This chapter describes the future glory of God’s people, which is a reflection / extension of God’s glory.
“For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” (v2-3, 13, 19)
In ancient times, light was a precious resource, it wasn’t nearly as plentiful as it is today. They did not have electricity, batteries, phone flashlight apps, streetlamps, or much more than natural light. Households would have oil lamps, but most were used sparingly because oil was costly, and the majority of people were quite poor. God’s promise to be the light, wealth and glory of His people would have had a significant impact on them, for they did not take these things for granted.
In ‘first world countries’, where many can afford electricity and flashlights, it’s a lot tougher to feel the true impact of God’s promises here. Our affluence dulls our reliance on God as provider, and that pride / false security is blinding us. We may think God’s offer only helps the poor, but in reality, we can be blind to our own need for God’s true provision. I suggest we humble ourselves, and really think about how much God’s promises differ from what the world offers. The greater our current appreciation for God’s promises, the more we will appreciate God’s current / future provision.
Father God, our Glorious Lord of Light, we humbly ask for forgiveness, for we have taken Your provision for granted. May we learn to fully appreciate that which You give us in the present, so we will also appreciate that which is still coming in the future. May Your glory and light be evident on our lives today, so others would see You and glorify Your holy name. We praise, honor and obey You, with all of our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds, amen.
~Conqueror in Training