People whom God calls into covenant with himself

"See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you" (Isaiah 60:2).

People whom God calls into covenant with himself, prove repeatedly that they do not have the moral strength to carry the relationship. There is serial apostasy, repeated straying from the way of justice and truth. The prophet here borrows from the language of Genesis 1. to show that in religion that is truly uplifting, God is the initiator and sustainer of his people's spiritual life. As surely as darkness reigned over chaos before God said 'Let there be light,' just so surely does God bring forth spiritual life in those who are either in the abyss of unbelief of the morass of apostasy.