Quote:
Originally Posted by dnlgfnk
Here is an interpretation...
http://cojs.org/parshat-ki-tavo-isai...yocheved-levy/
by Dr. Bryna Levy...
https://torahinmotion.org/profile/dr-bryna-j-levy
Notice the emphasis on personal responsibility, especially to bring about "Hastening the Redemption".
Israel will return from exile to the promises of Isaiah 60, and indeed the Temple was rebuilt and a recommitment to YHWH occurred throughout the narrative of Ezra, Nehemiah, through the Maccabean Revolt, up until Herod The Great.
From a Christian perspective, the Law of Moses was given so that man would seek the grace to keep it. Man cannot exhibit "agape" love, cannot reconcile himself to God without the grace won by Christ. The Hebrew scriptures are promise, Israel is a type of the new Israel, comprising "Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Heb 12:22).
You may entertain other viewpoints regarding "dispensationalism"...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism
...but this is largely a johnny-come-lately reinterpretation of historic Christianity. |
I have a different take of chapter 60. The thrust of the chapter is messianic in nature. The larger context of chapter bears this out. The strong messianic flavor begins in 59:16-21. For example, "My Spirit who is on you and my words that I have put in your mouth..." (v.21) is addressing the Messiah. (Don't forget that during Jesus' first advent he only spoke what he heard from the Father!) Chapter 60 continues with this theme. For example, "the nations will come to your light" is not speaking of Israel but of the Messiah. He is the Light of the World.
Verse 4 then starts speaking about the [gentile] nations that would be drawn to the light (see Isa 49:6). From v.11, we can find very similar language in Revelation 21 which deals with the consummated eternal, physical kingdom when heaven and earth will be totally restored to its former pristine, holy, paradisiacal condition. In this eternal kingdom, there will be no more sun, no more moon, gates will always be open, no violence in the land etc. Lots of parallels between Isaiah 60 and Revelation 21.
As an interesting aside the word translated "land" (in 60:18 for example) could just as well been translated "earth". And Rom 4:13 tells us that Abraham and his offspring will ultimately be heir of the entire world! Of course, this occurs at the end of the age when Jesus creates the New Heavens and New Earth upon his return.
As far as the language of "camels" and so forth in chapter 60, we must remember the prophet's
original audience, and understand the passage the way the ancient Israelites would have. "Herds of camels" were a sign of wealth and prosperity (see Job for example!), so all Isaiah was telling the ancient Hebrews is that a time is coming when the whole land (earth) will be prosperous.
Another thing to remember about prophecy is oftentimes a prophet was given revelation that spanned numerous centuries. While the first coming of Jesus could have been alluded to in places in chapter 60, the prophet also was told things that would occur during the 2nd advent. Prophets often "saw" the mountain peaks of periods of history but not the valleys below that connected those periods.
And finally, we should keep in mind that Israel was a type of Christ -- in a very similar manner that Adam was a type of Christ. In both cases they are types by contrast, since Israel broke its covenant with God and never fulfilled its mission, whereas Jesus fulfilled it perfectly.
