Introduction
God promises Israel a time of blessing and respect from the nations.
Verses
2For, behold, darkness will cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise on you,
and his glory shall be seen on you.
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise on you,
and his glory shall be seen on you.
4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
they all gather themselves together.
They come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters will be carried in arms.
they all gather themselves together.
They come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters will be carried in arms.
5Then you shall see and be radiant,
and your heart will thrill and be enlarged;
because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you.
The wealth of the nations will come to you.
and your heart will thrill and be enlarged;
because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you.
The wealth of the nations will come to you.
6A multitude of camels will cover you,
the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
All from Sheba will come.
They will bring gold and frankincense,
and will proclaim the praises of the LORD.
the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
All from Sheba will come.
They will bring gold and frankincense,
and will proclaim the praises of the LORD.
7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you.
The rams of Nebaioth will serve you.
They will be accepted as offerings on my altar;
and I will beautify my glorious house.
The rams of Nebaioth will serve you.
They will be accepted as offerings on my altar;
and I will beautify my glorious house.
9Surely the islands will wait for me,
and the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your sons from far,
their silver and their gold with them,
for the name of the LORD your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has glorified you.
and the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your sons from far,
their silver and their gold with them,
for the name of the LORD your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has glorified you.
10“Foreigners will build up your walls,
and their kings will serve you:
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favour I have had mercy on you.
and their kings will serve you:
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favour I have had mercy on you.
11Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.
12For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you;
and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet.
They will call you the LORD’s City,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
and all those who despised you will bow themselves down at the soles of your feet.
They will call you the LORD’s City,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
so that no one passed through you,
I will make you an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
so that no one passed through you,
I will make you an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
16You will also drink the milk of the nations,
and will nurse from royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour,
your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.
and will nurse from royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour,
your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.
17For bronze I will bring gold;
for iron I will bring silver;
for wood, bronze,
and for stones, iron.
I will also make peace your governor,
and righteousness your ruler.
for iron I will bring silver;
for wood, bronze,
and for stones, iron.
I will also make peace your governor,
and righteousness your ruler.
18Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
nor desolation or destruction within your borders;
but you will call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
nor desolation or destruction within your borders;
but you will call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
19The sun will be no more your light by day;
nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you,
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you,
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20Your sun will not go down any more,
nor will your moon withdraw itself;
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning will end.
nor will your moon withdraw itself;
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning will end.
21Then your people will all be righteous.
They will inherit the land forever,
the branch of my planting,
the work of my hands,
that I may be glorified.
They will inherit the land forever,
the branch of my planting,
the work of my hands,
that I may be glorified.
22The little one will become a thousand,
and the small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will do this quickly in its time.”
and the small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will do this quickly in its time.”
Questions
1. What will the LORD do to Israel because darkness covers the earth?
v 2 and 3 For, behold, darkness will cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise on you,
and his glory shall be seen on you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
2. What will happen to any nation that refuses to serve God?
v 12 For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
3. What will God do for Zion despite it being forsaken and hated?
v 15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
so that no one passed through you,
I will make you an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 3 All nations will see God’s glory in Israel
- v 4 to 12 Many Jews will return to the land with their wealth. Nations will also bring wealth and offerings to Israel
- v 13 to 22 Jerusalem will become recognised as the LORD's city. It will be a city of peace
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