Enter the Light, Part 2
December 3, 3017
Summary and Goal
As a result of God’s redeeming work through the Messiah, the Light of life would fall on Israel. In turn, God’s people would shine forth as a spiritual light to all nations. We are to do likewise—reflect the light of God’s Messiah to the nations so that we are instrumental in removing the spiritual darkness that covers our world.
Main Passages
Isaiah 60:1-3
Session Outline
1. The Light of Life Comes from God (Isaiah 60:1)
2. The Light of Life Makes God’s People Distinct (Isaiah 60:2)
3. The Light of Life in God’s People Draws the Nations (Isaiah 60:3)
Theological Theme
The Light of life that God illumines in the heart of His people also draws others to Himself through the ministry of His people.
Christ Connection
Christ is the Light that has come to God’s people. As believers are gradually transformed into Christ’s likeness, the world around them will be drawn to Christ as well.
Missional Application
Believers are the visible representatives of Christ in the world. In that light, believers have the opportunity to show Christ to those who are shrouded in darkness so that they too can experience His glory.
Historical Context of Isaiah
Purpose
To call the nation of Judah back to God and to tell of God’s salvation through the Messiah
Author
The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
Date Written
The events of chapters 1–39 occurred during Isaiah’s ministry, so they were probably written about 700 B.C. Chapters 40–66, however, may have been written near the end of his life, about 681 B.C.
Setting
Isaiah is speaking and writing mainly in Jerusalem.
Key Verse
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (53:5).
Key People
Isaiah, the two sons of Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz
Special Features
The book of Isaiah contains both prose and poetry and uses personification (attributing personal qualities to divine beings or inanimate objects). Also, many of the prophecies in Isaiah contain predictions that foretell a soon-to-occur event and a distant future event at the same time.
Excerpted from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV). Tyndale House Publishes, 2003.
Introduction
If you watch many of the Disney/Pixar animated films, you will quickly catch on to one of their trademark features: carefully placed cutaway scenes that offer a momentary dose of tangential humor. These filler scenes are generally quick and seemingly random, while fortifying the perspective and character of the universe the movie attempts to create.
For example, in the second of the Pixar films, A Bug’s Life (1998), one such scene spoofs a variety of paranormal/mystic stereotypes. In a brief break from the action surrounding the main characters, two bugs are seen buzzing past a radiant light in the midst of the darkness. Viewers recognize the light as a bug zapper, but not so with the bugs beholding its luminous glory. One bug notices the other, whose name is Harry, moving steadily toward the hypnotic light. Able to foresee the impending doom, the bug frantically warns Harry, “Don’t look at the light!” Harry haplessly drones, “I can’t help it. It’s so beautiful!” What happens next is exactly what you would expect.
Light in the midst of darkness is hypnotic and compelling. People are drawn toward its brilliance and clarity. However, the source and purpose of the light are ultimately important. If the light has the same intention of the bug zapper, which is to destroy those that approach it, its hypnotic pull becomes all the more sinister. On the other hand, if the light is one that transforms people into Christ’s likeness, its warm glow is an endless supply of hope and wholeness. For believers, the hope that exudes from them as Christ grows (and glows) in them has the power to draw others to Jesus.
- What are some forces in our culture that command our attention, but ultimately only offer harm and destruction?
- Describe times when you have been in both bugs’ positions. When did someone frantically warn you not to go toward something that would cause you harm? On the other hand, have you ever pleaded with someone to avoid temptation and harm because they could not see it coming?
- How do you most effectively share the light of Christ with others? Why do you think so?
Session Summary
In this week’s session, Isaiah prophesied to the post-exilic Hebrews about the coming Messiah and His impact on not just Israel, but on all the nations. Of particular note, Isaiah spoke of the light coming to God’s people. Isaiah directed them to see what God was doing in them, and prepared them for how it would impact the other nations.
This text has numerous points of resonance with our culture. Isaiah was careful to use the motifs of light and darkness to delineate between God’s people and those far from Him. In this passage, Isaiah carefully intertwined the two groups to show how God’s people were vessels to be used in drawing those who were not yet God’s people to Him.
1. The Light of Life Comes from God (Isaiah 60:1)
To appropriately understand the magnitude of Isaiah 60, it must be read in the context of the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy. When Isaiah opened, God spoke to Judah in a courtroom style, with God as the plaintiff. He accused Judah of doing all the right religious things, holding all the right religious customs, but doing so while forgetting about rendering their hearts humbly to God. Their worship had become about themselves, with little to no thought of God. Their righteousness had become a form of performance-driven self-righteousness, forsaking the needed righteousness that God’s grace alone afforded them. In Isaiah 60, the people were reprimanded, warned, and ultimately exiled—only to have a small remnant of the people return. Into this new context of divine deliverance after the judgment of exile, Isaiah spoke of the coming light.
Judah was understandably distraught. While in exile, their homeland was decimated by inhabitants from other lands. The ritualistic righteousness that they imagined as a safeguard from divine judgment was proven to be one of the causes of that judgment. Their years in exile were harsh and brutal. Many of their countrymen did not return, preferring to remain stubborn in their idolatrous sinfulness instead of yielding to God in repentance. The preceding chapter (Isaiah 59) recounted the list of ways they rejected God and embraced their sin for generations.
Against such heaviness and darkness, Isaiah prophesied in 60:1 that their light had come. That light came from the glory of Yahweh. The use of the Lord’s covenant name here was extremely important. They were not an abandoned or forgotten people. Rather, the God of the covenant, which He established with His people Israel, was shining His glory over them anew.
- Judah believed the lie that doing the right things and going through the right motions meant God would love them and bless them. What are some ways you see believers struggle with that today?
- If you are a believer in Christ, how does it make you feel to know that the glory of the Lord shines over you? How does that impact the way you view the challenges in your life?
The challenge for the returning exiles was that, because of their attempts to manipulate God through cultic ritual and performance, they authored their own hardship. Now as a dejected and judged people, Isaiah spoke to them words of resounding encouragement. The encouragement did not come in the form of self-help or entitlement, but through the reality of God’s gracious, covenantal presence with them. In spite of their treachery and prideful rejection of God, His glory shone over them.
2. The Light of Life Makes God’s People Distinct (Isaiah 60:2)
The significance of verse 2 can hardly be overstated. One of the factors that led to the judgment of Judah was their haughty, prideful view of themselves because they were Hebrews. Their perception was that, because they were descendants of Abraham, God had to love them. The fact that they were so faithful to perform all the religious requirements only added to what they believed to be God’s obligation to bless them. In their minds, they were distinct among all the peoples of the earth because of their physical lineage.
Verse 2, however, makes clear that, while they were indeed distinct among the peoples of the earth, it had nothing to do with them. By God’s grace alone, He saw fit to enter into covenant with them. Throughout their generations, that bedrock truth never changed. When Isaiah pointed to the darkness in the world all around them, the sole reason for their distinct existence in the world was so the Lord would shine over them.
- How have you experienced God’s people being distinct from the world recently? How was that distinction been made evident to you?
- Why is it so dangerous for God’s people to get trapped into believing their distinction is of their own doing? Can you give an example of this happening?
The latter part of verse 2 provided as much hope as the first part did despair. The Hebrews had no trouble whatsoever agreeing with the presence of darkness all around them. They experienced it during their exile. They participated in it, leading to their judgment. The weight of consequences as a result of such oppressive darkness was still very much a reality to them. Considering that, Isaiah’s prophecy of God’s shining His light in and through them was a word of indescribable hope.
3. The Light of Life in God’s People Draws the Nations (Isaiah 60:3)
Not only would God bless them by healing them and restoring their sense of identity as His people, but also their transformation would be a beacon that would draw the world to God. It is critical to get the flow of cause and effect correct because this is the model that God still uses with His people. First, God would change the remnant of Judah as His light shone over them. They would be changed because of God’s presence. Second, the difference God made in their lives would draw the nations to their light, or to God Himself.
This passage carries multiple layers of fulfillment. Immediately, God was restoring Judah through the works of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel. However, the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s word here would be found in the Messiah, who came to Jerusalem, instituting the church.
- What are some recent examples that illustrate God’s drawing people to Himself?
- Who in your life has been transformed by Christ so significantly that they draw other people to themselves? What about their countenance makes them appealing to others?
Isaiah noted that even kings would be drawn to the radiance of God’s work among His people. The gospel knows no boundary in its appeal to humanity because all of humanity shares the same innate sinfulness. The light of the gospel is the sole hope for freedom from the oppression of the darkness in the world. When God’s people serve as lanterns, allowing that light to burn within them and then send that light forward to drive back darkness, the world is illumined with the hope of salvation.
Conclusion
Isaiah’s words in 60:1-3 initially came to a beleaguered group of exiles returning to a decimated homeland. The once great fixtures of their religious practice—the temple, the holy city of Jerusalem, etc.,—were in ruins. Their only possible source of hope and restoration was that God would once again shine His glory over them. For believers today, the similarities are not difficult to perceive. There is still a very real and pervasive darkness that enshrouds the world. Some of the evidences of that darkness are physical—corruption, violence, carnality—while other evidence is the spiritual darkness of a world that does not know and even seeks to reject Christ.
For believers, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us is the Light of life that both transforms us as well as makes us beacons to the world trapped in darkness. There are three questions that remain that will determine our effectiveness as Light bearers: First, how seriously do we take the inner transformation of a disciple? Remember, the cause and effect is crucial. As believers, if we are not yielding ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to gradually transform us into Christ’s likeness, then our attempts to shine the light forward are seen as shallow or programmatic
Second, are we willing to shine where the darkness is? While darkness is certainly everywhere, this question is more about our heart’s posture to go to those who need Christ versus waiting for them to come to us. To put it in more dire terms, would we rather go to the darkness and drive it back, or allow it to encroach upon us?
Third, do we understand that this is a corporate mission and not just a personal one? This question is important because it underscores the army of light idea that Isaiah was communicating. Through the shared indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God unites His people and mobilizes them to share the gospel.
- When you consider the three questions above, which one do you feel most ready to answer? Which one causes you to pause the most?
- How do you understand the corporate and personal nature of being a light sender? What role are you personally the most excited about fulfilling?
- What spiritual habits in your life ensure that you are constantly being transformed by the Holy Spirit?
Prayer of Response
Pray that God would create a burden in the hearts of your group for shining light into the darkness of the world. Pray that they would see your group as a preparatory ground for allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you all into Christ’s likeness in an ever-increasing way.
For Next Week
Enter the Light, Part 3
Main Passages
Isaiah 9:1-7
Session Outline
1. The Promise of Hope in the Midst of Gloom (Isaiah 9:1-3)
2. The Promise of Victory and Peace (Isaiah 9:4-5)
3. The Promise Comes in the Form of a Child (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Memorize
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance. -Isaiah 60:3, HCSB
Extended Commentary
Isaiah 60:1-3
God’s people had returned to their city and had tried to rebuild it and the temple. Something was missing. Their hopes and dreams had not been brought to reality. Despair and frustration began to set in. The prophet’s words reassured his people and called them to attention. God was going to act for them. The darkness of despair and defeat would cover the earth, but God would shine his glory upon them, so that the light of his glory would attract the nations to Jerusalem.
–From the Holman Old Testament Commentary: Isaiah
Isaiah 60:1-3
60:1 The “glory” of God refers to the majestic, physical presentation of God’s holiness that is visible to human sight (cf. 6:1-8). The glory of God appeared to Moses in the fire within a bush in Exod 3:2-6; the glory of God at Mount Sinai was connected to a great cloud and fire (Exod 24:15-17; Deut 5:4-5, 23-27); the awesome appearance of God’s glory in the call of Ezekiel involved “an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by brilliant light” and “the center of the fire looked like glowing metal” (Ezek 1:4, 27). The bright light that is connected to the appearance of God’s glory (58:8; 59:19-20; 60:1) is also a symbol of God’s salvation (9:1-2; 58:8; 59:9; Ps 27:1). The light of the glory of God is called “your (second feminine singular) light” (also in 58:8, 10) because this divine appearance of God is for the benefit of the righteous people of Zion. Isaiah 40:3-5, 10-11 also predicted the coming of the glory of God with power, ruling the earth, and tenderly caring for his sheep. This will be the time when God reigns and restores Jerusalem (cf. 52:7-9).
The instructions of God in 60:1 exhort his people in Zion (based on 59:20-21) to action, encouraging Zion to “arise” (similar to 51:17; 52:1; Ps 72:19), for a new day is dawning. Those in Zion do not need to grope as if they were walking in some dark gloom (59:9), for in this revelation the prophet observes that the light provided by God’s holy presence is now here on earth, displayed in its full splendor. But God’s coming is not just to benefit Zion alone. God’s people in Zion are to “shine, produce light” by reflecting God’s “light” to others. Just as Moses’ face reflected the glory of God after he spent forty days on Mount Sinai in the very presence of God (Exod 34:29-35), so the people of Zion will shine by reflecting his glory to all who see them. The two motivations for shining are “because” your light “has/will come” and because the glory of God “has/will brilliantly rise” over you. The verb “he brilliantly arose/will arise” is commonly used to describe the rising of the bright sun in the morning, but it also functions to describe the brilliant appearance of the theophany of God in Deut 33:2 and the brilliant arising of the “sun of righteousness” in Mal 4:2.” It is a fitting metaphor, for just as the bright rays of the rising sun are reflected off buildings in blinding brilliance, so God’s glory will be brilliantly reflected off the lives and hearts of his people in Zion. This exhortation is an encouragement for all believers not to let the darkness of this world snuff out the brilliance of God’s light that every believer should reflect toward others who need some hope (cf. Matt 5:14-16).