Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20040704.htm

ISAIAH: GOD'S DIRECTIVES TO THOSE TROUBLED AT GOVERNMENTAL APOSTASY
Part XLVII: God's Salvation Of Israel From Her Relationship Problems With Gentiles
(Isaiah 60:1-22)
  1. Introduction
    1. Without a doubt, the Hebrew people have suffered greatly at the hands of their Gentile oppressors. Inquisitions, massacres, wars and concentration camps have all been a witness to this fact.
    2. Things are not peaceful for Israel even now: terrorists throughout the Middle East and the world commit their atrocities on a regular basis in spiteful animosity against Israel and her friends.
    3. However, God has promised to bless Abraham's seed, and through this blessing, to bless the world, Genesis 12:1-3. One wonders how and when such a blessing will or even CAN arise against the backdrop of centuries of bitter hatred between Jews and Gentiles.
    4. Isaiah 60:1-22 predicts God's salvation of Israel from her problems with Gentiles, and it reveals what we as Christians can do now in preparation for that coming, wonderful salvation from God:
  2. God's Salvation Of Israel From Her Relationship Problems With Gentiles, Isaiah 60:1-22.
    1. Isaiah 60:1-3 predicts an amazing era, one in which Gentile nations in the Messianic Kingdom and the eternal state to follow will be attracted to Israel by God's glory and the Light of His truth in Christ:
      1. Isaiah prophetically called upon Israel to arise and shine as the glory of God is risen upon her, 60:1.
      2. In stark contrast to the spiritual darkness of the world around about Israel, the glory of God's spiritual light seen in the truth of salvation by faith in the Gospel of Christ will be evident, and people will trust in it for salvation and blessing, Isaiah 60:2-3 and 42:6-7 with Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 60:3.
    2. As such, God will richly bless Israel in relation to the rest of the world's nations, cf. Isa. 60:4-10a, 11-20:
      1. God's glory in Israel will cause Jewish and Gentile sons and daughters to come unto the land, 60:4, 9a.
      2. Hence, Israel will be glad as the wealth of the Gentiles will flow into her land, Isaiah 60:5-9. Of special import is the fact that the nations mentioned in verses 6-7 "are all associated with the Arabian desert," nations that now are significantly at enmity with Israel, Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to Isaiah 60:6-7.
      3. Foreigners will help rebuild destroyed cities in the land, and foreign kings will serve Israel, Isa. 60:10.
      4. Israel's enemies will perish and she will know only peace in place of war, Isaiah 60:11-12.
      5. Fine timber from Lebanon will be used to adorn God's sanctuary, or "footstool" in Jerusalem, 60:13.
      6. Children of Gentile lands that had oppressed Israel will come to pay their respects to Israel and to her great God, and Israel will be changed from a hated land to a permanently glorious one, Isaiah 60:14-15.
      7. In place of oppression from Gentiles, Israel will see Gentiles gently, carefully care for her, Isaiah 60:16.
      8. In place of financial hardship, the land will know economic expansion and blessing, Isaiah 60:17.
      9. In place of violence will exist testimonies of God's great salvation and praise to God, Isaiah 60:18.
      10. God's own personal glory will replace the light of the sun and moon for Israel, Isaiah 60:19-20a.
      11. Sorrow and depression will have then become things of Israel's past, Isaiah 60:20b.
    3. The reason for this CHANGE from Israel's past troublesome times with her Gentile neighbors to a great, lasting peace with them will be her turn from sin to righteousness through the salvation found in Christ (Isaiah 60:3a, 10b, 21 in light of Deuteronomy 18:15-19 and Zechariah 12:9-13:1):
      1. God explained in Isaiah 60:10b, 21 that the reason Israel's future will include blessing in her relationship with Gentiles as opposed to her past history was due to His judgment: for sin and rejecting Christ, God had caused Israel to be troubled by Gentiles in accord with Deut. 28:15-68; 18:15-19.
      2. However, due to responding to the light of the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ, the Messiah, Israel will be cleansed from sin so as to enjoy God's resulting blessing, Isa. 60:3a with Zech. 12:9-13:1.
      3. Consequently, God will be glorified in blessing the cleansed nation of Israel, Isaiah 60:21a,b.
Lesson: Israel has experienced centuries of oppression under Gentiles for her OWN rebellion against God and His Messiah. However, when she repents, Israel will see God turn the tables of history in a grand and glorious way to cause her to be richly blessed and be a blessing among the Gentiles.

Application: Since the KEY to the CHANGE in the problems Israel has with the Gentiles is salvation by faith in Christ, WE can do OUR part for world peace NOW by SHARING that Gospel! Let us do so!