Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60

Verses 15-22

December 20, 2017

15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

Forsaken - Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.  My God, My God why have you forsaken Me.

Hated - John 15:18.  The world hated Me before it hated you.

Isaiah is describing the church during the time he worked with the Word.  The church was forsaken by God.  The name Christian was hated or whatever name the faithful went by such as Israel or Hebrew.

so that no man went through thee - This word picture of a ruined city also describes the church.

I will make thee an eternal excellency - The church struggles and looks like it is crushed but it will not be destroyed.  The gates of hell...

a joy of many generations - Everyone in this city will have joy even though there be martyrs.  A time will come when people will say, I wish I could have listened to Isaiah.  At the time, no one wanted to hear Isaiah.  Note: joy is a gift from God.  You start with no joy.  You receive a little bit of joy at a time.  This joy never goes away.  Happiness is different.  You start with a lot of happiness.  This happiness is slowly lost.  Eventually it is gone.

16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

This is not worldly wealth that the kings will give the church.  It is food and clothing.  Some kings will be moved by the plight of the Christians and provide some care for their basic needs.  Paul says (Rom. 8:36), “We are being killed all the day long,” and (1 Cor. 4:9), “God has exhibited us apostles as last of all.”  As the Word spread and the Christians were dispersed throughout the New Testament, the kings were also humbled.  They could not stop the spread of Christianity.  The emphasis is the description of the LORD as Savior and Redeemer.

17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

This is a general saying.  The Lord will change sadness into joy.  He will make good things more precious.  It is like a political candidate promising to make things better during a campaign.  This is the LORD speaking.  thy officers (bishops/pastors) peace (KJV).  your overseers peace (ESV).   Luther: Visitation means episcopate. Thus the word ἐπισκοπεῖν is used in the psalm concerning Judas, “May another take his episcopate” (cf. Ps. 109:8). A bishop is an overseer, a caretaker of his office. Thus Peter says that a bishop must not be a busybody in other men’s affairs (1 Peter 4:15), that is, be hindered by alien cares and tasks. But his own office is to look around and to visit with the Word and sacraments...Your visitation, that is, “your episcopate.” I (the Lord) will furnish the pastors.

18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Luther: “I want to take care that there shall be no injury, devastation, and destruction where this Word has been.” Just as above, every calamity will cease when the Word is present. For the godly, instructed in the Word, have peace with God, and they will also have peace with the brother and will harm no one. They will live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18). Hearts will not be torn and disquieted, but all will be in peace. Injury and disturbance of the peace will be reduced internally and externally.

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.   20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.  21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.  22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. (Isa. 60:15-22 KJV)