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Isaiah 9.1-7
1 But 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. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You 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. 4 For 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. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For 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. 7 Of 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.
I think I’ve told you how much I love Christmas. I love the transformation it brings to our neighborhoods and communities as lights and decorations go up. I also love the transformation that happens with most people as their hearts soften during Christmas. I love our Christmas worship services with Advent and Christmas Eve; the gathering of friends and family, and the long conversations with friends we haven’t seen in a while. I love it so much that my decorations and Christmas tree usually go up around the 1st of November. There are only a couple of folks I know who love Christmas more than me and one of them reads this devotional!
This is one of my favorite Christmas passages that is a tradition in my Christmas Eve services. However, the thing is, when Isaiah was writing, Christmas wasn’t a thought in his head.
John Oswalt, in his commentary on Isaiah, has an excellent summary of what’s happening so far in chapters 7-12.
Choosing their own way rather than God’s way, trusting in human glory rather than in God, the nation has plunged itself into darkness. Instead of being guided by the pillar of cloud and lighted by the pillar of fire (Isaiah 4.6), they are in confusion and darkness, the prey of the very nations they trust in.
But (emphasis mine) that is not where God intends to leave them. In the very areas where the Assyrian conquests began, there God promises that the light will dawn. The people of Israel have done nothing to deserve this; it is nothing but God’s grace.
How will that grace be accomplished? It comes with the birth of a child. This is the third time a child is referenced with great hope for the future. In 7.14, the birth of a child signified that the people of Judah need not trust in Assyria for deliverance from the kings of Syria and Israel.
In 8.3, the mention of the child repeats the same point but also warns that trusting in the Assyrians for deliverance rather than in the Lord would bring disaster on the nation.
Now, for a third time, the birth of a child is mentioned; the victory declared in this child's birth extends beyond the coming conflict with Assyria. Clearly, the child mentioned here is the coming Messiah who delivers and reigns over God’s people in a way that no human king could ever possibly achieve. The titles and work of this child in verses 6-7 point to this reality.
So, here’s what I’m thinking about today, and it’s the same thing we know God’s people were thinking and expecting in John’s Gospel. Imagine, for a moment, that you're Isaiah and that the Lord has given you this word. We can easily picture Isaiah asking the Lord, “Really? A Child? Not a military leader? Not a mighty warrior? How will a child be this light? How will this child bring us joy? How will a child break the oppressor?”
We know that Isaiah trusts that the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (9.7), but he doesn’t know how.
But we do. In a manger. On the cross. In the resurrection. The joy of victory roars in every heart entrusted to Jesus.
This child is the Son of God, Jesus.
Philippians 2:10–11
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The only question that remains for us is whether we will entrust Jesus by handing over the only thing that we truly possess, the only thing that matters to God—you. Wholeheartedly, unreservedly entrusted to Jesus.
God bless you, and know that you are prayed for constantly.
Scott
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