Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, January 28, 2013 Read – Isaiah 60 Luke does not quote directly from Isaiah 60. However this chapter is the beginning of a long series of chapters in the book of Isaiah in which the prophet longs for the “Messianic Age.” The setting of the words of Isaiah is in the exile in Babylon when the nation of Judah had been defeated and Jerusalem had been destroyed. It was not a good time to be alive! God raised up Isaiah to proclaim the deliverance that God was about to bring to his people – they would be freed from Babylonian captivity and returned to Jerusalem and the land. So, we need to begin by remembering that these words would have had great meaning to people living in exile – over 500 years before Jesus was born. But there is a character to these words that reaches far beyond simply the freedom of exiles and the return to the land. There is a longing for a new time that had never been before. It is one thing to be returned back home – certainly a great promise fulfilled – but returning home always has the possibility of captivity once again. What Isaiah is hoping for is a new day when life will be different. He is looking and longing for the Messianic Age! So it is good for us to spend some time hearing his dream and vision for that time to come. Luke’s claim, in fact the whole claim of the NT, is that in Jesus that Messianic Age dawned! As we listen to Isaiah 60 a vision emerges of a coming day when the light of God will shine into the darkness of this world. It’s a glorious day! And this day includes all people – even the gentiles will see, though in a subservient way in Isaiah’s mind. Those who oppressed will serve, but they will be included in this vision. They will bring treasures to God and God’s people. By the way, Matthew also knew this word from Isaiah – the magi bring gold and frankincense and myrrh (Isaiah 60:6). The writer of the book of Revelation also knows Isaiah’s message – the gates of the city will always be open because God dwells there and the sun and moon will no longer be needed since God is their light (Revelation 21:23). The point is that Isaiah and many of the people of the OT were longing for a Messiah. Luke wants us to know that Jesus is that Messiah.