The Gates are Open – Isaiah 60:11-12

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Isaiah 60:11-12 (NIV)

“Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations—their kings led in triumphal procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.”

Isaiah 60:11-12 (MSG)

“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! Any nation or kingdom that doesn’t deliver will perish; those nations will be totally wasted.”

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“Your gates will be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, so that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations—With their kings led in procession. For the nation or the kingdom which will not serve you [Jerusalem] shall perish, and the nations [that refuse to serve] shall be utterly ruined.” -AMPLIFIED

“Open gates indicate peaceful conditions. Isaiah foresaw the nations, led by their kings, bringing their riches into Jerusalem to offer them as gifts to the Lord. The kings follow the lead of another, probably the Lord Himself, who draws their allegiance. This will be a great triumphant procession.” ~Thomas Constable

In yesterday’s text, we were reminded of God’s mercy and compassion. God’s Message to Jerusalem was:

“Foreigners will rebuild your walls and their kings will serve you. Even though I punished you in my anger, I will restore you in my gracious favor and show you my tender compassion.” -Isaiah 60:10 (The Passion Translation)

In today’s passage, God informs the city of Jerusalem, that in the future her gates will be opened wide. Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, informs the city of what lies ahead:

“Now your gates will stay open to a constant stream of gifts; all day and night they will not be shut as the wealth of nations is brought to you with their kings leading the processions. Any nations that abstain, any peoples who decline from serving you will simply disappear; they will be destroyed.” -(VOICE)

As part of Jerusalem’s restoration, we learn that in the future, her gates will always be opened, around the clock, even at night. Why? Because there will be a procession of kings coming through those gates, bringing homage, and tribute to the city. It will be a constant flow of wealth coming into the city bringing to her their riches to help restore her to her former glory.

The gates shall be opened continually.

It is also indicated that those who refuse to serve the city will be destroyed. Why? The city of Jerusalem is honored to hold the Temple of the Lord. Those who come, come with the intention of serving the Lord. Those who refuse to serve Him, will perish.

In the book of Zechariah, we find a directive from God, His requirements, His expectations, from the nations and their treatment of the city of Jerusalem. God says:

“In days to come, all people who took up arms against Jerusalem and survived will make a choice: they will either journey to Jerusalem every year to keep the Feast of Booths and to worship the King—the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies—or the families of nations will refuse the journey to Jerusalem to adore the King, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies. The rains will never come to those who refuse the journey. Even the family of people known as Egypt, if they do not come up to and travel through the gates of Jerusalem to present themselves to God, the Eternal will afflict them with the same plague of drought He’ll use to crush those nations who won’t keep the Feast of Booths. This is the punishment Egypt and the enemy nations can expect if they refuse the journey to keep the Feast of Booths.” -Zechariah 14:16-19 (VOICE)

“The day of the Eternal One is coming. It is a day of judgment when a great final battle is fought. Jerusalem and her people are under attack; and the city, it seems, falls to her enemies. But ultimately, God’s people do not fight alone. The Lord comes—commanding the army of heaven—to rescue and defend His people. Ultimately, He is crowned King over all the earth. In that day, Jerusalem is transformed and reinstated as God’s holy city; it becomes the center of the world, the source of life-giving waters. Even her enemies make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship and adore the one True God.” ~VOICE footnote

“Your gates will stay wide open around the clock to receive the wealth of many lands. The kings of the world will cater to you. For the nations refusing to be your allies will perish; they shall be destroyed.” -(TLB)

“The nation … that will not serve thee shall perish. God’s curse shall be upon them; they shall wither and decay for lack of the Divine favor and of the graces which God dispenses to mankind through his Church.” ~The Pulpit Commentaries

In the book of Acts, we find Peter sharing this:

“Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that to God every person is the same. In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!” -Acts 10:34-36 (NCV)

All are welcome to the Kingdom of God.

In the book of Revelation, John describes for us the city of Jerusalem in this way. Take note that even he calls attention to the fact that the gates will remain continually opened. John wrote:

“My guide held a golden measuring rod. With it he measured the city and the gates and the walls. And the city is laid out with four corners in a perfect square, the length the same as its width. He measured the city with his measuring rod, and the result was that its length and width and height are equal: 1,444 miles, a perfect cube. And my guide measured the wall; it was nearly 72 yards high, in human measurements, which was the instrument the guide was using. The wall was made of jasper, while the city itself was made of pure gold, yet it was as clear as glass. The foundation stones of the wall of the city were decorated with every kind of jewel: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate expertly crafted from a single beautiful pearl. And the city street was pure gold, yet it was as transparent as glass. And in the city, I found no temple because the Lord God, the All Powerful, and the Lamb are the temple. And in the city, there is no need for the sun to light the day or moon the night because the resplendent glory of the Lord provides the city with warm, beautiful light and the Lamb illumines every corner of the new Jerusalem. And all peoples of all the nations will walk by its unfailing light, and the rulers of the earth will stream into the city bringing with them the symbols of their grandeur and power. During the day, its gates will not be closed; the darkness of night will never settle in. The glory and grandeur of the nations will be on display there, carried to the holy city by people from every corner of the world. Nothing that defiles or is defiled can enter into its glorious gates. Those who practice sacrilege or deception will never walk its streets. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter.” -Revelation 21:15-27 (VOICE)

“Now the relationship of the nations to Israel becomes even clearer. The Gentiles will come to Israel because of her God, will submit themselves to Israel because of what the Lord will do for her, and will serve the Lord with Israel.” ~Thomas Constable

My friend, the gates are always open to receive those who are willing to humble themselves before the Lord, and obediently accept His way of doing things. All are welcome, and no one will be rejected, unless they refuse to submit. Will you be counted among those who are called the children of God?

“Many Christians have the mistaken notion that eternal life begins when they die. But that is not biblically accurate. Eternal life begins when we are born again into the Kingdom of God.”  ~David Jeremiah 

My Prayer:

Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, I am so grateful that you have thrown the gates open wide, and you welcome all who will come, no one will be turned away. I acknowledge that you alone are God, and there is no other. I humbly come to you, trusting in your love, your mercy, and your grace to put me in right standing with you, Lord. Thank you for who you are, Lord, and all that you have done for me. I am so blessed to be counted as a child of God. I love you. ❤