Isaiah 60:11. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night.
The gates of walled towns are shut at sundown, or shortly after. Travelers often hasten in their journey when they see the sun declining and the shadows lengthen, lest the day expire before they reach the city gates. It not uncommonly happens that, with all their exertions, they are too late; they are then compelled to spend the night outside, exposed to storms and robbers. The prophet represents the Church of Christ with her gates “open continually,” in marked contrast to the custom with which Oriental people are familiar. A similar illustration is given by John in his beautiful description of the New Jerusalem “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” (Rev. 21:25).