Piercing the Darkness (2)

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.”

I mentioned in my newsletter this week that one of the reasons the Church decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25 was due to its proximity to the winter solstice - the longest and darkest night of the year. During this darkest time of the year, Christmas is the intentional reminder that light has pierced the darkness.

Darkness and light are common themes that run through the whole Bible. We don’t notice the contrast as much as ancient people. With our proliferation of electric lights it can almost be hard to find truly dark places. If astronomers want to study the stars they have to go to very remote places so their stargazing isn’t inferred with by all of the light pollution produced by our cities.

This wasn’t the case for ancient ppl. Darkness was always an abrupt contrast to the light of day. Darkness was something that evoked fear and dread, the place of monsters and demons.

Darkness in the Bible was something to be saved from. It symbolized several things in the scriptures:

Sin and it’s consequences -

Moral decay of people and nations - when people are given over to depraved behavior

Confusion or ignorance - people with darkened understanding

Times of tribulation or oppression -

Death

But the most worrisome - the perceived absence of God.

Any darkness was something to be dreaded, but above all was the darkness when it seemed like God was nowhere to be found. When it felt like God had turned his face away. Where is God in the darkness?

What are dark moments we face?...

I’m sure you’ve had these kinds of dark moments before: a struggling relationship.  Uncertainty about the future.  Concern over a medical diagnosis.  While for many Christmas is a time of joy, for many it amplifies the pain of loneliness, dysfunctional relationships, loss of loved ones, or the feeling that we’ve just not accomplished what we had hoped by this point in our life. Where is God?

And if we look outside ourselves, we become very aware of darkness in our world. Two different wars continue to rage that daily claim the lives of children. Starvation is still a daily spectre in many parts of the developing world. And just this week, a new widow is coming to grips with her husband - the CEO of United Healthcare - being gunned down on the streets of NYC on his way to a business meeting. Where is God?

The world and our lives can be truly dark at times. We instinctively know this is not how the world is supposed to be. We long for light and everything it represents - freedom from sin and death, clarity in our minds and the ability to discern what is good and true. Deliverance from oppression and tribulation. The return of our nation to a right path. Mostly, we want to see God’s face again. We want him to pierce our gloom with his light and presence.

Where is God when it seems like darkness is all around us? How can we know that God is still with us?

The good news this morning is that God’s light pierces our deepest darkness - and it begins with a baby.

Pray…

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In order to feel the weight of hope in this passage we need a little backstory. Ahaz, the king of Judah, is between a rock and a hard place. Ever been between a rock and hard place? A situation that feels like a no-win, damned if you do, damned if you don’t? It’s called parenting teenagers!

Ahaz is in a tough spot. The rock is Assyria, a rising military power intent on dominating the region. The hard place is a coalition of the kings of Syria and Ephraim who feel like the only way to stop Assyria is with a military alliance. And they want Ahaz to join them. And if he doesn’t they are threatening to attack and depose him. He’s literally being squeezed from both sides.

As a result, the nation is literally surrounded by darkness. It seems that God is hiding his face. The people are in a panic over national security, over food prices, and the economy. Sound familiar? Ahaz asks the same question we all ask: where is God when everything goes dark? Will he let his ppl be overrun/conquered? How will God bring light again?

Ahaz was not a godly king. He made horrible decisions. But God cared for his ppl in spite of Ahaz. So God sends Isaiah to Ahaz with a message: what you fear will not happen. Isaiah 7:10–11 “Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

Ask for a sign, Ahaz, and I will give you assurance that none of the things you fear will come to pass. But Ahaz decides in this moment to be “religious” and not put God to the test. So God tells him: Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

How will Ahaz know that God hasn’t forgotten his ppl? The sign of God’s nearness is a young woman - in Hebrew can mean a virgin - will bear a child and call him Immanuel - in Hebrew, God with us. There’s confusion over who this child is in Isaiah’s day, but the sign that God is present even in the darkest moments is a child.

Isaiah will go on to say of this child: Isaiah 9:6–7 “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

This child to be born will represent a new dynasty - one that is built upon righteousness. In him the light of God will finally break through.

This darkness facing Ahaz is larger than one moment of history. Darkness represents the power of death and decay that threatens God’s good creation. It shows up in Ahaz’s reign, but it keeps showing up whenever we see military aggression chosen over peace, when illness destroys hope, when fear overcomes faith, whenever we see death boast of another victim.

But the good news that Isaiah declares is that God will not abandon his people to darkness; God is at work to overcome death and to bring peace, justice, and righteousness - and he’ll do it in ways that are hidden and seemingly as weak as a newborn child. In the darkness, light has shined.

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Just as the darkness is larger than just one moment of history, so the promise of Isaiah extends beyond one point in time. We understand that Isaiah was not just prophesying for Ahaz’s time, but for ours too. And that God’s promise to send a child who will dispel the darkness has most definitively and gloriously been fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

The apostle Paul writes, Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son”

Isaiah’s pointed beyond his time to another child. At just the right time, in our darkest moment, Jesus came. He is the wonderful counselor, the almighty God, the everlasting father, and prince of peace. It is his rule and reign that will have no end. His kingdom is one of peace and righteousness. He is God with us. When we see Jesus, we see God. In him the light has finally come.

The apostle John opens his gospel in this way: John 1:1–5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

Darkness tried to claim this Son at the cross. At the moment of his death it seemed like the darkness had won. But in Jesus darkness met its match. On the third day he rose again. And now his light is spreading everywhere. It seems likes it’s spreading slowly. But for those who will open their hearts to him, his light comes...

To lovingly reveal our sin and brokenness and shine his grace and forgiveness. We can live a life free of shame and guilt and regret over the past.

To clear away the clouds of doubt and fear that attack our minds and enlightens us with his truth.

To bring us comfort and peace in spite of whatever tribulation we might be facing.

To light our way even in death so that we no longer need to fear what he has already defeated

And when it feels like God has turned his face away, he reminds us that he is Emmanuel, God with us.

The truth is that God has never turned his face from you, and his light can shine on you right now. This is the promise Jesus makes to everyone who turns to him: John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Where is God when everything seems dark and he feels miles away? He is always with you. God has pierced your darkness in Jesus.

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How do we respond to this?

But we must respond to this light. The light is there but we must walk in it. I wish it wasn’t like this sometimes, but the free will God has given you means that he will let you choose to walk in darkness.

This is the response of faith. Does God keep his promises? If he says “I am with you”, will you trust that regardless of your present circumstances?

Share the light for others. Jesus said, Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

This is an amazing statement in many ways. But one thing it declares is that you might be the only light someone ever sees. We had a lot of light-shiners up here yesterday...

Sometime the best way we can walk in the light is by shine a light for others to see by. Denise - I needed to hear that… Who do you know that needs to see God’s light?

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Ministry...

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Communion

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What an amazing time of worship we’ve had today. I’m glad you’ve been a part of it. If you’ve been blessed today, why not invite a friend to join you next week. We have some invite packs on the back table.

*** Announcement reminders ***

Dismissal prayer

Now as we prepare to take this time of worship into the week ahead, the Lord who loves you says to you:

John 16:33 (NRSV)

take courage; I have conquered the world!”

GO BE THE CHURCH!!