And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon
to
shine in it
Which may be understood either literally of these two luminaries,
which all earthly cities need; and which, though they may be in
being in the new heavens, yet will not have the use with respect
to this city they now have. The Jews say F21, the
orb of the sun is in this world; and the gloss adds, but not in
the future state, for the lights shall be renewed: and they
further say F23, as here, that
``in the world to come, "Israel (hmxh rwal Nykyru Nya) , will have no need of the light of the sun, nor of the light of the moon", neither by day nor by night,''as they say F24, the Israelites had not in the wilderness. So they represent the Lord speaking to Moses, and saying F25,
``thy days shall cease, but thy light shall not cease; for thou shall have no need for ever of the light of the sun, nor of the light of the moon, and of the stars.''Or else it may be understood mystically, but not of Christ, the sun of righteousness, whom the saints will always need and enjoy; but of the governors and discipline of the church in its present state; and of the written word, which is a light unto them now, and the ministration of it, and the ordinances of the Gospel, by which light and knowledge are conveyed; but in this state all will be immediately taught of God; nor shall everyone teach his neighbour, but all shall know the Lord perfectly; and also of political governors, who will be no more; see ( 1 Corinthians 15:24 ) .
For the glory of God did lighten it;
the Shekinah, or glorious presence of God, which filled the
temple of Solomon, and shone round about the shepherds at the
incarnation of Christ; with the presence of God, who is light
itself, which will be enjoyed in a much more glorious manner,
will the church now be enlightened; and this will be an
everlasting light unto her: and the Lamb is the light thereof; in
whose light they will see the face of God, and see God face to
face; they will see Christ as he is, and behold his glory; and
look upon the angels, those glorious forms of light, and all the
glorified saints, and know and converse with each other; and they
will look into, and clearly discern all the mysteries and
doctrines of grace, and all the various scenes of Providence,
which will all be opened and laid before them. And this light
will be always without any change and variation; which is no
small part of the commendation of this city, which is the
inheritance of the saints in light. So the holy blessed God is
said by the Jews F26 to be (Mylvwry lv wrwa) , "the light of Jerusalem"; he is the
light of the new Jerusalem; see ( Isaiah 60:19
Isaiah
60:20 ) and the light of, the world to come is, by
F1 them, called "the great light".