Isaiah 60:4
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
The command to look around is to behold the promised restoration taking place as scattered children are gathered home to God's enlightened people, with sons brought from distant lands and daughters tenderly cared for at their side in a worldwide ingathering of nations to the light of His glory risen upon them. This gathering belongs to the promise that God will restore Jerusalem and establish His everlasting kingdom, when His people are to arise and shine because His light has come to rescue souls from Satan's power and set things right. In that light the gathering enlarges the community of faith and shows the reach of His converting power through the worldwide proclamation of salvation in Christ, both near and far. It is a glorious future promise calling for enlarged faith and faithful work, to be fulfilled more fully than ever in the last days when the remnant fully separates from evil so that heaven's light rests upon them in rich measure and shines to the world. Therefore it inspires God's workers to enter new fields and occupy new territory united in sowing the gospel seed, and calls each person who has lost assurance to come, follow the Lord in consecration, and shine as a light under His discipline.
The Gathering Promised
Lift up the eyes round about is a command to look and see the gathering taking place on every side as visible evidence of the restoration promised. The same call is an invitation to open the heart to receive the light of truth within. The promise to which the looking belongs is that God will establish His kingdom, and that His people are to arise and shine because His light and His glory have come upon them.
All gather themselves together and come to God's enlightened people and church, drawn to the light of God's glory risen upon them. Sons come from far away and daughters are nursed and tenderly cared for at their side, brought back and brought near. It is a worldwide ingathering of peoples and nations and Gentiles from near and far, from among the nations to the light God has raised up.
The gathering belongs to the chapter's message of restoration to Jerusalem and Zion, portraying sons returning from far away and daughters brought close and cared for. It defines the work of Christ, who came to save those under Satan's power and to set things right. It prepares the way for God's everlasting kingdom.
That ingathering enlarges the people of God and brings those drawn to the light into the community of faith. It expresses the reach of His converting power in the worldwide proclamation of salvation through Christ to many nations. It embraces the work of instructing others for salvation in missions both nearby and distant.
Fulfillment and Practical Application
The verse holds out a glorious future promise to be fulfilled, with children coming together from far away to God's people, and it calls for enlarged faith and expectation looking for its fulfillment. This gathering promise belongs to the glorious future held out to God's people, and its fulfillment is connected with their faithfully doing the work God has given them. In the last days it will be fulfilled more fully than ever before when the remnant church fully separates from evil so the light of heaven rests upon them in rich measure and shines forth to the world, and then all gather together and come to that light, with sons coming from far and daughters nursed at its side.
The verse shows the missionary work the church is designed to accomplish in building up human habitations, with restoration going forward in divine lines by diversity of instrumentalities and diversity of talent. This requires true education in every church and a trumpet giving a certain sound proclaiming the gospel message for this time. The ministry of the Word beautifies and elevates character with variety like branches of the true vine, bearing sharp strong messages while also having sons of consolation to comfort. It uplifts the banner of truth in carrying the message of the third angel, because conversion is in it through the perfect law converting the soul.
The verse gives inspiration and encouragement to those called to act a part in the work of God in the earth, showing that the Lord is glorified when His people enter new fields and occupy new territory and all unite in sowing the gospel seed, each doing his appointed work as a specialty. Ministers therefore cannot linger over churches long established but must move on and enter new fields when the truth has been preached, not trusting in self but pleading for the Lord's power and grace to be manifested, with Christ and heavenly angels uniting with those who do their appointed work.
The verse is a word for leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions that must be heeded and accepted with faith and thorough consecration. It rebukes disregard for reproof, selective acceptance of the word, and neglect of the duty to warn people what is truth. Its meaning is opened when it is taken and obeyed, with all complaining and every evil work stopped and put away in repentance and conversion, and then the Lord manifests His power and appears in the conviction and conversion of souls. The verse calls God's people to respond to His gathering call and come to Him, applied to those who have lost the assurance of communion with Him to come, follow the Lord, and consecrate themselves, with each person to work under His discipline and shine as a light showing the difference between those who love and follow God and those who follow Satan.