Isaiah 60:19,20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The sun, &c.— Every body must perceive that this sublime passage is to be understood metaphorically; and the meaning is, that at the period here spoken of, the church shall be illuminated much more brightly by the divine Glory and Majesty, than the sun and moon illuminate and adorn with their lustre the whole theatre of nature. Vitringa, however, gives a more copious exposition of the text. "It shall come to pass (says he), that the felicity and prosperity of the church, at this period, shall not depend upon those external causes, which procure to earthly states and kingdoms peace, tranquillity, and an abundance of temporal good things; for God shall cause his church to know that he is peculiarly present with it, by his immediate providence and glory," ch. Isaiah 49:10. There shall be also at this time such an abundance and efficacy of divine instruction, and such an exuberance of knowledge in divine things, that the church shall be satisfied with the teaching of God, and the particular care and discipline of Jesus Christ: that if the church, under the oeconomy of the external and typical covenant, saw a temporary light, and underwent various changes of its state; at this time it shall rejoice for a long period with a perpetual and unchanged light, in a much more constant and happy state. See ch. Isaiah 30:26. Jesus Christ is the eternal sun and light of his church, illuminating and sanctifying it by his Spirit, filling it with his glory, and prospering its whole state by his providence, for the end of eternal joy; so the Spirit, speaking of the heavenly Jerusalem, says, For the glory of the Lord doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; that Lamb, who is the true God: for thus he explains himself, ch. Isaiah 22:5. There shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD GOD giveth them light.