Isaiah 9:1-7
1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
3 You will multiply the nation,
You will increase their joy;
They will rejoice in Your presence
As with the joy of harvest,
As people rejoice when they divide the spoils.
4 For You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the marching warrior in the roar of battle,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.
Zebulun and Naphtali; land of darkness and oppression. Christ, the promised Son, came to these places, Galilee of the Gentiles, Matthew 4:12-17.
These people lived in great darkness, as invaders from Assyria, Babylon, Rome, overtook them. On them the light of Christ, the great light, dawned.
There was blessing upon the nation, like that of a good harvest or a great military victory.
There was victory, and freedom from slavery to sin and oppression; hope of eternal life.
There was a time of peace, as weapons of war, and soldiers’ clothes are used for fuel.
These blessings fall because God sent His Son; His was the cost, ours the blessing. The description of Him is both true and glorious; wonderful; full of wonders, signs and miracles, a life marked out as different; counselor; full of wisdom; no man spoke as this man; mighty God; with leadership, authority, prophecy; everlasting Father; showing mercy and love; the Prince of Peace; exercising justice in His government.
These characteristics point us to Christ’s earthly ministry, as the servant of God, serving with grace and power, having the fullness of the Godhead. Here too is the consistency of God’s character and purpose; God the Father could always be described in these ways.
There is also a reflection in the character of the church of Christ, which exercises similar ministry, although no man can fulfil all these roles, and no man matches the perfection of Christ.
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for the blessings you give each of us every day. We ask that You grant us light in a world of darkness and sin. Grant us the opportunity to reach out to those who don’t know the light, and let Your Holy Spirit fill the dark and empty spaces.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
