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.
History tells us God did save a remnant – a remnant who remained faithful to Him inside the corrupted nation.
• Even after being taken away as captives for 70 years, God could bring them back, rebuild the city and restore the nation.
• Amazingly Isaiah prophesied this too in Isaiah 11. We will just read verses 11 and 16.
11In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
16And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.
See how Isaiah describes the work of God in this morning's passage - Isaiah 9:
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.
• It’s not GLOOM and DOOM but GLOOM to GLORY. Despite what they were going through, God would intervene and transform their GLOOM into GLORY.
• A light has dawned! God shines a light into the darkness. “If all your human kings cannot provide the light, I will!”
• Light would have to come outside themselves if it is to come at all.
Circumstances might be bad but the faithful God would show them mercy and grace. He remains faithful even when we are faithless, Paul said (2 Tim 2:13).
• God remembers His covenant with Abraham and David. He is the God of the covenant and Israel would not be forsaken.
What would God do? Isaiah said it in 9:3-5.
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.
• God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation. They would have joy like the joy of farmers at harvest and soldiers returning from war with 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.
• They would experience victory over their oppressors, like Gideon’s victory over the Midianites in Judges 8. He won with just 300 men.
5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
• No longer do they need boots and warring garments, for the victory would be final.
Isaiah penned the climax of what he wrote in Isaiah 9:6.
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.
God sent a Deliverer, a Saviour who would have the authority and power to save them.
• Isaiah described it to King Ahaz this way: “14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
• Meaning, “God with us”. All these prophecies could only point to ONE man.
• Matthew quoted this and pointed it to the birth of Jesus (Matt 1:23).
Ultimately, God would save His people, then and now, through Jesus Christ.
• History proved it for Israel. Christmas proved it for the world.
• God would shine the light of Christ into this dark and sinful world.
• “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn 3:17 NIV)
The Israelites then, and we today, have the same TWO options:
1. Look at the darkness and despair, concluding that God has forsaken us.
2. Or repent and return to God and trust in His covenantal promise and believe in the Saviour that He has sent.
The prophecy of Isaiah points ultimately to the coming of Christ for a dying world.
• We know that because of the New Testament. Let me quote from TWO of Jesus’ disciples – Matthew and John.
1. In the Gospel of MATTHEW when Jesus was about to start His ministry - Matt 4:13-17
13And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled (which is the quotation from Isaiah 9):
15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
17From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus. He is the LIGHT spoken of in Isaiah 9. The light has dawned with the coming of Jesus!
2. In the Gospel of JOHN: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
John 1:9-13 9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
God declares through the words of Isaiah that a Saviour would come to rescue the world – a world that has lost itself in sin and darkness, without reference to God.
• And so everything was done – by God - so that we can return to Him, be reconciled to God and be saved.
• Only in Jesus Christ can we find forgiveness of sin and the hope of a life with God.
These are what we can learn from the prophecy of Isaiah:
Christmas reminds us that the light of Christ has dawned upon us! He is our Saviour.
• If you are like the people in Isaiah’s time walking in darkness, feeling lost and hopeless, fearful and anxious about life, then turn to that light that has come.
• God “became flesh and dwelt among us”. Those who know Him today “have seen His glory, that of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (cf. John 1:14)
• Call out to Jesus today! He is here. He is a prayer away.
Christmas reminds us that God has not forgotten nor forsaken us! He is with us.
• He knows us. He knows we have sinned. He knows all about us and He says, “Come home!” Admit we are sinners and come back to God.
• Jesus Christ is our only Saviour and hope. “For to us He is born, to us, He is given.” (9:6)
Christmas reminds us that there is hope in this broken world. He is our hope.
• God has a plan and a good purpose. He is determined to save and promised it 740 years before it happened.
• The sovereign God is our hope. Christ has come and we are saved by His sacrifice on the cross. Our future is certain and glorious.
We have no other option. Believe in Jesus and you will be saved. Saved from sin and God’s judgement against sin. Everyone needs to accept this Christmas gift from God.
In closing, let us sing this hymn O HOLY NIGHT.
Orange Hymnal - 139 - O Holy Night (Lyrics different from the traditional)
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and darkness pining,
Till He appeared, gift of infinite worth!
Behold the Babe in yonder manger lowly,
‘Tis God’s own Son come down in human form:
Fall on your knees before the Lord most holy!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine.
With humble hearts, we bow in adoration
Before this Child, gift of God’s matchless love
Sent from on high to purchase our salvation
That we might dwell with Him ever above.
What grace untold to leave the bliss of glory
And die for sinners guilty and forlorn:
Fall on your knees! Repeat the wondrous story!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
O day of joy, when in eternal splendour
He shall return in His glory to reign
When ev’ry tongue due praise to Him shall render
His pow’r and might to all nations proclaim!
A thrill of hope our longing heart rejoices,
For soon shall dawn that glad eternal morn:
Fall on your knees! With joy lift up your voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
Prayer:
Dear God, we are grateful for the love shown to us at Christmas. Thank you for coming for us, dear Jesus. You have come not to judge and destroy but the redeem and save us from our sins.
Help us all put our trust in You, our only Saviour and Lord. Enlighten us that we may all see the light and receive You into our lives.
We praise you Lord for this day. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
