Bible Studies
Isaiah 60:1-6 – Arise and Shine!
Background:
In 538 BC, after Cyrus the leader of the Persian Empire had conquered Babylonia, he decreed that the Jews be freed from slavery and allowed to go home. Upon their arrival home, the dismal truth of destruction showed the Jews that life back home was going to be brutal. Everything had been destroyed and they had nothing with which to begin the rebuilding of their country. Isaiah writes to instill new hope.
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come…” – In the midst of dark despair, Isaiah begins to reveal a new promise of glory yet to come.
- 2b: “but the Lord will arise upon you.” – Removing the darkness can only be done by God. His light will shine on you and reflect to the surrounding world.
- 3: “Nations will come to your light.” – The light reflecting off you from God will attract others.
- 4: “Lift up your eyes and look around...they come to you.” – When you allow God’s light to shine, people will come. Look up and be ready for them.
- 5: “…your heart shall thrill and rejoice.” – As you fulfill your calling as a radiant disciple of God, your heart explodes with excitement.
- These verses in Isaiah are written about Israel, a country with a future. Even in its destroyed state, it is a country that is blessed by God and, because of this, it will attract the entire world to Him. Even though the comments were written about a country, do you see how the metaphor also applies to you when you allow God’s reflection to shine? Have you been blessed so that you can be a light to shine in the lives around you?
- Have you allowed God to remove your darkness?
Can you see that no matter what darkness exists in your life, that the glory of God is the only source light that will be able to shine through and give you hope? Imagine the despair that the Israelites must have felt as they returned to their destroyed homes with the realization that family members were gone forever. When there is hopelessness, when there is no reason to expect a better tomorrow, can you turn to God and let His light shine? - When Isaiah says to “Arise and Shine”, what is he telling you to do? Is possible that your love for God just radiates from you and people see it? Or, are you being asked to do something? Do you see from these verses the importance of sharing your faith story with others, witnessing to them about your transformed heart and how it has changed your life? When you do this, Isaiah says the result will be very contagious. Are you ready to be a light for those God sends your way?
The story of the Israelite's return from exile can be a personal reflection of our own lives when we experience pain and suffering. From the darkness of loneliness, despair, heartbreak, death, disease, and temptation comes hope. This hope is the powerful love of God. He provides light into our darkness to help rebuild our broken lives. The light that God instills in our hearts reflects outward, radiating to the world, attracting everyone to its source of hope and redeeming love. Arise and shine – be ready for those God sends your way.
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