Introduction to Isaiah 60

Structure and Formatting

With this chapter, Part Eight of the book of Isaiah moves into a second section that has a distinctly different character from its first section. Instead of admonishing the people for their injustice and oppression, the prophet paints a glorious picture of a restored and purified Jerusalem serving as a beacon for all nations. The prophet speaks in the first person (saying “I” and “my”) as he reflects on the privilege of his calling. He expresses his resolution to keep prophesying and praying until God’s purposes are accomplished.This chapter presents an oracle that addresses Zion as the “City of Yahweh.” It echoes the oracle in Part Seven that describes her sons and daughters streaming home in such numbers that she wonders, “Where have all these come from?” Both oracles envision a future time when the people of God will become a multinational community lit by the Lord’s brilliant presence. Many interpreters believe that this prophecy is already being fulfilled in a figurative way as people from around the world become followers of Jesus, swelling the community’s numbers and bringing in the distinctive gifts of their cultures and individual personalities. Many interpreters also believe that this prophecy will be fulfilled more literally when Jesus returns to earth to rule in righteousness and peace.This oracle has five parts. The first and last parts describe how the restored city will shine with a bright, attractive light and how the treasures of the nations will be brought to Jerusalem as gifts and offerings as Zion’s lost children are carried home. The second and fourth parts describe how the people of two specific places will bring their distinctive gifts. And the third part brings a central promise from God that the city will be rebuilt and remain open perpetually for people from all nations. Hebrew writers considered this kind of arrangement of nested pairs, known as a “chiasm,” to be elegant and beautiful. 1. The restored city will shine with a bright, attractive light (1–7) 2. The people of specific places will bring distinctive gifts to Jerusalem (8–9) 3. God will rebuild the city and keep it always open (10–12) 4. The people of specific places will bring distinctive gifts to Jerusalem (13–15) 5. The restored city will shine with a bright, attractive light (16–22)