Advent Trail December 4th - Isaiah 60:1-2

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

One of the striking features of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah is that they describe the everlasting glory and splendour of his kingdom. In particular, the book of Isaiah moves towards that wonderful climax and conclusion, when there will be “a new heaven and a new earth” and “the sound of weeping will be heard no more” (Isaiah 65:17-19).

It’s this future glory of God’s kingdom which is foreseen in today’s verse. Into a world of thick darkness and gloom, God’s light will shine when the Redeemer comes (Isaiah 59:20). This is the light of the Lord himself, breaking into the darkness with the glory of his own presence. In that day all the peoples of the world will be blessed and come to his light (Isaiah 60:3).

It’s a description of the time when God will make everything new – the day when Jesus returns and brings to completion and fulfilment that which began with his coming at Christmas (Rev.21:1-5,22-26). But that outcome is certain for the light of Jesus has already shone in the darkness and “the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). And even now those who believe in Jesus are “rescued from the dominion of darkness” and qualified to share in God’s inheritance in “the kingdom of light” (Col.1:12-13).