Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like the sun; The glory of the Lord is shining on you! Isaiah 60:1 (GNT)
The Israelites had a rich history with the concept of God’s presence being synonymous with light. During creation, ‘God said “Let there be light”; and there was light’. (Genesis 1:3) Later, they lived it first hand during the plagues brought upon Egypt by God. At God’s instruction, one of the plagues Moses called for was complete darkness for three days…but there was light in all the places where the Israelites lived. (Exodus 10:23) Later, when the Israelites left Egypt, God led them with a great cloud during the day and a pillar of fire to light their way at night. Pharaoh pursued them with his great army. When the Israelites began to panic at the thought of being hunted down and taken back, God then moved His great, tall cloud to the rear of their group. In this way, the cloud stood between the Egyptians and the Israelites. There was darkness for the Egyptians, but there was light for the Israelites. (Exodus 14:20)
So, in Isaiah’s day, God gave him a message of incredible hope for his fellow Israelites. They had returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon and were now under Persian rule. Things looked pretty bleak. Jerusalem was a shell of its former glory. The people were wondering if, as we tend to do today, God was alive and still cared about them and if He was still with them as their God. They wondered if miracles were a thing of the past. Then, as now, God still answers even the questions we dare only speak aloud in our hearts. It’s as if He is reassuring them and us: “Yes, Beloved, I’m here. See? My light is shining upon you and this generation. It’s now your time to be confident and shine in the glory of My love and my presence. Your particular history with Me awaits.”*
For us today, the message of hope is even more incredible! We have experienced what the Israelites of the past only dreamed of. The reality of Christ, the Messiah and Promised One, living inside us. If we believe in Him, we receive His light and His spirit to permanently dwell within us, not to keep to ourselves- but to share with the world. Jesus always says it best:
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.” John 8:12 (GNT)
“The people who live in spiritual darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined for those who live in the land that is as dark as a grave.” Matthew 4:16 (ERV)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it. John 1:5 (ERV)
~Debbie Bouckley
*The Voice translation commentary used as reference
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