with caravans of young camels from Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and spices in praise of me, the LORD.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
F. The city's gates will be open day and night:
Isa 60:11 Your gates will be open day and night to let the rulers of nations lead their people to you with all their treasures.
Rev 21:24 Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there.
Rev 21:25 Its gates are always open during the day, and night never comes.
G. It's an exclusive city:
Isa 60:12 Any nation or kingdom that refuses to serve you will be wiped out.
Rev 21:27 But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city.
H. The city will be known for its justice and peace:
Isa 60:18 Violence, destruction, and ruin will never again be heard of within your borders. "Victory" will be the name you give to your walls; "Praise" will be the name you give to your gates.
Rev 21:27 But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city.
Day Four: Read Isaiah 61-62
Luke--Jesus comes to Nazareth and upon the Sabbath reads in the temple.
a. Why did Christ stop His reading of Isaiah 61 at "the LORD's favor" (v 2a) instead of continuing?
BKC: "When Jesus read from this passage He stopped in the middle of the sentence, after the word “favor” (Luk_4:18-19). By doing this He was showing that His work would be divided into two advents. In His First Advent He did the things mentioned in Isa_61:1-2; in His Second Advent He will do the things in Isa_61:2-3."
b. What was Christ's mission at that point (See John 3:16,17; 5:22-29 for help with your answer)?
To draw people to believe in Him so they might have everlasting life.
c. What did Christ tell His listeners in regard to the passage He had just read? Give verse.
That it was fulfilled this day.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
There is care and comfort in this image of God clothing his people properly:
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
This is especially true in contrast with the earlier image of the evil trying to clothe themselves:
(Isa 59:6 KJV) 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.
One takeaway---let God do the clothing or the effort is futile.
2. From Isaiah 62
BKC on the significance of names:
"In the ancient Near East names often signified one’s anticipated or present character. So Jerusalem’s having a new name means it will have a new righteous character. Like a crown or diadem (a large metal ring worn on the head) adorning one’s head so Jerusalem will be an adornment to the Lord. She will display His splendor, that is, her inhabitants will manifest His character in their conduct."
a. What are the "old names" by which Jerusalem/Zion has been called? forsaken, desolate (v4)
b. What will be her new names?
Isaiah 62:3, "...and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
Isaiah 62:4, "Thou shall be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah."
Hephzibah (for Palestine)--"my delight is in her"
Beulah--to master, to marry
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:12, "And they shall call them, The holy people, (sacred, a holy place or thing) The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, (to seek or pursue, ask, question) A city not forsaken."
3. What are God's appointed watchmen to do? WE are appointed to speak, "never be silent" until He comes back and establishes His kingdom. We are to remember or recall Him and His works.
From Andrew MacLaren:
There is distinctly traceable before a reference to a two-fold form of occupation devolving on these Christ-sent servants. They are watchmen, and they are also God’s remembrancers. In the one capacity as in the other, their voices are to be always heard.
"The second point to be noticed is the remarkable parallelism in the expressions selected as the text: ‘I will not hold My peace’; the watchmen ‘shall never hold their peace.’ And His command to them is literally, ‘Ye that remind Jehovah-no rest (or silence) to you, and give not rest to Him.’So we have here Christ, the Church, and God all represented as unceasingly occupied in the one great work of establishing ‘Zion’ as the centre of light, salvation, and righteousness for the whole world."
We are too apt to regard our Lord’s real work as all lying in the past, and, from the very greatness of our estimate of what He has done, to forget the true importance of what He evermore does....So we have not only to look back to the Cross, but up to the Throne. From the Cross we hear a voice, ‘It is finished.’ From the Throne a voice, ‘For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest.’
On another point--the necessity of prayer:
Isa 62:6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest,
Isa 62:7 and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
The BKC comments:
The “watchmen” were to hold God to His promises, knowing that is what He desires. God’s people should pray for things even when they know God has promised them. Jesus made this clear when He taught His disciples to pray that the kingdom will come (Mat_6:10).And Andrew MacLaren:
Our voices should ever be heard in heaven. They who trust God remind Him of His promises by their very faith; it is a mute appeal to His faithful love, which He cannot but answer. And, beyond that, their prayers come up for a memorial before God, and have as real an effect in furthering Christ’s kingdom on earth as is exercised by their entreaties and proclamations to men.
My thoughts:
One of God's great mysteries is the way that He asks us to participate in His work in ways that don't seem logical chronologically to us. Here we are asked to pray for his coming kingdom even though it is inevitable. If He knows it and has done it, why are we asked to pray and look for it?
The line between fate, providential will, or whatever you term it, and our involvement in that process is mysterious. It's clear we have a role though in the realization of His kingdom even though this strikes us as illogical---we are not passive pawns. My thought is the God, being outside of time, is able to understand dimensions of chronology fate and free will that we are not capable of discerning. I do think we will be given full understanding someday.
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