Chapter 60 begins with a plea--from the Word of God to Zion/Jacob/the people of God--to let their light shine in the world. Despite the darkness of the world, the glory of God will be seen on them (i.e. not originating from them but from God to them) to the end that nations are drawn to their "rising" light (1-3). This is no different from the promise given to Abraham, that he would be blessed so that all nations of the world could also be blessed by coming to the one true God. Praises of the Lord are the ties that bind this family of faith together and bring prosperity (4-9, 11-14). God is the One who makes this happen, glorifying the ones who come to Him. Not only this, but Israel suffered because they turned from God but foreigners will restore Jerusalem/Zion (as we see in the book of Nehemiah). God both punishes and shows favor (10), allows His people to be overthrown but restores them (14), so that Israel will know the Lord is their Savior and Redeemer (16). Verses 18-22 give us a picture of the everlasting glory and light that comes from God alone, the same imagery that John uses in Revelation.
Isaiah Chapter 58 starts with God the Word calling Isaiah to confront His people with their sins. Verses 2-3 God is actually sarcastic and points out His people's self-righteousness: they claim to seek God and walk righteously, they act like they want the ordinances of God and to be near to God, and are surprised by the fact that God isn't seeming to notice it. God replies, starting in 3, that He doesn't hear because He's not interested in fasts that honor self or result in humbling the self (5) in sackcloth and ashes. He sees His people causing problems in their wickedness--and it seems like the people are currently wanting to be heard by God on high, but not at the expense of stopping their wicked habits (4). God gives them what He considers and honorable fast: ending wickedness, freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry (6), housing and clothing the poor and homeless, caring for your relatives (7), and turning away from our own selfish pursuits (13; I deal with this at length in the personal thoughts section). Not only that, but God--in typical blessing fashion--shares how listening to Him and following His commands is going to result in some pretty amazing blessings, not the least of which is taking delight in Him (8-12, 14). Chapter 56 kicks off with another "thus says the Lord," which means the Lord is still the One speaking--whether it's God the Word as before or the Lord God (the Father) isn't really important, since there is really no difference (the Word doesn't say what the Lord God wouldn't say, and neither does the Spirit impart what does not come from God). Chapter 55 has ended with a foretelling of coming blessings and continues here, not as a demand to make possible the coming blessings but in response to the blessing that is coming; i.e. we don't preserve justice and do righteousness so that God's salvation and righteousness will come, but because it is coming. The Jewish people (and us) are instructed to "preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed" (1). The one who does this, who keeps the sabbath day of rest for the Lord and keeps from evil, will be blessed (2). Verses 3-8 beautifully answer the "proposed pains" of those who are in some way removed from the blessing of the Lord according to the Law: the foreigner, who is outside the "chosen people of God" (i.e. Israel), needs not fear separation from God's people (3) but will be welcomed--purposefully gathered to His chosen people (8)--to pray and sacrifice to God (7 [Jesus quotes this in Matthew 21:13, likely b/c the extortion being practiced by these Jewish merchants might dissuade God-fearing non-Jews to think wrongly of God on account of God's people]) IF they "join themselves to the Lord" and follow His commands (6); the eunuch, a castrated man restricted from entering the presence of the Lord according to Deuteronomy 23:1 and furthermore lacking heirs to carry on his family name (Genesis 15:2-3), who nevertheless holds to the commandments of God will have honor that sons and daughters can't bring and will not be "cut off" (5). |
AuthorThis blog is my process of struggling with God, reading to understand the truth and separate the facts of God from the fiction of thoughts and opinions. I invite all to enjoy the journey with me. Archives
July 2019
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