Arise and shine for the Light has come

Arise and shine for the Light has come, and the glory of YHWH has risen on you. Isaiah 60:1


That is just one of the prophecies that Jesus would be born. I so much love this verse because It says so much in so few words.

Arise: that Hebrew word is קוּם qûm koom which is a primitive root and has a great number of words that it means in various applications literally, causatively, intensively, and figuratively. It means to rise up, stand up, rouse up, stir up, uphold, enjoin, make good, abide, be clearer, confirm, decree… and on and on.

Let’s take that word decree. Isn’t it interesting that Caesar sent out a decree for census at the precise time that Mary was due to bear her baby? Isn’t it interesting that just more than 70 years after Isaiah wrote this down, Artaxerxes (a title for the king of Persia) was issued a decree for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and sent Nehemiah to do the job. Neither Caesar nor Artaxerxes Darius knew they were setting into motion events which had been prophesied centuries before in the case of Caesar and a century before in the case of Darius. God is definitely in control.

Shine: that Hebrew words is אור 'ôr ore A primitive root; to be or to make luminous (literally and metaphorically) break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

This can be compared to Luke 1:78-79, the Dayspring, Dawn, as bright as the sun rising in the east to give light to those who walk in darkness. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16. Immanuel is the Light and it is He who shines within us.

One thing that word does not mean is to reflect light. This is the source of the light. We don’t rise up and reflect light. It is just as Jesus said, we are the light of the world because we have Jesus within us.

Glory: this Hebrew word is כּבד כּבוד kâbôd kâbôd kaw-bode', kaw-bode' properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able). The Shechinah, the Glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

What a glorious word picture. The Son is rising above the mountains, the rays of light are sparkling across the world chasing all the darkness away. The light of a single candles can banish the densest darkness of the deepest cave, and this is by far the brightest Light that mankind has ever seen if he will just see. The divine being of Christ, His miracles, His breath speaking into obedience the wildest of storms is just like the sun rising and evicting all the darkness of the world. Which is what Isaiah 60:2-3 talks about.

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples. But Jehovah shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. 3 And nations shall walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning.

The Magi, the kings from the east most certainly came with the help of the star which bright light showed them the way to the little town of Bethlehem. 6 A host of camels shall cover you, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All of them shall come from Sheba, they shall bear gold and incense; and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Amen. Isaiah prophesied this centuries before Joseph took Mary home to be his wife, before Caesar decided to count all the people in Judah, before the shepherds saw the angel choir shouting out praises that God’s Son had been born, before the Magi traced across the mountains and valleys to shower gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh on the divine infant.

God keeps His promises.

Originally posted at Live As If dot Org on December 13, 2009