Great Light
Isaiah 9:1-2
Happy seasonal greetings!
The background of Isaiah 7:1-9:7:
In 734-732 BCE, Ahaz the king of Judah faced attack from Israel and Syria, so he considered seeking the aid of Assyria. So, he wanted to have an alliance with the “Evil Empire” of his day. Isaiah urged Ahaz to stand firm in faith, trust in God, and refuse coalitions with other countries whether it be Syria, Israel or Assyria (Isaiah 7:3-9).
Land of Zebulun and Naphtali:
These were the two northeastern tribes of the land west of the Jordan and later came to be known as upper (Naphtali) and lower (Zebulun) Galilee. The phrase “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” refers to the region of Israel overrun by Tiglath-Pilesar III and annexed as the Assyrian province of Galilee.
Zebulun was the 10th son of Jacob, the 6th to Leah in Paddan-aram. Nothing is known of this patriarch's life.
The tribe of Naphtali figures in prominently to the history of Israel. This tribe followed in the footsteps of its founder, the sixth son of Jacob, Naphtali. As he was a godly man, so was his tribe. However, they eventually fell into apostasy, as did the other tribes of the Northern Kingdom. Naphtali left an imprint on the Old Testament through their exploits on the battle field. They were praised by Deborah in the Song of Deborah. They provided one of the major workers on the Temple. Naphtali produced officials in both the courts of David and Solomon. The tribe of Naphtali was blessed by God.
Galilee of the Gentiles - Galilee means "circuit" (other meanings are cylinder, ring, circle, "district, region"). "We derive the name Galilee historically from the Hebrew word for "area" or "region" = galil. "The region of Galilee originally had been given by the Lord to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali when Israel began to settle in Canaan (Joshua 19:10-39).
But, contrary to God’s command, Zebulun and Naphtali failed to expel all of the Canaanites from their territories (Judges 1:30-33). From the beginning, therefore, these unfaithful Jews suffered the problem of mixed marriages and the inevitable pagan influence which that practice brought. This references the end of the previous chapter (Isaiah 8:22).
General Darkness
Darkness: Choshek means “deep shadow”. In the present context the darkness is figurative and refers to spiritual darkness
The Hebrew word Choshek translated in Psalm 23:4 as “shadow of darkness”, the valley of the shadow of death. The phrase is one Hebrew word formed through a combination of two Hebrew words: shadow and death, representing the darkest forms of darkness or pitch dark. All becomes dark, sullen and dead.
The word is used to refer metaphorically to "trouble," "death," "judgment," "evil," "prison" and "hidden things." Darkness is used as an image for difficult times in life.
Isaiah 9:2 sets out the contrast between the darkness and light in two phrases, each complementing each other. On the one hand, you have people who walk in darkness and those who live in a dark land. This typify the world.
Remember this was written even to God’s promised people, the Jews. Without the Messiah, it was dark. Promises about what will happen are not like the fulfillment of the event. As long as it is promise, it has yet to be and unsurety arises. Promises, however, do provide an important ray of hope.
Isaiah said those who have rejected God's revelation of His word and truth will live in great anguish and darkness. It will be a darkness of their own making leading to the judgment of God. No matter where they look for the light, the dawn will not come for them.
Personal Darkness
The darkness, an absence of light and figurative an absence of moral values and fear of God. The same is true with the darkness of the human soul. Do you allow yourself to be persuaded by the feelings and thoughts of evil, selfish forces? How much darkness is in you? How much darkness has hidden dormant in you, waiting for its chance to arise?
The Light of which Isaiah spoke was to shine even more brightly. It was to shine beyond the blessed inhabitants of Galilee, who would be the first to witness Incarnate Light walking through their land. The Light of which Isaiah prophesied was to be so brilliant that it was to embrace every man, woman, and child, born into this world.
It was Israel who were walking in darkness when the Light came into the world. The people living in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, who were were blinded to the truth. The gospel of Matthew, "Jesus moved to Capernaum to fulfil that which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet. The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and in the shadow of death, upon them a great light dawned.
Jesus the great Light
Pulpit commentary: Jesus is "The Light of the world,(John 8:12)" "the Sun of righteousness," and "the true Light.” Jesus came forward to teach and to preach to the people of "Galilee” who were of the Gentiles. For thirty years he had dwelt at Nazareth, In Zebulon. Jesus first come forward to teach in a synagogue (Luke 4:16-21) in Galilee. Jesus had done his first miracle (John 2:11, John 4:54) at Capernaum. "Upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim," he commenced his preaching of repentance (Mathew 4:13-17). The "great light" first streamed forth in this quarter, glorifying the region.
Rob Morgan: Jesus came to earth and there was an explosion of light. He came, the skies overhead were illumined by a wondrous star (Matthew 2:2). And when He rose from the dead, it was at the moment of sunrise. And when we got back to heaven, he became a lamp or light.
Community darkness is dispelled
Matthew Henry: “But when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, light comes. Let us earnestly pray that it may shine into our hearts, and make us wise unto salvation. The gospel brings joy with it.”
John Gill: Upon the people who walked in darkened, the light shined: Christ in human nature, through the ministration of his Gospel, by his spirit, so as to enlighten them who walk in darkness, and to quicken them who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, and to comfort them in their desolate estate; and this light not only shone upon them in the external ministration of the word, as it did "upon" the inhabitants in general, but it shone "into" the hearts of many of them in particular, so that in this light they saw light.
Personal darkness is dispelled:
Rob Morgan: “Jesus brings intellectual light, He brings spiritual light, for His presence banishes the darkness of sin and shame and guilt. He brings emotional light, for His presence cheers His people. He brings everlasting light because He gives eternal life.”
In Isaiah 9:3, the cause of which is a deliverance from a burdensome yoke of tyranny and bondage, wrought in like manner as that by Gideon formerly. In Isaiah 9:4,5 the Messiah; who is described by his birth as man, and by his divine sonship as God; or by his person, having two natures united in him; and by the government devolved on him; and by his several names, which express the greatness and glory of his person and office; and by the increase and administration of his government,
John tells us, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5). That was the true Light, which lights every man that cometh into the world (John 1:9). This is the light of peace and blessedness. Instead of the darkness of death, the Lord gives the light of life. Instead of the darkness of ignorance, the Lord gives the light of knowledge. Instead of the darkness of sin, He gives the light of salvation.
May the great Light shine upon the world once again, amen.
