Isaiah 60:15, commentary and pictures

Whereas Zion was once forsaken and hated and left deserted with no one passing through, God will make her an enduring honor and a joy for many generations. That promise to make His church an eternal excellency stands fast forever, because He keeps His covenant as unchanging truth and joins the omnipotence of the King of kings to the tender care of a shepherd who knows every need. Though His people are despised and persecuted and seemingly forsaken and avoided, they are sustained by His promises and are to look forward in faith through present trial to future triumph, hopeful and courageous with no fear that He will fail. It belongs to the call to arise and shine when the Lord's glory is seen upon His people and Gentiles and kings come to their light, showing Christ coming to save those under Satan's power and to fulfill purposes planned in heaven. The greatly desired change is to be brought about by earnest personal labor for souls in crowds and one by one without retaliation, and its full meaning is understood when God's people stop all complaining and evil, repent and are converted, and He manifests His power in the conviction and conversion of souls.

Forsaken Made Eternal Joy

Zion is pictured as having been forsaken and hated and left deserted, so desolate that no one passed through it or came to it and it seemed abandoned and avoided. To that condition God gives the promise that He will make it an enduring honor and glory, an eternal excellency and a source of joy through many generations and to generation after generation. Though His people are despised and persecuted and forsaken in every age, they are sustained by His promises and can trust and look forward in faith through present trials to future triumph and fulfilled blessing. The greatly desired condition of verses 14 and 15 is to be brought about by workers in the churches through earnest personal labor for the salvation of souls.

The promise stands in Isaiah 59, 60, 61 and 62, which together define the work of Christ. He comes to save the people over whom Satan is exercising power, to work out the purposes planned in the counsels of heaven, and to set things in their right light after God's vineyard has been worked by unrighteous scribes and Pharisees. It accompanies the call to arise and shine, when the Lord's glory shall be seen upon His people and Gentiles and kings shall come to their light, and they shall be made an eternal excellency and a joy of many generations.

The chapter shows the missionary work of restoration going forward in divine lines by diversity of instrumentalities and diverse agencies. Sharp, strong messages are to be borne, with sons of consolation, and above all the third angel's message is to be carried with the banner of truth uplifted. Conversion is in that message, because the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Unfailing Promise in Trials

The pledge to turn those once forsaken and hated into an eternal excellency and a joy for many generations stands fast forever for the church. It is an enduring honor and enduring excellence that will extend across generations. Though it speaks of a people once forsaken and hated, the assurance to the church does not fail.

It stands firm because God keeps His covenant with those who love Him and will fulfill what He has promised. He is eternal truth who never changes His covenant with those who love Him. There is no limit to His power to fulfill it. The covenant-keeping Saviour joins the omnipotence of the King of kings and the majesty of Omnipotence with the gentleness and care of a tender shepherd. He knows every necessity and has all power to give His servants whatever efficiency their case demands, in infinite love and compassion that never wearies.

Though God's people are despised and persecuted and forsaken in every age, they are sustained by His promises. Once seemingly abandoned and avoided, they will be transformed into an enduring glory and an enduring source of honor and joy for generations. The church can trust this promise through present trials, looking forward in faith to its future triumph and to the blessings God will fulfill.

His people are therefore to be hopeful and courageous in His service, with no fear that He will fail to fulfill His promises. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable in light of such a covenant. When the church puts on the righteousness of Christ and withdraws its allegiance from the world, a bright and glorious day lies before it. Though the truth may appear delayed and meet opposition, God gives His message added force so that it will overcome every barrier and triumph.

Mission Bringing Its Fulfillment

Isaiah 60 is present truth for God's people now, to be studied carefully and taken to heart. Leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions especially need to heed and accept Isaiah 60 and 61 with thorough consecration to God. The promise to turn a forsaken, hated, and deserted condition into an enduring honor and a joy for generations belongs to words of inspiration and encouragement for all who are called to work for God on earth, including entering new fields and spreading the gospel.

Its full meaning in Isaiah 60 and 61 will be understood only when the same reformation comes to God's people. That reformation is taking these words by stopping all complaining and every evil work, putting away the evil of works, drawing nigh, repenting and being converted. Then Isaiah 62 to 65 speaks in a most decided manner, and the Lord manifests His power in the conviction and conversion of souls. Neglect to receive this light with faith and to follow on to know the Lord leaves many souls unwarned and brings judgment for neglected duty to warn the people what is truth.

The greatly desired conditions described in verses 14 and 15 are to be brought about by workers in the churches. This is done through earnest personal labor for the salvation of souls, by speaking to crowds and to individuals and by showing interest in those who do not know the truth and have no interest in it. Believers are to labor earnestly without retaliation, like a street preacher who kept speaking of Jesus when abused and pelted with eggs, wiped it off without retaliation, and refused to be annoyed until opposers let him alone. The result of such patient labor is that hundreds are converted, including some of the bitterest opposers who then unite with believers.