The Great Light - Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

The Great Light

'Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this. '

Isaiah 9:1-2

The Light Will Come

Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.

______________________ and Napthali were the two Northern tribes that occupied the land known as Galilee. They were among the first of the tribes destroyed by Assyria, beginning the period when all of the Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed.

But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.

Isaiah offered hope to those in Judah, that even ____________________, the first area that was destroyed by Assyria, would be restored in the future. It will play an honored role in God’s plans for His people.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

Isaiah assures his listeners that though they will walk through time of darkness, a new _____________ will ______________ on them.

Isaiah 9:6

The Light is Born

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders.

The source of this light will be the birth of a _______________, born for the sake of His people and He will bear the responsibility of ruling them.

He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Like Solomon, he will bring wisdom for the just care for his people, ruling over them wisely.

He would be the ____________________ of God’s people, ruling forever from the throne of David as was promised.

He would bring about a reign of ________________________ and prosperity, as occurred in the time of David

But there was one shocking, unimaginable thing about this king. He would be ____________________ Himself.

Isaiah 9:7

The Light Will Reign

The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end.

His _______________________ would stretch beyond the bounds of David or Solomon, stretching beyond boundaries.

Unlike the kingdom established by David and Solomon, The blessings of this kingdom would not ________________.

He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.

He would be the one who was promised to David, ruling on his _____________________ over God’s people.

This kingdom will be created and upheld based on Justice and Righteousness and would be eternal.

The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this. '

All of this will be done by the power and _______________________ of God, the all powerful one.

Isaiah 9:1-2

The Light Came

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

Jesus came from Galilee, and his ministry centered on Galilee. This backwater area of Israel would be where God’s plan began, not Jerusalem.

Isaiah 9:6

The Light has been Born

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus was the one who was born.

Jesus earthly ministry was the beginning of the fulfillment of this. No other king met all these criteria.

Isaiah 9:7

The Dominion of the Light Continues

The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.

Jesus' dominion was limited to a few hundred souls at best when he left this earth, but within a few weeks, it grew to thousands, and continues to grow today.

For those under his reign and many who are affected by it, true prosperity is granted that cannot be taken away.

Truth 1 Jesus was the light from Galilee that broke into the gloom of fallen humanity and giving hope to all who were without hope and without God in the world.

Jesus' reign began with his earthly ministry, and his death and resurrection. This prophecy has been fulfilled.

Truth 2 Jesus is the promised Davidic king, but he is far more than just a human king. He is God and His reign is universal and eternal.

Jesus reign continued from that time till today in the hearts of the billions God has drawn to himself through the preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom of God

Truth 3 While the extent and the scope of Jesus reign is vast today, it is not yet universal. The final reign of Christ is still to come.

Jesus will reign over all at the end of all things when hHis reign will be complete and perfect.