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Isaiah 60
1“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the LORD’s glory has on you!
2For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.
3Nations will come to your light, and to the brightness of your rising.
4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in arms.
5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you.
6A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of the LORD.
7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house.
8“Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
9Surely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far away, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
10“Foreigners will build up your walls, and their will serve you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their led captive.
12For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you; and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet. They will call you the LORD’s City, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16You will also drink the milk of the nations, and will nurse from royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your , the Mighty One of Jacob.
17For bronze I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and your ruler.
18Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor desolation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls , and your gates Praise.
19The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but the LORD will be your light, and your God will be your glory.
20Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your light, and the days of your mourning will end.
21Then your people will all be . They will inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
22The little one will become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will do this quickly in its time.”
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Questions this passage answers
Who is God?
God is the one living Creator who made everything and depends on nothing, and Scripture answers this question mainly by telling us his character rather than by defining his substance. When God described himself to Moses he said he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and truth, and yet will by no means clear the guilty. The New Testament adds that this God is finally known in Jesus Christ, who has made him known.
Can the Bible be trusted?
Scripture claims to be true and invites examination rather than avoiding it. It says God's word is truth and that it stands when everything else fades, and the New Testament writers appeal to eyewitnesses, named places and public events rather than to private experience. Trust in Scripture is finally trust in the God who speaks in it, and the clearest reason a Christian gives for that trust is that Jesus treated these writings as God's own word.
What is sin?
Scripture defines sin as lawlessness, as falling short of God's glory, and as failing to do the good we know we should do. It is not only a list of bad actions but a condition of the heart that produces them, and it is first against God rather than only against people. Scripture also says all have sinned, that its wage is death, and that God is faithful to forgive those who confess.
What does the Bible say about fear?
Scripture never tells a frightened person that fear is imaginary. It says do not be afraid hundreds of times, and almost always attaches a reason rather than a technique: I am with you, I have redeemed you, you are of more value than sparrows. It also distinguishes the fear that must go from the fear of the Lord, which is commanded and which shrinks every smaller fear.