The Promised Son Who Pierces the Darkness

Introduction

I love The Lord of the Rings—I saw them all in theatres when they came out. And waited in line for midnight showings. I re-read the books every couple of years.

In the second book, The Two Towers, the Battle of Helm’s Deep is fought almost entirely in darkness. The enemy has come against the good men of Rohan and are seeking to wipe them out. The walls are breaking. The defenders are exhausted. The enemy is countless. Everything about the scene tells you the same thing: this battle is lost.

And then, at the darkest moment, dawn begins to break. Gandalf the White crests the hill with the riders of Rohan, with light at their backs, they charge down into the enemy.

What could not be saved from inside Helmsdeep is rescued from the outside. The darkness is broken—not by human strength that holds on long enough—but by the arrival of help.

This part of the book and movie is great because it is entertaining but there is something deeper too— it mirrors real life.

We know what it is to feel surrounded, overwhelmed, and powerless. We know what it is to live in a world where darkness feels heavier than hope.

That is exactly the world Isaiah is speaking into in Isaiah 9:1-7. God’s people are facing invasion, judgment, and spiritual collapse. Their king has abandoned the Lord. The night is deep—and rescue feels impossible.

And into that darkness God makes this promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Not a policy. Not a stronger army. But light comes. Rescue arrives.

This morning we will see three things: the darkness God’s people were walking in, the light God Himself shines into that darkness, and the King we have always needed.

Let’s read the text together now—this is God’s holy Word.

Isaiah 9:1–7 “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. 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. 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. 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. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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. 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.”

Pray

Let’s start this morning where the text does—with the darkness.

I. The Darkness (1–2)

Our passage is a proclamation of hope to Judah amidst war on their doorstep. Let me give you a little historical background to set the scene:

By this time in Israel’s history the united kingdom under David and Solomon was fractured by Solomon’s son Rehoboam in 930BC.

About 200 years later—our text picks up—Isaiah is a prophet during the reign of King Ahaz in Judah—Judah is the southern kingdom who continued in the line of David. And the kingdom is not doing well—darkness threatens to enter the kingdom from outside and darkness has been spreading from within.

And it is into this moment of national turmoil in Judah that Isaiah prophesies a coming light. Let’s see verses 1 and 2 again:

Isaiah 9:1–2 “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. 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.”

Gloom, anguish, contempt, and a land of deep darkness—what is in view here? Why kind of darkness are we talking about? What is happening during this time?

Physical Darkness in the land.

In chapter 8, Isaiah is warning Judah and Israel (the northern kingdom) of a coming Assyrian invasion that will sweep both kingdoms. At the time of this prophecy, Galilee had already been invaded and the regions of Naphtali and Zebulun had already been devastated and their people had been carried off into captivity.

Assyria was the strongest army in the world—and nothing was going to stop them from doing what they wanted to do.

And so the people of Israel and Judah are living with the shadow of Assyria looming on their doorstep.

And worse—the Assyrian invasion is judgment from God. In chapter 8:6, God says because you have refused my gentle rule I will bring up against you the mighty waters of the king of Assyria.

And God says these invasion waters will flood over the kingdom of Israel and into the kingdom of Judah up to the neck of Judah.

So darkness is present in the form of a pagan people who seek to conquer the people of God.

Transition: But the darkness is not only external—it also is flowing from the hearts of God’s people as well. There is…

Spiritual Darkness in the land.

The chief agent of spiritual darkness in Judah is King Ahaz. The king was meant to be the chief shepherd of the people—called to lead the nation in faithfulness to the Lord. But King Ahaz stands out as one of the most wicked kings Judah ever had.

Ahaz worshiped idols—the false gods of Assyria. He removed the altar of the Lord from the temple and replaced it with a pagan altar. He shut down proper worship and scattered the people to the high places—exactly what God had forbidden. And in desperation, with the judgment of Assyria looming, instead of turning to YHWH, Ahaz sacrificed his own children on pagan altars.

And the people followed him. As the threat of Assyria grew, Isaiah 8 tells us that the nation turned not to the Word of God, but to mediums and necromancers. The king’s heart was far from the Lord, and so were the hearts of the people.

Application

Church, there is a sobering lesson here: where leaders go, those they lead are prone to follow.

This is true in the church. It is true in the home. God has entrusted leadership to shepherds, parents, and heads of households not as a position of privilege, but as a sacred responsibility.

When we meet as a session, I regularly remind the elders of this church that we are under-shepherds to King Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Our calling is not to shape people in our image, but to lead them toward faithfulness to Christ. Because where elders lead, a church is often quick to follow.

The same is true in the home. Parents, your children are learning what faithfulness to God looks like not primarily from what you say, but from what you pursue, prioritize, and model.

So here is the diagnostic question—one that every leader, every parent, every Christian with influence should ask:

Am I leading the people God has entrusted to me toward trust in the Lord—or toward trust in something else?

Ahaz led Judah away from the Lord, and the nation followed him into darkness. God calls His people—especially those who lead—to something better.

King Ahaz leads his people to mistrust their God and to seek salvation from other places.

Transition: But this is not just a historical lesson—the spiritual darkness we see here is the same darkness we face today.

The problem here in Isaiah is not the people’s circumstances—it’s the condition of their hearts.

And that is the same problem we face now. Do you know why the Bible will always be applicable no matter how much time passes? Because primarily, the Bible deals with the human heart which hasn’t changed.

Idol worship is not just a thing of the past. Our idols just have different names now. What is an idol? Anything that you give worship to—anything that you look to as your confidence over God—anything you practically look to for your peace over God—anything you look to for your security over God.

So money is an idol. Sex is an idol. Power is an idol. We often even make ourselves idols—chief among the false gods that people worship is the idol fashioned in their own image. We don’t want a king—we want to be the king.

The rebellion we see in the hearts of the people during Isaiah’s time is the same rebellion that we see raging in our hearts here today. And we have the same need of rescue that they did. We too in this time and age have a great need for light to shine into the darkness of our culture and our lives.

The people of God in Isaiah were experiencing a darkness they could not escape on their own. They needed God to intervene and so do we.

Several years ago there was a news story about miners trapped in a mine in Brazil. The tunnel had collapsed and knocked out all power to the mine.

Soon—portable lights went out too and the miners were left in deep darkness—the kind of darkness where you can’t see anything. Darkness that leaves you blind.

For days the miners were lost in the darkness, completely disoriented—they didn’t know if their steps in the dark were getting them further lost or if they were inching towards a deadly fall.

The darkness crippled them and left them in uncertainty. And then after many hours—the rubble shifted—and a rescuer’s headlamp illuminated the darkness. Because light entered the darkness, they were able to stumble toward safety.

When darkness is the problem then light is the cure and this is exactly what we see God doing as we continue in our text. Let’s now turn our attention to the Light that God brings.

II. The Light (2–5)

Look again at verse 2–5.

Isaiah 9:2–5: “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. 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. 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. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.”

What does our text tell us about the light that shines into the darkness in Isaiah? Is it a light that the people produce? No—Isaiah says, “The light has shone on them.” The light comes from outside and breaks in.

Transition: This is crucial for us to see this: God’s saving light is never dependent on our effort—it is a divine intervention because we cannot save ourselves.

And this is a message we really need to hear. Why? Because so often we desire to live our lives before God in our own power, guided by our own desires, for our own glory.

And there is nothing more inappropriate for the child of God. Friends, God has saved us—has made us His own—and He doesn’t save His people just so they can return to their old ways—to the life they had before He rescued them. That would be like someone rescuing you from drowning and then you turn around and jump right back in the water.

When God saves a person He changes the course of their life.

Scripture is very clear about this: hear God’s Word in 2 Corinthians 5:17–19: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come…”

Transition: God brings new life that is not merely an improvement of the old—it is entirely transformative.

Friends, we need to get this. God is not an addition to your already pretty great life—you and I were not operating at 99% and we just needed God to help us with that last bit.

Scripture tells us that we were utterly lost in the darkness—we were dead at the bottom of the ocean and God burst into our life with saving light—God brought us from death to life and rescued us from the dark waters of spiritual death.

We were dead in our sins—dead—and that is the state of all people outside of God. Let’s not be fooled—people who don’t know God are not okay.

Everyone who is living outside of Christ in this world is spiritually dead and they are only living by the grace of God until their physical death catches up with their spiritual death. That’s the gospel reality.

But in Christ we are saved. And as a result the old passes away—and the new man or woman comes forth. In Christ we are given new purpose—we used to be about the business of death but now we are about the business of new life in Christ.

Transition: And this life is not just personal—it has a communal mission.

That’s what the rest of 2 Corinthians says: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” Church, do you belong to Christ? That’s a question…do you belong to Christ? Then you are to be about the business of sharing the gospel of Christ—you have been given the message of reconciliation.

And this message is so out of vogue in our culture—it is so unpopular—people hate this truth but church truth it is!

Imagine if you came to me as a doctor and I knew that you had a very aggressive cancer. This cancer is definitely going to kill you. In fact you are as good as dead. But I don’t tell you. What’s more I know the cure for your disease—but I don’t tell you. Am I a good doctor?

No—nobody would think so. As a doctor I have abdicated my duties. But friends this is how we act when we are unwilling to tell a spiritually dead world that they are dead and in need of rescue.

We cannot let the disapproval of the culture speak louder to us than the command of our Lord to go and tell of the only way by which spiritually lost people may be saved.

Am I wrong?

And this brings us back to Isaiah.

Because the hope of Isaiah 9 is not that people finally found their way out of the darkness, but that God Himself broke into it with saving light. And that light has now come in Christ.

Transition: God shines light into the darkness, and that light brings blessing to those on whom it shines. As we continue in our text, we see this in three ways.

First, God brings Joy instead of Despair.

Our text in verse 3 says, “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.”

Now, notice something important here—this joy does not come because all the darkness has disappeared. Assyria has not vanished. The threat is still real. And yet, God says joy will come anyway. Why? Because the people are learning to look beyond their circumstances to the faithfulness of the God who has spoken.

And that matters for us, because many of us come into this room carrying real burdens. Some of you are walking through grief, uncertainty, financial pressure, strained relationships, or quiet fears no one else knows about. The darkness hasn’t lifted yet—and Isaiah does not pretend that it has.

So where does joy come from?

A promise only brings comfort if the one who makes it has the power to fulfill it. And children of God, this is where our joy is anchored—not in how stable our lives feel, but in who our God is.

Our God has a track record. He has kept every promise He has ever made. He has done all that He said He would do. And that faithfulness is not abstract—it is written into the pages of Scripture and, if we’re honest, into the stories of our own lives.

From Genesis to the Gospels, to our lives today, God promises and His promises are sure.

And that is why joy is possible even in the dark. Not because life is easy—but because God is faithful.

Transition: The word of God in Isaiah’s time brought hope, and that same Word brings hope to us today.

Second, God Brings Freedom instead of Oppression.

Isaiah 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.”

What is going on in this verse? The day of Midian refers to Judges 6–7 when Gideon raised up an army 32,000 strong to defeat the Midianites.

God tells Gideon that his army is too big and whittles it down to 300 men. 300 men to fight an army of 135,000.

God proved to Gideon that he didn’t need the strength of men to deliver men. And that is what God is reminding His people of in Isaiah’s time—though Assyria is strong and mighty, He is stronger—Assyria will not prevail over all His people because He will preserve them.

Transition: And this truth applies to us today: no matter our trials, God’s strength is sufficient. Are you looking to God’s strength in the midst of your trials?

When we look at our trials and feel weak, we can rejoice because like in Gideon’s day—like in Isaiah’s day—our God’s strength is not dependent on ours. God is strong for us—God is a shield over us—and our God still protects His people.

Third, God Brings Peace instead of War.

Isaiah 9:5: “For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.”

God says this child will end for all time the need for war. The boots, the blood-covered garments will be burned up because they will not be needed anymore. Everything humanity grasps for—joy, freedom, peace—God gives in this Child. This child is the light that God is sending.

Transition: And now Isaiah brings all of this into sharp focus. The joy, the freedom, the peace—none of it comes apart from a Person. To understand the light, we must look at the King.

III. The King We Need (6–7)

Isaiah 9:6–7: “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. 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.”

As we come to the final verses of our text, Isaiah points us to the ultimate solution to the darkness we’ve been exploring. And friends, this is not a solution that comes in the form of policy, a bigger army, or political reform. The remedy for darkness—spiritual, cultural, personal—is not a program or plan. The answer is a Person. A Child is born to us; a Son is given by God. And this Child changes everything.

Look at the names Isaiah gives Him—they are not mere titles; they are descriptors of the work He will accomplish for God’s people.

He is the…

Wonderful Counselor.

He possesses supernatural wisdom. He leads His people with perfect understanding. When life is confusing, when we are lost in darkness, His counsel never fails. He knows the way to our rescue and guides us unfailingly.

He is…

Mighty God.

This is no ordinary child.

He is the divine warrior, the one who fights for His people. He does not need our strength—He is the strength of His people. Like the day of Midian, when God delivered through Gideon, the Lord does not need armies or human might to accomplish His purpose. He is God and He is mighty to save.

He is the…

Everlasting Father.

This title reminds us that He cares for His people as a father cares for his children. He provides, He protects, He never abandons.

There is no need to fear, for this Child is with us, sustaining us, upholding us, forever. His fatherly love will never end because He will never end.

And his is also the…

Prince of Peace.

Finally, He brings shalom—not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness.

He ends hostility between God and people. The curse of sin and strife cannot stand against Him. Through this Child, reconciliation comes, and peace reigns.

And His reign—listen carefully—is eternal.

Verse 7 tells us that the increase of His government and of peace will have no end. His kingdom will not decline, it will not decay. Justice and righteousness will stand forever.

And how do we know this is certain? It is guaranteed by the zeal of the LORD of hosts. God’s saving purposes do not depend on divine zeal. The Lord Himself will accomplish what He has promised.

Church, this is our hope. In the midst of darkness, in the shadow of despair, in the chaos and brokenness of the world, God has given us the King we have always needed. And He reigns, He saves, He protects, He brings peace—he is the light in the darkness who defeats the darkness of our lives.

Conclusion

So as we close, what have we seen this morning?

First, the darkness is real. Judah lived under the shadow of Assyria, just as we live in a world marked by sin, fear, and brokenness.

But then the light came. Not because the people found new strength, but because God intervened. He broke the yoke of oppression. He brought joy where there was despair, freedom where there was bondage, and peace where there had only been conflict. Rescue came from outside the darkness.

And the light comes in the form of a King—the Child born to us, the Son given, who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is the King we have always needed, and His kingdom will never end.

Church, this is our hope: where darkness seems strongest, God brings light. Where death appears final, He brings life. And nothing can thwart His purposes.

So the question is not whether the darkness is real—it is.

The question is whether we will walk in the light God has given, follow the King He has sent, and bear witness to that light in a world still stumbling in the dark. Let’s pray.