Light would dawn on Israel, and as a result the Gentiles would seek her out.
60:1 God had called Israel to be a light to the nations (43:10), but presently she was darkness (56:9-57:13; 59:1-15a). The Lord had promised that He would enable His people to fulfill their calling (57:14-21; 59:15b-21). Now Isaiah summoned the nation to rise up and shine because her light had arrived (cf. 51:17; 52:1). God's glory, rather than His discipline, will arise as the sun upon her. Like a city gleaming in the light of the risen sun, Israel will shine with a glory that is not her own. God will not share His glory with false gods (42:8; 48:11), but He will share it with His people through His Servant (11:10; 35:2; 43:7; John 1:14; 17:4, 22; Rom. 8:17; 1 Pet. 4:13-14).
The first coming of Christ provided the dawning of a new day for Israel, but His second coming will see the fulfillment of these prophecies of Israel's glorification (cf. Rev. 2:28; 22:16).
60:2 God's glory will arise on His people when there is much darkness on the earth, the darkness of sin and wickedness (cf. 8:19-22; 59:9-10). He had given light to His people in the past when He led the Israelites out of dark Egypt (Exod. 10:23). The second Exodus from Babylon would be similar. This was true also before Jesus appeared the first time, and it will be true before He appears the second time. His second coming will end the Great Tribulation.
60:3 In the future manifestation of light, the Gentile nations and their leaders will look to Israel for light (righteousness and illumination). They will not seek Israel because she is light but because of the light that she will reflect and make manifest to the world. We can see a foreview of the revelation of God's light coming through the 144,000 Jewish missionaries who will preach the gospel during the Tribulation (cf. Rev. 7:1-8). This preaching will not fulfill this promise, however. The present preaching of the gospel by the church is only a foretaste of what is to come through Israel too.
"Though everyone entering the Millennium will be saved, people will be born during that 1,000-year period of time. Many of them will come to salvation because of God's work on Israel's behalf."684
60:4 The nations and their leaders will bring the disbursed Israelites back to their land as well (cf. 11:12; 49:18). They will also bring their wealth and give it to the Israelites (cf. v. 11; 61:6; Hag. 2:7-8; Zech. 14:14). This will delight the Israelites as well as surprise them since throughout history the nations had taken from Israel.
These verses hardly found fulfillment in the return from Babylon (the regathering is worldwide) or in the church (the church goes to the world), though a foreview of fulfillment is unmistakable.685Unsaved people may be coming to Christians to learn about God now, but they are hardly exalting Christians in the world and making them rich to the extent envisioned here. The typical reaction to the preaching of the gospel now is rejection of it, and often persecution follows for its preachers (cf. 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3).
"In the end, God will keep his ancient promises in the land of Israel and there will demonstrate his rule within history."686
60:5 Israel will rejoice and be amazed because the nations will bring their wealth and give it to Israel. The nations will do this because Israel will be the Lord's vehicle for bringing the knowledge of God to them. The gifts are really in praise of the Lord, not to gain Israel's favor nor to repay her for her sufferings or because she is a superior race.
60:6 Gentiles will also come from other parts of the world bringing treasure to honor Israel. The visit of the wise men at Jesus' birth suggests a fulfillment (cf. Matt. 2:11). The visit of the Magi should have alerted Israel to the identity of Jesus. But again, the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem was only a foretaste of what Isaiah predicted would come to all Israel. Isaiah saw camels as thick as flies covering the land around Jerusalem. These Gentiles will express thanks that Israel has brought the word of God to them, in its written, spoken, and incarnate forms.
60:7 Isaiah saw other nations, ancient enemies of Israel, bring offerings typical of their way of life. Evidently there will be a literal temple and altar in Zion then (cf. Ezek. 40-43). The sacrifices offered there will be for thanksgiving to God. God will glorify the millennial temple as the focal point of worship at this time.687
60:8 The prophet further saw people coming from the west like clouds into the Promised Land. They reminded him of doves flying to their dovecotes. Who are these, he asked?
60:9 They are a combination of Gentiles and Israelites who have come to bring gifts and to escort God's chosen people back to their land. They are waiting for God because they have come to worship Him for what He has done in Israel's experience and character. Israel will finally fulfill her calling as a kingdom of priests bringing all other kingdoms to the Holy One of Israel, her God (Exod. 19:5-6).
