Introduction
To arise means the person is lying down. For a person to shine and let the glory of God be manifested, they must rise up through meditation on the Word, fasting, and prayer. What does it mean to be lying down? In the preceding chapters, the Lord lists the reasons on both the spiritual and physical levels (Isaiah 58, 59:1-4). It is sin, hands stained with blood, lies, etc., that keep God from acting. Those who also neglect their spiritual responsibility miss the purpose for which they were called (Proverbs 4:18-19).
How to arise and shine
#1. Repent
#2. Please God
Examples of people who shone
#1. The prophet Elisha, who interceded to end the famine in Israel (2 Kings 6:25-33 through 7:1-9).
If the prophet had practiced a self-centered kind of holiness, the famine would have continued in Israel and children would have continued to be the family's meal. Many personal problems will find solutions when Christians live to intercede for the well-being of others. A lamp, indeed, does not shine for itself. To shine is to give light to others and to help them escape the trap the enemy had set for them. The prophet Elisha represents the perfect image of the true Christian, who must pay the price for the salvation of souls. Through the lepers (Isaiah 7:9), the Lord fulfills the prophecy and delivers Israel from the famine. In the same way, those who have received the good news must share it with their brothers and sisters, starting with their own family.
#2. Gideon first delivers his own family from idolatry before freeing his people from the hand of the Midianites (Judges 6).
The first territory where one must arise and shine is in one's home and family (parents, brothers, sisters, etc.), including the workplace (professional family), the local church (spiritual family), the neighborhood (social family), and the country where the Lord has established us.
TEXTS
Isaiah 59:1-4
New Living Translation
1 Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
2 It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
3 Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.
4 _No one cares about being fair and honest. The people's lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil plans and then give birth to sin.