Dawn is Coming

I love the Lord of the Rings series. I’ll confess that the last time I attempted to read the books, I was a kid, and got bored somewhere in the meticulous descriptions of Hobbiton and the Shire. So, you bibliophiles will have to forgive me, but I’m referring to the movies here, which is what my knowledge is based upon.

In The Two Towers, King Théoden falls under the evil influence of his advisor, who turns out to be an enemy spy who has been poisoning his mind. As a result of his listening to bad counsel, his kingdom has fallen into ruin, and now a powerful enemy army has driven King Théoden and his army into a corner.

In one of the most climactic scenes of the movie, it looks like all is lost. The enemy is a massive horde of orcs, innumerable as the sand of the seashore, and they’ve breached the perimeter defenses. King Théoden despairs of hope, until a rousing speech by Aragorn persuades him to have some faith and make one last charge. One of their comrades, a dwarf named Gimley, sees the start of sun rays peaking over the horizon and says, “The sun is rising.”

King Théoden and Aragorn, along with a few comrades, charge out the door of the fortress and down the ramp, trampling and knocking orcs off the ramp the whole way down. It’s a courageous attempt, to be sure, but they quickly lose momentum and get bogged down in the battle. When you look at the size of the army they’re up against, it’s clear that they can’t possibly win. They’re hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. Helm’s Deep is doomed.

But then, just as everything looks hopeless and darkness seems like it’s going to prevail, Gandalf appears on the mountain in the distance with the cavalry. Gandalf and the cavalry charge down the impossibly steep mountain and—just as they are about to make contact with the orc horde—the sun breaks over the horizon with blinding brilliance, blinding the orcs and giving the heroes their much needed advantage.

The good guys win and the bad guys lose. It’s an epic scene, and it’s one of my personal favorites in the LOTR series.

Well, Isaiah chapter 9 kind of reminds me of this scene...

Turn with me in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9. While you’re turning there, I want to give you a little bit of background on the passage we’re going to read.

Isaiah’s Context

Isaiah prophesied from probably around 740 to at least 701 BC, possibly even longer than that, and would have overlapped with the ministry of Hosea by a couple of decades.

He served through the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Is. 1:1) and primarily ministered to the southern kingdom of Judah.

Isaiah lived and ministered during dark times. The world he knew was being threatened by powerful foreign nations. God’s people engaged in idolatry and paganism, bribery and corruption were rampant, the poor and disadvantaged were exploited, and even priests and prophets were corrupt and godless. Not long after Isaiah’s time came King Manasseh, who even committed the abomination of child sacrifice.

He pleaded repeatedly with Judah to repent, as we heard from Bro. Matt Woods last week:

Isaiah 1:18–20 ESV

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

But, Israel and Judah didn’t listen. During his ministry, he witnessed Assyria conquer Israel and lead them into captivity and exile (in 722 BC); he foresaw a similar fate for Judah, which would come from Babylon about 100 years or so after Isaiah’s death.

We see in chapters 7 and 8 that, even when faced with the threat of invasion by their enemies, Israel’s religious leaders didn’t turn to God but instead turned to necromancers, mediums, bad advisors, and ill-advised political alliances to give them assurance about their future:

Isaiah 8:19 ESV

19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah rebukes them for this wickedness and exposes the heart of the problem:

Isaiah 8:20 ESV

20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

The ESV is perhaps a bit literal in its rendering of the Hebrew here (“they have no dawn”) vs “they have no light in them” in others, or the NLT Isaiah 8:20

Isaiah 8:20 NLT

20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

...but the ESV does help us in making a connection, as we’ll see shortly. Regardless, the point is clear—Israel’s religious leaders ought to look to God and his Word for their answers and comfort, but they aren’t. Like King Théoden, they’re unwittingly taking advice from the enemy.

Because of their refusal to follow God’s Word, they find themselves in darkness. Because they have refused the light, Isaiah says, they will be plunged into even further darkness.

Isaiah 8:22 ESV

22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

Isaiah lived in dark times, and the times would only get darker. We, too, live in dark times. All around us, people refuse to follow God, looking to glasman or seers to discern the cause of a loved one’s death instead of looking to God. We see corruption in government, both in our host and our home countries. Powerful nations flex their muscles and try to exert their dominance. If you read the news, all you see is violence, evil, and darkness.

FCF: The sad fact is that outside of Christ, we all lack the ability to follow God’s Word, or to love God. Without Christ, we would all live in darkness. But,

The promise of the Messiah who has already come and will one day come again gives us hope both for the present and the future. Dawn is coming.

Isaiah 9:1–4 ESV

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.

Isaiah 9:5–7 ESV

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.

Prayer for Illumination

Isaiah lived in dark times, and the times would indeed get darker as God poured out his judgment on rebellious Israel and Judah. But, God did not utterly forsake his people, and he will not forsake us, either. Dawn is coming.

The coming of the Messiah promises light for those in darkness. (vv. 1-2)

The very ones who went into exile first will be the first to receive the light.

Isaiah had described these people as people without light, people without the “dawn.”

Isaiah 8:20 ESV

20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

They had brought the judgment upon themselves, yet God still wanted them to know that forgiveness and restoration were on the way.

The wordplay here with Zebulun and Naphtali is significant. If we look at a map of the Tribal allotment of Israel it makes a little more sense.

Zebulun and Naphtali were two of the northernmost tribes

When Assyria invaded from the North, they would have been the first ones to face the invasion, the judgment for forsaking God

But Isaiah foresaw a time when the dawn would come.

The Light dawned in the person of the Messiah, Jesus

Matthew says this prophecy was fulfilled in Christ.

Matthew 4:15–16 ESV

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the 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.”

It’s not a coincidence that Isaiah names Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee

The territory of Zebulun and Naphtali roughly corresponds to the area of Galilee, where Jesus spent most of his life and ministry

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Name and Location

The name “Galilee” literally means “circle” or “district,” the fuller expression of which is “district of the Gentiles” (Isa 9:1; Matt 4:15).

Map of Galilee 1

Map of Galilee 2

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Galilee

“It is noteworthy that of his thirty-two beautiful parables, no less than ninteen were spoken in Galilee. And it is no less remarkable that of his entire thirty-three great miracles, twenty-five were wrought in this province. His first miracle was wrought at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and his last, after his resurrection, on the shore of Galilee’s sea. In Galilee our Lord delivered the Sermon on The Mount, and the discourses on ‘The Bread of Life,’ on ‘Purity,’ on ‘Forgiveness,’ and on ‘Humility.’ In Galilee he called his first disciples; and there occurred the sublime scene of the Transfiguration” (Porter’s Through Samaria).

It’s not a coincidence that Jesus describes himself as “the light of the world” or that John uses so much imagery of light and darkness

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Isaiah says that those who refuse to follow God’s Word have no light in them. So, John says, God sent his Word to be the light of the world.

There’s only one hope for overcoming the darkness—the Light of the World, the Word, Jesus Christ.

The coming Messiah promises a Kingdom of Righteousness (vv. 3-7a)

In the LOTR, King Theoden brings ruin to his kingdom because he succumbs to the evil counsel of the enemy. As his mind is polluted, his kingdom is polluted as well. As the leader goes, so the nation goes. John Calvin put it this way:

“...they who rule unjustly and incompetently have been raised up by him to punish the wickedness of the people...”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion & 2, ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles, vol. 1, The Library of Christian Classics (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011), 1512.

The converse is also true—those who rule with righteousness and justice have been raised up by God to bless the people.

And that is why the Messiah is good news!

The Messiah bring prosperity for his people (vv. 3-5)

Israel and Judah were cut down through war, hardship, exile, and starvation as a result of listening to the enemy’s counsel. But God would not leave his people destitute.

A righteous remnant remained, and God would prosper them and increase their numbers (3a)

Part of this is through the grafting in of the Gentiles, hinted at in verse 1 (“Galilee of the Gentiles”)

Mourning and sorrow are turned to joy (3b)

Famine and starvation are turned to a bountiful harvest (3c)

Being plundered by enemy nations is turned to “dividing the spoil”—victory (3d)

The burden laid upon Israel is lifted (4a)

The tools of oppression are broken

Bloodshed and violence are replaced with peace (v. 5)

This righteous kingdom brings a reversal of worldly status and expectations (v. 6)

Look at any failing nation or kingdom and you will almost inevitably find selfish, self-exalting, arrogant leaders. But in God’s Kingdom, all that is reversed.

The Messiah comes as a baby (6a)

In the Kingdom of God, the weak are exalted and the proud are humbled

That’s good news for us, because:

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

No longer are the wicked, proud, and selfish exalted. Those who exalt themselves by stepping on the shoulders of others will be judged.

The Kingdom that Messiah founded is one of righteousness and justice (vv. 6-7).

A righteous, just king brings prosperity to his kingdom.

God’s people can have confidence and assurance that his Kingdom is good because it is ruled by a good King. All of these titles are titles of Divine Kingship:

Wonderful Counselor (v. 6)

Unlike so many worldly rulers who follow bad counsel, this King will always do what is right and good

This King will need no counsellor, for he is the Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God (v. 6)

Israel was suffering because they had rejected God’s rule over them.

1 Samuel 8:4–7 ESV

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

But the coming Messiah will fix that. No more will God’s people be torn between following an earthly king and God, because God himself will be their king.

They will finally get what they needed—a King who can fight their battles for them and win. A Mighty God.

Everlasting Father (v. 6)

Two options for interpretation:

A reference to the Trinity--The Messiah would reveal the Father to his people (“I and the Father are one”)

As a reference to another aspect of Kingship—the providential aspect of rulership.

Probably not meant in the Trinitarian sense—the Messiah would not be God the Father, the first person of the Trinity. And, all the other titles are some aspect of Kingship.

The Messiah would be like a Father to his people, providing for and protecting them.

Unlike so many earthly kings who lorded their power over their people and exploited them through heavy taxation (Solomon, Rehoboam, etc.), this King would care for them and provide for them like a father.

Prince of Peace (v. 6)

This doesn’t just mean the absence of warfare or struggles. Evil rulers sometimes rule with an iron fist, crushing any dissent. That’s not peace.

This peace is the kind of peace we all long for—when everything is as it should be. Righteousness is exalted, evil is annihilated, and justice prevails.

An Eternal Davidic Dynasty which will cover the world. (v. 7)

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

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.

There would be no dark corners where this King’s influence would fail to reach

It would be a Kingdom like the world has never seen—a global kingdom.

This Kingdom would root out every debased, evil, worldly kingdom and replace it with a Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness

And unlike every other worldly kingdom which rises and falls, this Kingdom would never end.

But wait—the Messiah has already come, but this doesn’t sound like the world we live in today...

Already, but not yet

This is a common theme in biblical prophecy. Oftentimes we see certain elements of prophecy that have already been fulfilled in Christ’s first coming, but other elements that are not yet completely fulfilled but will be one day when he comes again.

Already, the Messiah has inaugurated a Kingdom

Already we see:

God’s Kingdom increasing (Isa 9:3 “You have multiplied the nation...”)

Christ has already given joy to his people (Is 9:3 “...you have increased its joy...)

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Christ has already given us a bountiful harvest (Is 9:3 “...they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest... )

John 4:35 ESV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

Christ has already accomplished victory over the enemy and divided the spoils amongst his people (Is 9:3 “...as they are glad when they divide the spoil.” )

Ephesians 4:7–8 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

(where leading a host of captives and giving gifts alludes to dividing the spoils—spiritual gifts—after conquering death)

Christ has already lifted the yoke of sin’s oppression for his people (Is 9:4 “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.”)

Matthew 11:29–30 ESV

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

...But, that Kingdom has not yet been made complete

We know that believers are still suffering and will continue to do so until a time predetermined by the Father.

Revelation 6:9–11 ESV

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

We know that one day, God’s Kingdom will rule and darkness will be vanquished, and all pain and suffering will cease. But that hasn’t happened yet.

Revelation 7:13–17 ESV

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

God’s Kingdom has already been inaugurated, but has not yet been fully realized. But, as sure as God was good on his promise to send the Messiah, he will be good on his promise to see it through to the end.

How can we be sure? Because...

God is passionate about his Kingdom and his people. (7d)

Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)

...The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:7 (NLT)

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

God isn’t just keeping his word because he’s obligated, as if he were bound to do something he didn’t really want to do.

God is passionate about his Kingdom. He is not a reluctant King who must be coerced into accepting responsibility.

God is passionate about his glory, and he is passionate about his people.

Psalm 46:10–11 ESV

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Conclusion

In this world, we are surrounded by corrupt regimes, failed states, evil empires, and the suffering that they cause. But dawn is coming. And as sure as God kept his promise of the Messiah at Christmas, he will keep his promises to make everything new when he returns.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

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.

Benediction

Revelation 22:1–3 ESV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Revelation 22:4–5 ESV

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:20–21 ESV

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.