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Devotional on Isaiah 60:1–3
Tomson Thomas
“Arise,
shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
— Isaiah 60:1–3 (NIV)
Historical Background
The words of
Isaiah 60 come to a weary people. Though penned during the prophetic ministry
of Isaiah in the 8th century BC, this chapter speaks prophetically to Israel’s
post-exilic future—a time when the people would return from Babylonian
captivity to find Jerusalem in ruins, their temple destroyed, and the nations
around them seemingly stronger and more influential.
Imagine their
condition: tired from exile, disoriented by change, discouraged by a broken
city, and unsure if restoration was even possible. Into that dark reality, God
speaks—not just a suggestion, but a command:
“Arise,
shine…”
1. God Says: Arise Before You See the Light
This command
doesn’t wait for favorable conditions. It doesn’t say, “Wait until
everything is fixed and then rise.” No—it says, “Arise, shine, for your
light has come.”
There is a
sequence here that’s easy to miss:
- First, arise
- Then, shine
- Because the light has come
This is a
call to faith-fueled obedience. Before God’s glory shines through us, He first
calls us to rise up—to wake up spiritually, shake off the dust, and respond to
His voice even while darkness still lingers.
But the
question arises…
2. From Where Should We Rise?
When God says
"Arise!", He’s not speaking into a pleasant morning stroll. Verse 2
is brutally honest:
“Darkness
covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples…”
In other
words, God is calling us to rise up from the midst of darkness, not out of
comfort.
The
“darkness” here is symbolic of:
- Moral confusion
- Spiritual rebellion
- Political oppression
- Personal despair
It’s the
world’s fallen condition. And even today, the situation hasn’t changed much,
has it?
We live in an
age of:
- Cultural drift away from truth
- Anxiety about the future
- Broken systems, relationships,
and souls
And yet,
God still says: “Arise.”
We must rise from fear, from compromise, from apathy, from distraction—even
when nothing around us feels inspiring. God’s glory doesn’t wait for ideal
conditions. It meets us in the dark.
3. His Glory Appears Upon You
Here’s the
miracle:
“But the
Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” (v. 2)
You are not
the source of the light. You are the recipient of the light. Just as the
moon reflects the sun, God’s people reflect the radiance of His presence.
This glory is
not earned—it is received. It comes when we respond. We rise up by faith, and
then God shows up in power.
And when He
does, it changes not only us, but those around us.
4. Your Rising Becomes a Beacon to Others
“Nations
will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (v. 3)
What starts
as personal obedience becomes a public witness. A rising person becomes a
rising people. A restored remnant becomes a radiant city. A faithful believer
becomes a guiding light to the world.
This is
missional hope: when God’s people respond to His call, the world takes
notice—not because of our brilliance, but because of His glory resting upon us.
Final Encouragement: Rise Up, Even Now
Maybe today
you feel buried under disappointment, distraction, or doubt. The world around
you may seem too dark, too far gone, too overwhelming. But hear the voice of
the Lord afresh:
“Arise,
shine, for your light has come…”
Rise:
- From fear into courage
- From apathy into action
- From defeat into hope
- From sin into holiness
- From slumber into purpose
Because His
glory rises upon you—not later, not after you have it all together, but now.
Prayer
Lord, in a
world covered in darkness, call me to rise. Even when I feel weak, discouraged,
or surrounded by uncertainty, give me the courage to stand up in faith. Let
Your glory shine upon me, and through me, so others may see the light of
Christ. Amen.
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