Isaiah 60 (v19-21)

This chapter continues the promised glories for Israel in connection with the promises made in 59:20-21.  The emphasis in this chapter is 2-fold:

·        The Gentiles (nations) will be used of God to bless Israel, v1-18.  They will aid in the regathering (v4-6), join in worship of the LORD (v6), help build the temple (v7), and acknowledge Jerusalem as the City of the LORD (v14).

·        God Himself will be a unique blessing to Israel, v19-22.  His glory will shine in Jerusalem; and Israel will finally be the righteous “Servant” of the LORD.

Some might take exception to the idea that one nation should be exalted, and that the other nations will be used to bless them.  Please consider the following.

·        Deut. 7:6-8: God chose Israel as a nation, out of all the other nations, to be His special treasure.  He did not choose Israel because of anything valuable in Israel itself but simply because He loved them.  There is no doubt this choice was the result of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

·        Gen. 12:1-3; 15:17-21; 17:7-8; Deut. 1:7-8: God promised Israel a particular land to occupy.  Without arguing the precise boundaries, the Biblical “promised land” was essentially what today is “Palestine”.  

·        Deut. 28:58-68: God promised to remove Israel from the land if they persisted in sin.  The Jews have accordingly been off the land for much of their history.

·        Deut. 32:26-27; Isa. 40-66: God promised that removal from the land would not be permanent.  Spiritual restoration would bring restoration to the land.

·        Ezek. 36:22-38: The order of events in this future restoration will be, 1) Israel regathered; 2) Israel cleansed from sin; 3) Israel enjoying a revitalized land. 

Is Israel today that restored nation?  Any revitalization of the land is not the result of the spiritual cleansing promised by the LORD.  At the same time it seems obvious that the Jews are being regathered to the land which was and is promised to them.  To think that we are seeing today the first stage of restoration is not a big stretch.  Many Jews have and are returning to the land promised to them by the Creator of all the nations.  To say this makes one neither a Zionist nor a prophecy fanatic of some sort.  It is simply recognition of what seems obvious to one who believes the faithful God will do as He has promised.

I believe the Apostle Paul would think the same if he were alive today.  His view of Israel is still true in this age.  “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:28-29).  Israel is not the restored nation today because they have not accepted their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.  Someday they will (Zech. 12:10).  But until then they need to hear the gospel as every other nation.  At the same time, for Christians, they will be “beloved” because of the fathers, theirs and ours!