Early in my writing in this blog, I wrote on the topic of “What Jesus Probably Didn’t Mean”. I really enjoyed finding the intended meaning of the phrase, by simply considering the context of the passage. It was usually very challenging!
It has been quite a while since I had considered that series, and when I was “a pondering”, I considered that the Word, apart from the gospels, has provided numerous sayings or phrases we hear in our day to day lives.
Let’s take a moment to consider Isaiah 60:1 and what it’s original intent as compared with our understanding today.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Our previous passage, Isaiah 57:21 spoke of no rest for the wicked. In our passage for today, we are referring to the common phrase “Arise, shine”, or as commonly stated by my mother – “Rise and shine boy”. You know, like when a parent goes into a teenagers bedroom to wake them up for school on Monday.
It is a common phrase that is used to physically wake up someone from a nights sleep, or a sweet Sunday afternoon nap in a hammock on the patio. Oh how I love those naps!
Isaiah wasn’t thinking of my naps when he wrote this passage. Let’s get some context for this verse,
Isaiah 59:9-10
9 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.
A few verses later, the Lord speaks of the LORD and of His Redeemer Jesus, in
Isaiah 59:19-20
19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.
20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.
Immediately after setting the condition of the Israelites in vs 9-10, and of God’s worldwide deliverance in vs 19-20, Isaiah writes our common phrase of ” Arise and shine, – Wake up”.
This is nothing less than a call to national repentance, that as the Savior Redeemer comes out of Zion, the nation is to reflect the light of God, to arise from their death-like apostacy and indifference, and be the nation God intended them to be. A nation that would be a beacon light to the nations, that would draw the nations to the life of the Redeemer.
Consider the following verses.
Isaiah 60:2-3
3 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
4 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Israel had a responsibility to react (properly) to the Deliverer coming to them. Some did, and though darkness covered the earth – speaking of the nations, the Lord’s glory rested on those who trusted the Redeemer. Their words and actions have turned the world upside down, and impacted history for two millennia.
Arise and shine is a great saying to wake me up now that I have a better understanding of it’s source, but my goodness, how far have we fallen in our understanding of it’s intended meaning!
As an application, the Lord’s glory is to be on us, and if so, nations will come to our light, as the Lord spoke of in the gospel.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Let us who know the Lord carry His light into our day. As we physically wake up in the morning, (or even after a wee nap) to the call of “Arise, shine”, remember that we are to also be spiritually awakened to carry His glory into our day.
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Considering the Bible 