“Arise, shine; For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Father God,
We linger a few days in the closing chapters of Isaiah because You were saying something they would find it very hard to believe maybe. That gentiles and their kings were part of Your long term inclusive plan God. They had only known the Law of Moses, to keep to Gods ways together and separate from other nations. Lest they took up the practices and pagan gods of the other nations who were no gods at all.
Now the message is clear and well lit! The glory of the Lord for all. It takes me to an evening in the fields, long ago but many years after Isaiah, where shepherds trying to keep watch of their flocks through the darkness (Luke 2:9). An angel appeared and the glory of the Lord, Your glory Father, shone all around them. Bringing good news of the birth of one we would also know as the Light of the world (John 8:12).
Your glory, Your light amidst the deep darkness. And no-one will ever put it out (John 1:5). Isaiah may not have been understood in his day but his words have stood the test of time. Jesus did bring Your light back to Jerusalem even if they sought to put it out. Nothing could, not even death itself. You alone are God. You alone are Good. You alone can lighten our darkness and bring us into Your light.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 3rd October 2026
We had this recently but it is in my ear and my head and my heart.
For no one else in history is like You
And history itself belongs to You
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You
It’s all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and Your fame
It’s not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God, and I surrender
To Your ways
Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want You to know
I will follow You all my days
For no one else in history is like You
And history itself belongs to You
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You
It’s all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and Your fame
It’s not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God, and I surrender
To Your ways
Repeat chorus . . .
Lyrics: Paul Oakley