From this chapter and onward, the prophet predicts the glories of the restored Hebrew people. In a secondary sense, they are also true of the Church, for we are blessed with faithful Abraham. See Gallesis'S 9:

The summons to arise is addressed to Jerusalem. The seer beholds the flush of dawn on the eastern sky and bids the Holy City catch the earliest beams, vs. 1, 2. While darkness veils the lowlands, the dweller on the plains looks up to the heights of Zion, vs. 3, 4, and finds them bathed in the splendor of dawn. See 2 Cor. 3:18.

There is a marvelous attractiveness in real religion. Where that is present, men need no driving. From the Far East come the camels, laden with priceless treasures, and from the distant West the ships laden with costly merchandise. The wastes of many years are rebuilt by the labor of strangers, while kings vie with each other in ministering to the beauty of the chosen city. When you are right with God, he will raise up help from unexpected quarters and even from former foes, v. 14.

Isaiah 60: 15-22. What a graphic delineation is presented in these words of the privileges of the consecrated life! The Mighty One of Jacob becomes its Saviour. Thenceforth it is ever ascending in the scale of experience, exchanging the period of stone for that of iron, of iron for silver, and of brass for gold.

Anxiety and depression are followed by long and happy years of fulness and joy. Violence and destruction, which, like vandals, hewed and burned, are replaced by salvation and praise. The Lord becomes the everlasting light, and the days of mourning are ended.

Do not think that such an experience is too good to last, and so beautiful that it must be evanescent. When once the dawn of perfect surrender and acceptance breaks, there is no sundown, no shadowed sky, no more sorrow or crying, no more heartbreak or hopelessness. The inheritance is forever! The branch is ever green! The strong nation is destined never again to become small!

Isaiah 61. Messiah’s mission, vs. 1-3. At Nazareth our Lord applied these words to himself. Let us care for the outcasts as he did; but to do so, we need to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, who rested so mightily on him. The acceptable year is clearly that of Lev. 25: 8-13. Our Lord, when quoting this, stopped at the comma, vy. 2, because the day of vengeance is not yet. See Luke 4:19. Mark that it is only for a day! God not only delivers, but anoints and crowns.

Messiah’s kingdom, vs. 4-9. In days yet future, the ruined cities of Palestine shall be restored. In a spiritual sense, we also may appropriate this promise. When we receive the Pentecostal gift, we also witness the restoration of the wastes, which our sins have caused in our own lives and in the lives of others. Let us clasp to our hearts vs. 7-9.

Messiah’s joy, vs. 10-11. Jesus is the true bridegroom of the soul; and we may appropriate our side of these happy words. Note this combination of imputed and imparted righteousness. The one is put on as a garment, v. 10; the other blossoms out from within, v. 11. Oh, that from our lives God would cause righteousness and praise to spring forth!