Isaiah 60:22

Isaiah 60:22 KJV offers a powerful promise of accelerated divine growth and fulfillment, serving as the climactic assurance in a chapter filled with glorious prophecies for Zion.

Context

Isaiah chapter 60 is part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), written primarily to encourage the Jewish exiles and those facing hardship. This chapter paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem's future glory, describing a time when the city will be filled with divine light, attracting wealth and peoples from all nations. It speaks of a magnificent restoration, where former adversaries serve Zion, and its gates are perpetually open. Verse 22 concludes this vision of unprecedented prosperity and expansion, emphasizing God's direct involvement in bringing it to pass.

Key Themes

• Supernatural Growth and Increase

  The core promise in this verse is that what begins small will become immeasurably great. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." This isn't merely natural growth but a supernatural acceleration and multiplication orchestrated by God. It speaks to God's ability to take humble beginnings or seemingly insignificant efforts and multiply them exponentially for His purposes. This concept can be seen in Zechariah 4:10, which warns against despising the day of small things, as God often works through them.

• Divine Timing and Sovereignty

  The phrase, "I the LORD will hasten it in his time," is crucial. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over the timeline of His prophecies. While the fulfillment might seem delayed from a human perspective, God promises to "hasten" or accelerate it precisely "in his time" – His perfect, appointed moment. This assures believers that God is not slow concerning His promises, but acts according to His perfect wisdom, as highlighted in Habakkuk 2:3, where a vision waits for its appointed time and will not delay.

• Hope and Restoration

  For a people who had experienced exile, desolation, and dispersion, this verse offered immense hope. It promised a future where their diminished numbers and influence would not hinder God's grand plan for their restoration and flourishing. It is a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, assuring a future of abundant blessings and glory for His people.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "hasten" is chush (חוּשׁ), which carries the meaning of being eager, making haste, or speeding up. When God says, "I the LORD will hasten it," it does not imply that God is rushing or that His plans are behind schedule. Rather, it signifies that at the appointed time, He will act with decisive speed and power to bring about the fulfillment of His promises, ensuring that nothing will hinder the realization of His vision for His people.

Practical Application

Isaiah 60:22 offers profound encouragement for individuals and communities today. It reminds us that:

• God uses small beginnings: Even when our resources, influence, or numbers seem insignificant, God can multiply them beyond imagination for His purposes. We should not despise humble starts.
• Trust God's timing: We often desire immediate results, but this verse teaches patience and faith in God's perfect timing. He will bring His plans to fruition in His own way and at His own pace, which is always the best way and time.
• God is faithful to His promises: This verse is a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His word. What He promises, He will surely perform, and He has the power to accelerate its fulfillment when the time is right. This can bring comfort and assurance in times of waiting or uncertainty, reflecting God's character as one who fulfills His word, as seen in Isaiah 55:11.