Turn To God When You Need Hope Series

TURN TO GOD WHEN YOU NEED HOPE

Isaiah 9:2-7

Introduction

Something new I learned this week is that there are three levels of twilight - whether you are talking about dusk or dawn. The levels relate to the position of the sun to horizon.

-Civil Twilight - there is still enough natural light for outdoor activities. When driving, it is the time when you first think you might want to turn on your headlights. Street lights begin to come on.

-Nautical Twilight - the term dates back to the time when sailors used the stars to navigate the seas. During this time most stars can be easily seen with naked eyes and the horizon is still visible.

-Astronomical Twilight - No indirect sunlight is visible. Most celestial objects can be observed in the sky.

Many people’s lives can be described as walking in darkness. Whether your life feels dark as night or has moments of darkness, we all want to find more light in our lives. Isaiah spends the first half of his prophecy writing to God’s people under threat of Assyrian captivity. Their idol worship and human pride have led them to the brink of losing everything they held dear. Although God, through Isaiah, has a strong message of what will happen if they do not repent, he also includes moments of brightness and encouragement. Our text is one of those moments where God’s people are encouraged to walk out of darkness and discouragement. We don’t have to look far to see the lost and hopeless condition of our world. (scandal, murder, abuse, terror). Not just global, but personal darkness we deal with.

When you need hope, turn to God. (Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned.) NEB: “dwellers in a land as dark as death.” God leads us out of darkness…

1. God Leads us to Joy (9:3 You have made the nation great; you have increased its joy. They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest, as those who divide plunder rejoice.)

When we experience darkness, joy is missing, but this is not where God wants us to stay. Joy is not absence of troubles or even struggle.

Hebrews 12:1-3: Jesus…endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. There is a joy that is set before us that gives us strength to endure today. Even when we struggle to find joy, we can find it. We find it in the promises of God. We find it in the presence of Jesus. Angels told the Shepherds there was joyous news - a Savior, Christ the Lord. We find it by looking for the work of God around.

2. God Leads us to Freedom (9:4 As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them, the staff on their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.)

‘The day of Midian’ references the defeat of the Midianites by the unlikely warrior Gideon - who won his battle with his only weapons being a torch, a trumpet, clay jars! What are the yokes that burden you, the oppressive weight on your shoulders? God can set us free from those things when we experience his grace and mercy. When it looks like the powers of this world have a firm hold, God's power will have the final victory.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

3. God Leads us to Peace (9:5 Because every boot of the thundering warriors, and every garment rolled in blood will be burned, fuel for the fire.). The boots and uniforms of battle will be burned and no longer needed because God is going to bring us peace. I wish we could experience true global peace today. That is coming with the advent of the new age - the renewal of all things - when Jesus will make all things new. But there is a peace we can have now. It is available because ‘unto us a child is born.’

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

4. God Leads Us to Light (Isaiah 9:6 A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.) This is a majestic messianic prophecy of Jesus!

-Wonderful Counselor - Stedman: He unveils to us secrets about ourselves, counsels us how to avoid the heartaches and problems that otherwise would beset us, showing the way of deliverance from the taint and pollution of sin.