58:10
The previous verse dealt with negative aspects, ie things we should not do. This verse focuses on the positive. We are to devote ourselves to helping the hungry and the oppressed. If we do this then our light will rise in the darkness, and our night will turn to day. Light is going to be an important motif in the latter part of Isaiah (esp Is 60:1). Note the phrase “your light”. We might think it should be “God’s light”. The answer is that it is both God’s light and our light. In John 8:12 Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world, but in the Sermon on the Mount He said we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14). When we rebel against God darkness fills us and we become darkness. When we trust in the Lord light fills us.
58:11,12
So what are the fruits of our becoming light, or our light shining? First, the Lord will guide us always. He is not going to guide us for a little while and then abandon us, He will guide us always. He will satisfy our needs in a sun-scorched land. We will go through difficult times, and in those times we feel weak and vulnerable, but we can be assured that the Lord will “satisfy our needs”. And He will strengthen our weak frame. We feel unable to handle the situation, but God will strengthen us. So instead of being like a washed out rag, or a dry desert, utterly worn out and useless, we will be like a well watered garden. We will be full of life and fruitfulness.
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