Rise and Shine

My babies are long grown and moved out. In fact, all of my grandchildren are now in their teens or early-to-mid 20’s. But I can remember many times walking into their bedroom in the morning and gently rubbing their shoulder or tousling their hair as I chimed, “Rise and shine”.

And it was not until this morning, that I realized this idiom also comes from the Bible!

We have spent all of July looking at idioms and it’s just a drop in the bucket to what is still there. By the way, “drop in the bucket” is also an idiom from the Bible.

Today is all about waking the child or spouse with the words “rise and shine”.

Let’s look at the book of Isaiah and a chapter filled with hope and a promise of a very bright future for those who love God and accept the gift of Jesus Christ.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 ESV

Let’s take a peek at what is happening in this chapter.

Isaiah chapter 60 begins with a burst of encouragement as Isaiah tells the people of Zion to rise and shine, for their light has come. From The Message Bible:

“Get out of bed, Jerusalem!

Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.

God’s bright glory has risen for you.

The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,

all people sunk in deep darkness,

But God rises on you,

his sunrise glory breaks over you.

Nations will come to your light,

kings to your sunburst brightness.

“Look up! Look around!

Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you:

Your sons coming from great distances,

your daughters carried by their nannies.

When you see them coming you’ll smile—big smiles!

Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!

All those people returning by sea for the reunion,

a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!

“…Your Jerusalem gates will always be open

—open house day and night!—

Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations,

and their kings, the delivery boys!

“…They’ll confer a title on you: City of God,

Zion of The Holy of Israel.

“…You’ll know that I, God, am your Savior,

your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.

“I’ll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs!

Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,

bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.

“I’ll install Peace to run your country,

make Righteousness your boss.

There’ll be no more stories of crime in your land,

no more robberies, no more vandalism.

“You’ll name your main street Salvation Way,

and install Praise Park at the center of town.

“You’ll have no more need of the sun by day

nor the brightness of the moon at night.

God will be your eternal light,

your God will bathe you in splendor.

Your sun will never go down,

your moon will never fade.

I will be your eternal light.

Your days of grieving are over.

“All your people will live right and well,

in permanent possession of the land.

They’re the green shoot that I planted,

planted with my own hands to display my glory.

“…I am God.

At the right time I’ll make it happen.” Isaiah 60 The Message Version

One of the key lessons from Isaiah 60 is the power of faith and perseverance. And just like Isaiah attempted to do back then, Jesus does today, encourages us to trust in the promises of God and to continue moving forward with faith, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.

When times get difficult, when you have doubts, hold onto your faith and stay resilient. Stay the course. If you remain determined, it can help you navigate life's storms, and life can get stormy at times.

Isaiah chapter 60 is a powerful reminder of hope, restoration, and the enduring nature of faith. It teaches us to stay resilient in the face of challenges and to trust in God's promises. Ultimately, it urges us to shine our light in the world and be a source of hope and inspiration for others.

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV

by Jeanette Stark – Monday, July 31, 2023