Page 123 - Isaiah Student Worktext

The imagery here was fulfilled in the human form of Jesus and echoed in Paul’s writing to the church at
Ephesus. Each of these articles of ‘clothing’ has a specific meaning. Righteousness as a breastplate of
protection; salvation as a helmet to protect the head, the command center; clad in vengeance and zeal
is a departure from Ephesians.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord. God chose Jesus to be His instrument of salvation, but He is also God’s
instrument of vengeance. In Revelation 19, Jesus is portrayed a having a sword coming from His mouth,
with which He will ‘strike down the nations’.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

V. 21 Zion represents both the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, and the Jewish nation on earth. This
speaks of this marvelous covenant where God placed His Spirit and His words so that neither will depart
from His people from ‘this time and forevermore’.

That is part of our job, to ensure that the word of God is proclaimed, forevermore.

Chapter 60 Main Idea: The stunning glory of Zion, the heavenly City of God,
is revealed in words that soar beyond any earthly fulfillment in the physical
city of Jerusalem.

V. 1-2 ‘Arise, shine’ is addressed to Zion or Jerusalem. The language here is
feminine and points to Zion as the ‘bride of God. ‘Darkness’ will cover the earth, while light shines
brightly on God’s people.

V. 3-9 The Gentiles will come to the light and even kings to the brightness. V. 4 is a picture of the glad
reunion in heaven. They all gather together, your sons come from afar and your daughters shall be
nursed at your side.

All this brings our hearts to swell with joy. Gold and incense will come, not necessarily for wealth, but so
that we shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.

V. 10-18 The sons of foreigners will build up the walls. This shows that heaven is open to Gentiles as
well. This had a contemporary fulfillment in that King Hiram of Tyre helped to rebuild the walls, but the
ultimate fulfillment is shown in the word being taken to the entire world, and heaven being opened to
all believers.

The city and temple during Solomon’s time was beautiful, but it will be as nothing compared to the
glories of heaven.

From V. 15, God will make us an eternal excellence. In V. 16, we will know that the Lord is our Savior and
Redeemer. Violence and destruction will be gone forever.

V. 19-22 This comes very close to John’s vision of heaven from Revelation 21-22. No need of sun or
moon for light because the Lord will be the everlasting light.

All people will be righteous, and they shall inherit the land forever.

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