A Light Has Dawned

Isaiah 9:1-7 ESV

1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

We just read the prophecy of Isaiah, written some 740 years before the birth of Christ.

• It was God’s promise to the Jewish nation of Israel would not be annihilated despite their sin and the threat from their enemy to her North – the empire of Assyria.

• Assyria would attack Israel but they would not be able to destroy the nation.

• God was watching and He would save a remnant, even if they were taken away as captives. That was the promise of God given through the prophet Isaiah.

What was remarkable about this prophecy was that God did not just give Israel a promise of hope in Isaiah’s time, but also the promise of hope for a lost world.

• Just like Israel then, our world has fallen into sin and darkness and needs God’s salvation. We have left God and rebelled against Him.

• Yet just as God did not forsake Israel, He would not abandon the world and leave mankind hopelessly lost in sin. God would intervene to rescue His people!

“6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

• To those in darkness, God sent a light; a Saviour, who is Jesus Christ, His Son.

• “And the government shall be upon his shoulder.” He will reign as Lord and will govern with authority.

• “And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” for He is one with wisdom and power, one who is eternally loving and can bring us true peace.

Let’s get back to Isaiah’s time first.

• When God spoke through Isaiah, Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the “land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali”, was suffering. They were an anguish.

• They had gone through many reigns of successive ungodly kings that had plunged Israel deep into idolatry and sin.

• Israel had left God. The nation was crumbling. The people have turned against God and “walked in darkness” Isaiah said.

Yet in their gloom, they would see “a great light”. God would shine His light upon them and give them hope.

• He would not abandon them. He has been watching and He would judge them for their sin, not to destroy them but discipline them.

• God would intervene to save them. He wants to bring sinners back to Himself so that they can live righteous and blessed lives.

What is interesting here is that Isaiah wrote the prophecy as if it has already happened, with the certainty of already-completed actions.

• It is written in the past tense (in English) because to Isaiah, you can consider it done!

• There is no “MAYBE” with God. It is NOT something that MIGHT happen.

• It is written as an ASSURANCE FROM GOD that it would happen as He revealed it.

And Isaiah said that light that dawns upon them would come through the birth of a child, who would one day make all things right. A Saviour would come to their rescue.

• The Israelites needed to hear this. God has not forgotten them nor has He forsaken them. The truth is, it was the other way around – they had forsaken God.

• God would provide a way of salvation if they were willing to repent and return to God and believe Him.