The Mighty LORD, Redeemer and Savior

Isaiah 60:13-22

13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together,
To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
And I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14 Also the sons of those who afflicted you
Shall come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;
And they shall call you The City of the LORD,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
So that no one went through you,
I will make you an eternal excellence,
A joy of many generations.

16 You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles,
And milk the breast of kings;
You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17 "Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
Instead of iron I will bring silver,
Instead of wood, bronze,
And instead of stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace,
And your magistrates righteousness.

18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise.

19 "The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.

20 Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the LORD will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.

21 Also your people shall all be righteous;
They shall inherit the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.

22 A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."

The Lord worked in His people to make the place where He stood to meet with them glorious and make the nations come to worship the Holy one there also.  Though they had been rejected and hated by the nations, they were to be an eternal excellence and joy for many, which is a picture of the New Jerusalem and the complete people of God with the addition of the gentiles to Israel.  Then they and we would know the mighty LORD as the Redeemer and Savior.  Their dwelling place would be enriched with things that last and find their government of peace and righteousness there, just as we find peace with God in the Lamb and righteousness in Christ our Lord.  Violence and destruction caused by the presence of our sin will flee away as we dwell in the Celestial City whose walls of salvation will focus our praise as we enter there to worship before His living throne forevermore.  There we will know God is the glory of all His people.  There will be no more tears of sorrow which passes away (Revelation 21:4) as His light rises over us to replace the lesser lights of the sun and moon which He originally created so we could see Him in Eden’s Garden in the beginning of creation.  He will be our eternal light when we are in His holy presence!  He will be our only glory!  There will be no more sorrow and mourning from death and sin, and with Him all His chosen people will be counted righteous (2 Thessalonians 1:5, Ephesians 4:24) who have inherited an eternal kingdom planted by Him there.  Even now the gospel reaches those He draws and calls (John 6:44), becoming thousands from one witness and a strong nation of His people together in Christ.  Our Lord does these things according to His word in His time for his glory.  Of this we can find solace and peace until we see our mighty Lord who is our Redeemer and Savior face to face!