A Light Shines
Notes
Transcript
If you read an article or watch a news show about the Middle East, Palestine, or Israel, what they are experiencing these days, though really hard, is not new.
We could grab those stories, change some names and dates, and read what was happening over almost 3000 years ago. The only solution to the heartache 3000 years ago, is the only solution to the heartache today.
We will be reading in Isaiah 9. But, before we do, let’s set the stage a little. Isaiah is going to mention 2 regions: Zepulun and Naphtali. These are northern tribes. In what would be considered the northern regions of Galilee, on the north and west of the Sea of Galilee.
Whenever foreign countries invaded Israel, Zebulun and Naphtali would be the first to overrun. When Assyria conquered Israel and 722, Zebulun and Naphtali were one of the first to be deported and lost.
The passage also talks about the Way of the Sea, which is the path of that Assyrian raid, as they took over Israel.
When the region was resettled, it was one of the farthest regions from Jerusalem and the religious influence. So, it naturally took on influences from areas around. It became a hodgpodge of cultures and religious. During Jesus’ day, it was known as the Galilee of the Gentiles, showing how pervasive non-Hebrew people and cultures were in this area.
You will also see the term “Beyond the Jordan” which refers to the area east of the Jordan, often called Transjordan area.
Each of these terms combine to talk about the least likely area of Israel, the far northern section that was the most militarily oppressed and most influenced by pagans. Prophecies about blessing you would think would refer to good spots.
But this prophecy is talking about the area that no one wants to remember: the ghetto of the city, the California of America, that one house and family that you wish wouldn’t be here, because, well you know.
But it is also a place that has experienced a whole bunch of trauma, grief, war crimes, abuse, and the population was reeling from it.
With that, let’s read Isaiah 9: 1-7
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Pray
Israel was living in darkness, from the northern portion that had experienced destruction after destruction, to Jerusalem, which wouldn’t experience it for another 150 years. They were looking for light in the darkness. Peace in the aftermath of chaos. But, they couldn’t find it.
Many who heard this prophecy thought that Isaiah was referring to the son of a king, a descendant of David, who would bring this light, this peace, this joy. But, you can follow the line down: Ahaz, no that didn’t happen. Hezekiah. He did a lot of good, but none of this passage happened. Maybe Josiah. Nationwide revival happened under him, but also more wars. He actually died in a senseless battle.
Definitely not:
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
You could ask this of any of the kings, prophets, revolutionaries, from 722 BC to the next millenium. No one fulfilled these prophecies.
Until one day, a man by the name of Zechariah stood over his baby boy and said:
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Thirty years after Zechariah, his baby, John the Baptist, is thrown into jail, and Jesus goes to Galilee:
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
God, through the Messiah, Jesus, brings light to those under darkness. He brings it to the souls of those who follow him and he brings it ultimately at the end of time when those warrior’s boots and blankets will be burned and peace will reign when Jesus is sitting on the throne.
You have experienced a taste of his peace, if you have made the decision to accept him as your savior. You know what I am talking about. If you haven’t made that decision, let me introduce you to him.
This baby who was born 2000 years ago, placed into that stable, he is called by many names. We know him by his given name, Jesus, but Isaiah describes him in four ways. Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father. Prince of peace.
Let’s take those each, one by one.
1. Wonderful Counselor
1. Wonderful Counselor
Isaiah writes:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful counselor.
Israel has been overrun by wars. They have been trying to figure out how to save themselves as bigger countries try to take them over, or use them as bargaining chips against even bigger nations. They have turned to Egypt and will turn to Babylon to help them against the Assyrians. They seem to turn to everyone, except for their God.
But, the Messiah, in the midst of political situations that sometimes seem to be as dark and hopeless as in the days of Isaiah, is the wonderful counselor. Why turn to other people and other things for questions and advice, when the king of the universe, the one who spoke all things into existence by the power of his word, can be approached anytime.
God holds out his hands to rebellious people, like the Galilee of the Gentiles, to turn from trusting in political alliances, mediums, and the spirits of the dead because God is their only true source of hope. Neither Ahaz nor any modern political figure can ever hope to bring about an era of perfect peace and justice. Only God’s wonderful plans will bring about these ideals, not the plans the king of Israel or any other fast talking politician. God’s promises will only be accomplished through his chosen messianic ruler, so placing trust in any other solution is folly.
What are we putting our trust in for wisdom, guidance, direction? What are we turning too immediately instead of God?
Jesus came as the wonderful counselor. And one day, he is coming again, and through is wisdom, guidance, and direction, he will reign over a time of justice and righteousness.
Not only his he the wonderful counselor
2. Mighty God
2. Mighty God
But, he is the mighty God.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus, the Messiah, was not just an ordinary man. He is the eternally existent, son of God. Very God of very God, having no beginning and no end.
As John writes, so poetically at the start of his Gospel:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Jesus is the Mighty God!
What does this mean? Well, he created everything.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Light shining in darkness.
Since he created everything, he sustains everything.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is able to do that, because as Mighty God, he is all-powerful.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Since he is all-powerful, he is in control.
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.
He is sovereign over everything. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
Jesus is the Mighty God. Just as we should turn to Jesus as counselor, we must bow before him as King, God, creator and sustainer. Woe to the one who does not do this. It is a fearful thing to be in the hands of an angry God.
Jesus is wonderful counselor, mighty God.
3. Everlasting Father
3. Everlasting Father
He is the everlasting father.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Now, anyone who has studied the Trinity might feel a little catch in their throat when they consider Jesus as the Everlasting Father, because he is not the father. He is the son.
Those who haven’t studied the trinity: We believe in one God who exists in three person, father, son and holy spirit. Each are equally, completely, fully God. But, they are not the same. The father, son and holy spirit are completely distinct from each other. And if you try to describe it in the form of a metaphor, you will probably commit heresy.
So, what is going on here? Why is Isaiah, compelled by the Holy spirit, saying that Jesus, the Messiah, is the everlasting father?
Well, in the original language, this can be translated two ways: The father who is everlasting or the father of everlasting. Many people read Everlasting Father as the father who is everlasting. Others agree with me that this is actually Father of everlasting or Father of Eternity. Father in Hebrew culture is the person who originates something, brings something to be.
He is the one who brings eternity about.
The most famous Bible verse says:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
No one else is able to provide eternal life. No other religion. No other person. No other path. No other god. Only Jesus.
Which is why Isaiah could write:
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
Because he is the one who brings eternity.
What is that eternity going to be like…. Well, that is what the beginning of the chapter is talking about. It is a time of joy and peace. Everything will be right. There will be no wrong. So sin, no sickness, no death, no destruction, no broken relationships.
First in the Millennial kingdom, which this chapter is specifically referring to, and then in the eternal kingdom, when Satan and his demons and all those who follow them will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Jesus is the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father,
4. Prince of Peace
4. Prince of Peace
Prince of peace.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Peace sounds so good.
Naphtali and Zebulun wanted peace. Judah wanted peace. The world wants peace. And we keep trying to find it in all the wrong places. And Jesus is standing there, saying: “I’m right here! If you want peace, come to me!”
Before Jesus died, he told his disciples:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to the disciples:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
Jesus is the one who brings peace.
Paul, who went through so many things: shipwrecks, homelessness, floggings, stonings. He wrote:
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
He brings peace where there is no peace. Hope in the face of hopelessness. Light where there darkness.
Now, all this is great. However, why did Isaiah write this to the people of Israel during this time?
In this section, Isaiah attempted to convince his listeners that God can be trusted and that his promises for a glorious kingdom for his people will be fulfilled (even though he knows that most will be hardened). Judah must not follow the mistaken pattern of sinful pride and oppression like Israel and Assyria lest they suffer the same fate. Instead, they should trust God in spite of their oppressors, for the good news is that God will soon remove their enemies Israel and Assyria. Eventually, their Messiah will reign forever over the all nations and God will establish a period of justice and peace.
We know that Judah did not repent, but instead followed the pattern of pride and ungodliness. They were taken over by Babylon and ultimately Rome. Which set the stage for the coming King, Jesus.
He came with this simple message: repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. Trying to convince Israel to trust God again and enter into that kingdom that was promised. But the only way to enter was through the man, Jesus Christ.
What are you needing today?
Do you need counsel? Turn to the Wonderful counselor.
Do you need hope? Turn to the Mighty God.
Do you need perspective? Turn to the Eternal Father.
Do you need peace? Turn to the prince of peace.
The only solution to the problems of this world is Jesus. Let us follow him.
