A Song of Inspiration: ‘Everlasting Light’ Isaiah 60:19-21
“Everlasting Light” by John Pape is a beautiful praise and worship song that speaks to the hope and comfort found in a life centered on faith in God. The song’s lyrics are based on the biblical passages found in Isaiah 60:19-21. The song invites worshiper to find hope and joy in the eternal Light that is God.
Isaiah 60:19-21 is a prophecy about the future restoration of Israel and the coming of a new era in which the light of God will shine upon the nation, and the glory of the Lord will be its everlasting light. The passage speaks of the Lord being the light for the people, and it also speaks of the end of mourning and the arrival of righteousness. The passage also mentions the end of the sun and the moon as a source of light as the Lord will be the everlasting light. These verses could be interpreted as a metaphor for the spiritual restoration of Israel and the coming of the Messiah.
From a Christian perspective, this song speaks about the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world and the beginning of the new world where there will be no need for the sun or the moon as Jesus will be the everlasting light. The song lyrics describe the coming of a new era, in which traditional sources of light and guidance, like the sun and the moon, will no longer be necessary. Instead, the Lord will provide an “everlasting light” that will guide and illuminate the way forward. The lyrics also seem to speak of a time when sorrow and mourning will come to an end, and righteousness will bring about the inheritance of a new land.
Listen to Everlasting Light
Lyrics to Everlasting Light
Verse The sun shall no longer be your light by day The moon shall no longer be your light at night But the Lord will be to you An everlasting Light Verse The sun shall no longer set in the west The moon shall never withdraw itself But the Lord will be to you An everlasting Light Bridge The days of your mourning Shall come to an end In righteousness you will Inherit the land Refrain But the Lord will be to you An everlasting Light. But the Lord will be to you An everlasting Light
How the song relates to the passage of scripture
The song opens with the lines, “The sun shall no longer be your light by day / The moon shall no longer be your light at night.” This verse reminds worshippers that the things we often rely on for light and guidance in this world – the sun, the moon, even our own human wisdom – will one day fade away. But God’s light will never diminish, and those who put their trust in Him will find lasting hope and joy.
The song’s refrain, “But the Lord will be to you / An everlasting Light,” echoes the language of Isaiah 60:19-20, emphasizing the central message of the song. No matter what darkness we face in this life, whether it be sorrow, pain, or uncertainty, God’s light is always shining. By trusting in Him, we can have confidence that His light will guide us through even the darkest times.
The second verse of the song builds on the themes of the first, declaring, “The sun shall no longer set in the west / The moon shall never withdraw itself.” The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when God’s people would experience unprecedented blessings and prosperity, when the smallest and weakest among them would become great. Pape uses these images to paint a picture of a world transformed by God’s light, a world in which darkness and decay have no place.
The bridge of the song shifts the focus from future blessings to present struggles, declaring, “The days of your mourning / Shall come to an end / In righteousness you will / Inherit the land.” In other words, while we may experience hardship and sorrow in this life, we can have confidence that God will bring us through it and into a place of joy and blessing.
About Isaiah 60:19-21
Isaiah 60:19-21 is a passage from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. This passage is part of a larger prophecy about the future restoration of Israel and the coming of a new era in which the light of God will shine upon the nation.
Isaiah 60:19 says
“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”
This verse is describing the end of the sun and the moon as a source of light, and instead, the Lord will be the everlasting light.
Isaiah 60:20 says
“Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
This verse is describing that there will be no more night, and the days of mourning will come to an end, as the Lord will be an everlasting light.
Isaiah 60:21 says
“Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”
This verse is describing that the people will be righteous, and they will inherit the land forever.
In these verses, the prophet Isaiah is describing a new era of light and glory for Israel, where the Lord will be their everlasting light, and the days of mourning will come to an end. The passage also speaks of righteousness and the inheritance of the land, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the spiritual restoration of Israel and the coming of the Messiah.
In Christianity, this passage is seen as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ, as the light of the world and the end of the age. The passage encourages believers to look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world, in which righteousness will triumph over darkness.
Historical Background Isaiah 60:19-21
Isaiah 60:19-21 is part of the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, which is a collection of prophecies and messages given by the prophet Isaiah during the 8th century BCE. At that time, the kingdom of Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital, was facing political and economic challenges, as well as religious corruption. The people of Judah were facing the threat of invasion and exile by the powerful Assyrian Empire.
Isaiah, along with other prophets of the time, sought to provide hope and encouragement to the people of Judah by calling them to repentance and faith in the Lord. Isaiah’s message was that God was still in control and that He had not abandoned His people. He also promised that a savior would come who would restore the nation of Israel and bring about a new era of peace and righteousness.
Isaiah 60:19-21 is one of several passages in the book of Isaiah that describes the future restoration of Israel and the coming of a new era in which the light of God will shine upon the nation. It is a message of hope and encouragement for the people of Judah, reminding them that even in the darkest of times, the Lord will always be their light, and that ultimately righteousness will triumph over darkness.
In the historical context, this passage was written to bring hope to the people of Judah as they were facing difficult times, it was a message of encouragement and hope, reminding them that the Lord is in control and that He has not abandoned them. It was also a message of the future restoration of Israel and the coming of a new era in which righteousness will prevail.
Personal Application
In the Christian context, this passage is seen as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ, as the light of the world and the end of the age. The passage encourages believers to look forward to the coming
Yes, this passage from Isaiah 60:19-21 can be applied to someone currently. The message of the passage is one of hope and encouragement, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, the Lord will always be our light, and that ultimately righteousness will triumph over darkness.
In the context of an individual’s life, this passage can be interpreted as a reminder that in difficult times, in moments when everything seems dark, we can always look to the Lord for guidance and hope. He is our source of light and the one who will bring us through difficult times.
It can also be interpreted as a reminder that the Lord will bring an end to the days of mourning, pain, and sorrow and bring a new era of peace and righteousness in our lives. This passage can serve as an encouragement for those who are going through difficult times, reminding them that the Lord is with them and that He will bring them through their struggles.
Additionally, this passage can be interpreted as a reminder of the Lord being the light in our life and that He will be there for us, providing us with guidance and direction, even in the darkest of times. It can be interpreted as a reminder that we should be always looking to the Lord, as He is the one who will bring us through difficult times and will be the everlasting light in our life.
Isaiah 60:19-21 Finale
Overall, “Everlasting Light” by John Pape is a beautiful and uplifting song that reminds us of the hope and comfort found in a life centered on faith in God. By quoting biblical passages and using rich imagery, Pape encourages listeners to let go of the fleeting lights of this world and instead find their hope and joy in the eternal Light that is God. Whether we are in a season of darkness or of light, may we all be reminded of the truth of this song: that the Lord will always be to us an everlasting Light.