ARISE, SHINE...!
Arise, Shine, For Thy Light Is Come, And The Glory Of The Lord Is Risen Upon Thee
Isaiah 60:1
Isaiah 60:1
Isaiah
chapter 60 is grouped together by the interpreters of the Bible with
chapters 40 to 66. They are collectively called the Book of Consolation.
The poetic prophecy of Isaiah 60, though as agreed by theologians would have its complete fulfillment during the Millennial reign, however, its messages were germane to the pathetic situation of the people in Jerusalem in the 6th Century.
This morning, God would love from the above texts, show us certain realities. The realities are aimed to make very important changes in our hearts and lives to enable God’s glorious light brightly shine in and through our lives to those around us.
I THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD
When the prophet Isaiah looks at the World he lives he sees so much darkness. (v.2). It was a dark darkness, a thick darkness, a darkness without the glory of the presence of God
To be in darkness means:
Not knowing God and the things of God. To be
ignorant of the divine things. Look up to the complain of Isaiah 1:3; Hosea 4:6). Because of ignorance of God and the things of God people fall into sin, error, and falsehood.
It also means to do shameful deeds of darkness such as: sexual immorality, impurity, greed, theft, obscenity, coarse joking, falsehood, slander, bitterness, rage , brawling, and malice. (Eph. 4: 25-5:12).
To be in darkness also means one wanting to do nothing with the light. See what John says at he beginning of the Gospel (John 1:5; 319).
The World lives in darkness. They want nothing to do with the light. The World fears the light because the light shows the darkness for what it is. Like that wealthy Chinese businessman, who smashed the microscope he bought from America for exposing the micro-organism in the rice he bought alongside, the same way, many people hate the gospel and would get rid of it because it
reveals their evil deeds.
The poetic prophecy of Isaiah 60, though as agreed by theologians would have its complete fulfillment during the Millennial reign, however, its messages were germane to the pathetic situation of the people in Jerusalem in the 6th Century.
This morning, God would love from the above texts, show us certain realities. The realities are aimed to make very important changes in our hearts and lives to enable God’s glorious light brightly shine in and through our lives to those around us.
I THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD
When the prophet Isaiah looks at the World he lives he sees so much darkness. (v.2). It was a dark darkness, a thick darkness, a darkness without the glory of the presence of God
To be in darkness means:
Not knowing God and the things of God. To be
ignorant of the divine things. Look up to the complain of Isaiah 1:3; Hosea 4:6). Because of ignorance of God and the things of God people fall into sin, error, and falsehood.
It also means to do shameful deeds of darkness such as: sexual immorality, impurity, greed, theft, obscenity, coarse joking, falsehood, slander, bitterness, rage , brawling, and malice. (Eph. 4: 25-5:12).
To be in darkness also means one wanting to do nothing with the light. See what John says at he beginning of the Gospel (John 1:5; 319).
The World lives in darkness. They want nothing to do with the light. The World fears the light because the light shows the darkness for what it is. Like that wealthy Chinese businessman, who smashed the microscope he bought from America for exposing the micro-organism in the rice he bought alongside, the same way, many people hate the gospel and would get rid of it because it
reveals their evil deeds.
II. THE LIGHT OF GOD’S GLORY
The whole book of Isaiah is a mixture of gloom and glory. So, in our texts he goes from light to darkness and to light again. (See vv. 1-2). Two times Isaiah talks about light as “glory.” And in Hebrew glory means “weight or important.” God is weighty, He is very, very important. He is the center of our lives. It is only in Him we live and move and have our being. If God is removed from the scheme of things, we would cease to exist, the universe will crumble, collapse and disappear.
How bright is the light and the glory of God?
Examples of Moses on the top of Mount Sinai. (Ex.33:12-23; 34:29-35). When Isaiah saw the Lord. (Isaiah 6:5).
The glory displayed in the history of salvation. The pillar of fire/cloud. (Ex. 13, 14). The glory of God at Jericho. (Joshua 6:19-21). The glory of God in the birth, life, and death of our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Luk. 2:14), at the transfiguration. (Matt. 17:2)
Christ work brings glory to God. The coming of Christ - to do His work as saviour and Lord - is the light that Isaiah spoke of in our texts.
The whole book of Isaiah is a mixture of gloom and glory. So, in our texts he goes from light to darkness and to light again. (See vv. 1-2). Two times Isaiah talks about light as “glory.” And in Hebrew glory means “weight or important.” God is weighty, He is very, very important. He is the center of our lives. It is only in Him we live and move and have our being. If God is removed from the scheme of things, we would cease to exist, the universe will crumble, collapse and disappear.
How bright is the light and the glory of God?
Examples of Moses on the top of Mount Sinai. (Ex.33:12-23; 34:29-35). When Isaiah saw the Lord. (Isaiah 6:5).
The glory displayed in the history of salvation. The pillar of fire/cloud. (Ex. 13, 14). The glory of God at Jericho. (Joshua 6:19-21). The glory of God in the birth, life, and death of our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Luk. 2:14), at the transfiguration. (Matt. 17:2)
Christ work brings glory to God. The coming of Christ - to do His work as saviour and Lord - is the light that Isaiah spoke of in our texts.
III. OUR CALL TO ARISE AND SHINE
Isaiah is calling us to respond to the light of the glory of God in Christ, “Arise, shine, thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”
What that means is that we should be people without sin. (Eph. 5:8; 4:29-5:7). If we are in the light none of those things mentioned in the above texts would be found in our life.
We should live as children of light. (Eph. 5:8). Our lives should be full of the fruit of the light: goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Eph. 5:9).
The light of Jesus should be obvious in us. People should be able to look at us and see the Light and radiance of Christ within us. Isaiah puts it thus: “The Gentiles should come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” That reminds me of the uncompromising and unclinching characters of the Three Hebrew Boys. (Daniel 3:16-30), and Joseph. (Gen.39:7-9).
Friends the message this morning is clear. It is a call that we get up from our hideouts, darkness, sins, and shine forth the light of God’s glory in Christ. which has been made available to us. What are you still doing?
