Isaiah's Vision

Dwelling in Deep Darkness

Isaiah saw a darkness coming and it was an unexpected and unwelcome message.

Preaching during Hezekiah’s reign, a time of pease and prosperity. But God showed him the troubles that would come. A time of great darkness; the Assyrians and Syrians would come and wipe utterly destroy the northern tribes of Israel, taking the people away. Judah would be conquered by the Babylonians, Jerusalem and the Temple would fall, the people in captivity for 70 years.

Because of the unfaithfulness of the political and religious leaders.

Because of the idolatry of Israel and Judah, wanting to look and act like the rest of the world that did not know God. God would do this to humble and purify his people, and to prove his power to save

There is a darkness hanging over us. We are a people who live in a land of deep darkness

Our Current State -

Suicide attempts are on the rise, more reports of depression, anxiety, anger, separation

Our time in COVID isolation, and our response has driven a wedge between us

We are divided politically, socially, racially

A darkness hangs over us

The spiritual blindness, ignorance, folly, that comes from sin. Rebellion from God and rejecting the truth of God

(Ro 1:21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

(Eph 4:18) They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Confusion over gender, over what is right and wrong, about truth and lies

A heavy, a tangible darkness - when there is doubt about God’s providence

(Pr 4:19) The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. But when you live in an age where wickedness prevails, we ask, can what we’re facing today as a church, as a nation, in our homes, really be from God? Is this the good he has in store for us?

A grief, a sorrow, a sadness that comes from, loss, sickness, in frailty of this life - uncertainty of our future,

Job - after losing everything - describes his sorrow like “the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.” (Job 10:22) is there really hope for eternal life, or is this all there is?

A darkness caused by painful divisions and un-forgiveness of broken relationships

1 John 2:11 “whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

The Light Has Shined

God will restore joy

Everything seems to try to steal our joy - we feel crushed by the pressures of our schedules, by the expectations of those around us, even by our own failings and mistakes.

We feel small, insignificant, displaced, silenced.

God’s promise is to multiply his people, to restore their joy like that of the day of harvest, like the dividing the spoils of war

Those who have been diminished will be multiplied, the displaced will be settled, the oppressed will be restored to joy!

Jesus has come so that his joy may be in us, and that our joy may be full. (Jn 15:11)

God will liberate his people from oppression

Tearing down the idols, setting his people free

As in the days of Midian - Gideon and his 300 men who destroyed the idols and altars to the false gods, restoring and delivering the people of God

God will demonstrate once and for all that He alone is Lord and worthy of our worship, praise and honor, that He alone is able to save to the uttermost.

To us a child is born, to us a son is given

Who is this Son? A Child is born (humanity); A son is given (deity) -

Isaiah is looking over the horizon to the coming of the Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of a virgin - fully God and fully man, who would come to deliver his people

How is He Described?

Wonderful Counselor

Someone to instruct, to give counsel and wisdom, a guide. But he gives counsel of wonder - miraculous, marvelous counsel

To those who were in the darkness of ignorance and had lost the truth of who God is, who they are.

Christ is the light of God, with wisdom of God, the truth of God - the full revelation of the glory and wonder of God.

Mighty God - to those in bondage to sin, those needing rescue

He is the Almighty One, with the power over sin and death, the one through whom and for whom all things were made, the one by whose power all things are held together.

Is there anything to hard for Him - the fullness of God dwells in Him.

Everlasting Father -

Not confusing the Father and the Son - father here refers to the generator, or head of, eternity. He is the one who is the author of eternity

For those uncertain of what the future holds - there can be no greater comfort than he is the one who holds eternity in his hands

Prince of Peace -

To those who are divided, at odds, needing reconciliation, forgiveness

Eph. 2:14 he is the one who had broken down the wall of hostility - making peace through his blood

Walking in the Light

Notice carefully the grammar of the passage we read - it’s all in the past tense, it has been completed. What Isaiah saw in his vision was in the distant future, but it was so sure to happen he spoke as if it already had.

It has been fulfilled in Christ, his light has shined. Though we may still find ourselves in darkness, Isaiah calls us to glimpse the light of salvation in the Son who is given.

Have this vision - walk in this light - Know his salvation -

See Christ for who he is

The Son of God, God with us, the way, the truth, and the life, the only mediator between God and man

You must come to Christ as he his

The one who, through his death and resurrection, has brought us forgiveness and pease with God The only source of truth and life, whose word is our authority, calling us to faith and obedience.

Whatever else you see and seek this Christmas, behold the salvation of the Lord

Fear Not, Stand Firm, and See God’s Salvation - Ex 14:13

Fear not - do not let the darkness overwhelm you - be sober minded, don’t lose yourself in the darkness

Stand firm - Be faithful, active, and working

Not wavering, or turning to the right or left Put off the old life, and walk in the light

See God’s salvation at work - in the coming, and the coming again of Christ our Savior.