Isaiah chapter 60 - 1st Peter

Chapter sixty of Isaiah is another chapter of joy. It is primarily, if not exclusively about the Zion of a future time, a time when the kingdom of God is finally established, and all nations flow unto it. A period of spiritual darkness preceding this glorious time, is also pictured in the chapter, but only in a one verse.

Also mentioned is the time when the world hated the nation and people of Israel. We will look at these negative comments first because they are so much in the minority that they are more easily isolated. The time of spiritual darkness can be seen in verse two, and the contrast between what will have been in the past (at that time) and what will be (at that time) are found in verses twelve, fifteen and eighteen. The rest of the chapter is joyous.

“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (v2)

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” (v12)

“Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.”(v15)

“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” (v18)

Is this consistent with something in the book of First Peter? Here are a few passages from the first chapter of First Peter.

“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice,”(1st Pet. 1:4-6a)

“found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”
1st Peter 1:7b)

“ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1st Peter 1:8b)

“and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ;” (1st Peter 1:13b)

Peter is not speaking to the same people as is Isaiah. Peter is speaking to Gentiles. He identifies the recipients of his letter in verse one as “strangers” who live in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Isaiah is speaking to Israel about the glory of Israel.

Notice the joy that Peter feels as he writes about the salvation of the Gentiles. As though to accent the connection between Isaiah’s words and Peter’s words, the Holy Spirit has included statements about gold and silver in both writings.

It may be that this combination of precious metals and the joyous message could be found elsewhere in the Bible, but the important thing to this analysis is that the combination is found in both of these writings. It need not be exclusive to indicate a connection between the two. The first letter of Peter (1st Peter) is the sixtieth book in the Bible, and herein we have examined the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah. They are connected.