“Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (vv.1-3)
The subject of the prophets address does not distinctly appear until ver. 14, where it is found to be "the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel," the new Jerusalem. Seen in the prophet’s vision as under the forms of the old, Zion has long been prostrate and covered with thick darkness. But now “the word” comes that bids her to "arise" to a new life, radiant with the glory of the Lord.
Then prophet further prophesies, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you” (v.2). Just as in Egypt when a "thick darkness" covered the whole land at the word of Moses (Exodus 10:22), and the children of Israel still had light in their dwellings. So it will be with the New Jerusalem. While the rest of the world will be covered in darkness, a radiant light will shine from her to the dark world.
Finally we see in our text that, “the gentiles will come to your light” and “kings to the brightness of your rising.” To Christ, to the gospel, into His city, and partake of the prosperity and happiness of it. Such a great prophesy, as we have seen it partly fulfilled through the gospel (the light) going into all the world, while we wait on the second part, His return.
The Truth: ”And the city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of the LORD illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. By its light the nations will walk, and into it kings of the earth will bring their glory. ” (Revelation 21:23-24)
The subject of the prophets address does not distinctly appear until ver. 14, where it is found to be "the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel," the new Jerusalem. Seen in the prophet’s vision as under the forms of the old, Zion has long been prostrate and covered with thick darkness. But now “the word” comes that bids her to "arise" to a new life, radiant with the glory of the Lord.
Then prophet further prophesies, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you” (v.2). Just as in Egypt when a "thick darkness" covered the whole land at the word of Moses (Exodus 10:22), and the children of Israel still had light in their dwellings. So it will be with the New Jerusalem. While the rest of the world will be covered in darkness, a radiant light will shine from her to the dark world.
Finally we see in our text that, “the gentiles will come to your light” and “kings to the brightness of your rising.” To Christ, to the gospel, into His city, and partake of the prosperity and happiness of it. Such a great prophesy, as we have seen it partly fulfilled through the gospel (the light) going into all the world, while we wait on the second part, His return.
The Truth: ”And the city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of the LORD illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. By its light the nations will walk, and into it kings of the earth will bring their glory. ” (Revelation 21:23-24)
