Isaiah 60:18, commentary and pictures

It promises the restored home of God's redeemed people after victory, where wanderers at last rest in a renewed earth. There harm and devastation will never again invade its territory, and all will live in quiet, secure dwellings in peace and safety. That freedom from harm is freedom from sin and sorrow and every trace of the curse, with the Lord as unending light and a righteous people holding the land forever. That protection means complete rescue and its entrances resound with thanksgiving to God. The chapter holding this promise is to be studied and heeded now, for when its reproofs are accepted and evil is put away a great reformation brings its peace into present labor for the brokenhearted, the captive and the mourner.

Future Home of Peace

The verse looks forward to the reign of peace when God's kingdom is fully honored. It describes the city and inheritance and home of the redeemed people of God, received after victory. It is the country where pilgrims and wanderers at last find rest as a restored community in Zion, the earth made new. Within that land and within its borders, violence and wasting or ruin and destruction will no more be heard or found. There the people will dwell in peaceable, sure and quiet habitations in peace and safety. Freedom from violence there means freedom from sin and mourning and every mark of the curse. The Lord Himself will be their everlasting light, and all the people will be righteous, inheriting the land forever. To call its walls Salvation and its gates Praise means the place is safe and secure and full of praise to God. Safety will be known in salvation, and entry will be marked by praise.

Present Call to Reformation

The chapter containing this promise is to be studied and heeded and accepted together with Isaiah 65, and this duty rests especially on leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions. The sixtieth chapter must be heeded and accepted, and with Isaiah 59 it forms the certain gospel message for this time in 1899 for every church. Isaiah 60 and 61 are to be understood, while Isaiah 62 to 65 speak in a most decided manner. That understanding comes only when a great reformation comes to the people of God.

That reformation comes through heeding reproofs given, putting away evil works, stopping complaining and every evil working, coming nigh, repenting and being converted. Then the Lord manifests His power and appears in the conviction and conversion of souls. It is accompanied by sharp strong messages and sons of consolation. When complaining and every evil work are stopped, the Lord manifests His power in this way.

That reformation brings the condition described in the verse, where violence ends in the land and wasting and destruction end within the borders, where safety is known as salvation and entry as praise. It is brought about by workers laboring together with God in Spirit-anointed work of preaching good tidings, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, and comforting mourners. This work follows One who left the royal courts and clothed divinity with humanity to seek and save the lost, who gave His life on Calvary, rose from the dead, and now works at the right hand of God for salvation. Every person is invited to unite with Him in earnest labor and sacrifice for the salvation of others. The call is to a true line of education, ministry of the Word, and missionary work that builds up and restores human habitations in divine lines through diversity of talents and instrumentalities, centered in the third angel's message and the perfect law that converts the soul. This defines Christ's work of saving people under Satan's power and setting things right, as named among these chapters.

The chapter offers inspiration and encouragement to those called to take part in God's work on earth, including entering new fields. Its promise is that violence, ruin, and destruction will cease in Zion, its walls called Salvation and its gates Praise.