For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.
The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.
Is there anything you can’t keep silent about? Are you good at holding secrets? Depending on the power of the message, the messenger might have difficulty suppressing the news. Solomon knew how hard it was to hold back good news. Note:
Proverbs 25:25 (ESV)
Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
People are pretty quick with bad news, as well. Good news is like cold water. It would be supposed that bad news is like vinegar to someone thirsty. What Isaiah has written, above, is the closing of the book. He is saying that the coming of the King, the Messiah, to Zion (Jerusalem) is such great news, he can’t keep silent. He wants the nations to know that out of Jerusalem will come a King that will bless all nations. They will be looked at as a burning torch who lights the world. Israel and Jerusalem are not looked at in this way, at all, especially in the current geopolitical landscape. Even the first disciples did not think anything good could come out of Jesus, of even from his birthplace, much less his person:
John 1:46 (ESV)
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
But Isaiah wants the world to know that out of Jerusalem, on a cross at Golgotha, will come a Savior for the world. That is the burning light. We can’t keep silent.
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