The Great Light - Isaiah 8:19 - 9:7 part i

The Great Light!

You would think that God’s people, under this kind of turmoil would turn their trust to the Lord, but as we have seen, King Ahaz is turning to the gods of the countries that are oppressing him.

There are several principles that we have learned through the book of Isaiah thus far:

The Lord has adequate reason to judge Israel & Judah

The Lord is done with empty worship

The Lord brings indictment against corrupt leadership

The Lord is worthy of sacrificial service

The Lord is worthy of trust

The Lord is faithful to keep his covenant

THIS MESSAGE: The Lord is going to send light to those who have chosen darkness

We come to realize that the nation of Israel is a tremendously needy people. They are needy in the sense that they are in sin, and they need to be delivered. In this passage, the need of Israel is addressed by the Lord sending a great light!

Illustration:

When we enter the woods, it is dark, very dark. There are no street lights or lamps. Even with a flashlight, it can be very dark and hard to find your way. The day before we enter the woods, we set up our stands and mark trees that lead us to the stand. In order to find your tree stand in the dark, you have to find the first strand of tape that marks the first tree. From there you proceed to the next mark. The distance may be around 100 yards or so.

In like manner, the times in Israel had become quite darkened. Glimpses of light appear through the prophets’ preaching; but Israel needed something far greater than even the prophet’s preaching. They needed a great light!

Application:

So it is today that all mankind, whether they realize it or not, are in need of light that only the Lord of heaven can provide. As we look at this account, let’s make note of what the Lord does, and how we can respond.

(1) The Need for this Great Light -

(a) They need the light because they are seeking help in superstition -

(b) They need the light because there is scarcity of light in them -

(c) They need the light because, in their darkness, they are rebelling further from the Lord -

(d) They need the light because they are saturated in darkness - ,

(i) there is no question that this darkness can be seen as it relates to their spiritual condition. They are trusting in witchcraft/divination…etc

Consider

John 3:19 KJV 1900

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(ii) there is also no question that this darkness is in consideration of the physical vexation that is coming upon them.

(e) They need the light because of the distress because of Assyria -

(i) The affliction mentioned is speaking to the first places where Tiglath-peleser III (732BC) would come and take over (Naphtali & Zebulun)

(ii) The affliction is in the “way by the sea” - Galilee of the nations

The need for the great light cannot be denied.

Illustration:

It is pretty amazing how people who are in a bad situation, many times, wait or are unaware of the seriousness of their situation and they continue headlong further into their distraction:

A 5-month-old boy likely drowned in a bathtub this week after his father left the room to play a video game and forgot about the infant, authorities said Tuesday.

Cordarius Cotton, 23, told the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office that when he returned about an hour later, the infant was unresponsive.

In like manner, there are many people who think that they are on the right path, they are unaware of the spiritual darkness in which they continue. They may not be turning to divination, fortune telling; but they certainly turn to the dead for advice for the living.

Application:

For an unbeliever, the many times you keep rejecting the salvation of the Lord for your soul, the more hardened to the message of Christ you become. In addition, this leads you to ultimately keep seeking for answers in things/people outside of the Lord.

First, you must see that the desperate situation you are in, is not something anything or anyone can get you out of.

Illustration: There are young girls who have believed that if they just could have a baby then everything would be better.

There are young husbands who believe that if they could just make their wives happy, then everything will be hunky dory.

There are those who are placing their hopes in their children playing some kind of select sport.

There are those who are hoping in scholarships for college...

All the time, we are blinded to the fact that none of these things can deliver us from the darkness of the soul. The deeper and deeper you go, the more faith you place in the wrong things and the more desperate and anxious you become. You must realize that you are in a desperate situation because the level of control that you require and the level of anxiety that results when you don’t have control. This shows a misplaced faith.

Illustration:

Transition:

The Need for the Great Light is quite evident. Men are in darkness both spiritually and physically in distress.

(2) The Certainty of this Great Light -

(a) The certainty in how the promise is stated -

This is what is called a “prophetic perfect” or simply put, note how the past tense is used. It is absolutely certain that the Lord is going to provide spiritual healing.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(b) The certainty of joy in spite of what Israel deserved -

This shows that though they deserved oppression, the Lord has brought the light and freedom to them.

We must not miss the point here. The Lord is promising that one day He will provide a great Light who will relieve the oppressed and bring joy!

Illustration:

Transition:

The Need for the Great Light is quite evident. Men are in darkness both spiritually and physically in distress.

The Certainty of this Great Light is based upon the promise of God.

(3) The Child of this Great Light -

(a) This child is brilliantly described [to be covered in next lesson] -

(b) This child is connected to the covenant made with David - ; , ,

(i) There is a last days fulfillment in view

(ii) These last days were inaugurated when the “great light” was sent - , ,

Jesus is indeed the Great Light that has been sent to bring men out of darkness. He has come to call people out of looking for answers from the dead. He has come to call us to faith in the Lord. And yet people find themselves in a few categories today:

(i.a.) Some refuse to acknowledge him as their Lord and Savior because they just want to live their own lives in their own way. They do so rebelliously.

(i.b.) Some refuse to acknowledge him as their Lord and Savior out of ignorance and blindness. They do so ignorantly.

(i.c.) Still others refuse to acknowledge him as their Lord and Savior because they are blindly trusting that God is favorable towards them as long as they keep obeying the law. They refuse legally.

Illustration:

Do you live in fear that if you don’t keep the New Testament moral commands that you will be punished?

Do you live with the mindset that if you don’t do certain things in certain ways that you will lose the blessing of the Lord?

Do you feel like you’re always trying to make the Lord happy, but because things don’t go just right, He will be disappointed?

Conclusion:

Let me be first to remind you that nothing you do glorifies the Lord unless you are doing this out of the full faith in the sufficiency of this Child:

This means, that perfect love has cast out fear. You do not serve because you fear being punished. You serve because Jesus took all of the punishment.

This means that you serve because all of the blessings of God in Christ are yes. Knowing Christ and what you have in him more deeply allows you to experience those blessings you think you have to work for.

This means that the Lord is satisfied with Christ, and you are in Christ. Thus, your labor that is borne out of this reality is what glorifies the Lord.

The Need for the Great Light is quite evident. Men are in darkness both spiritually and physically in distress.

The Certainty of this Great Light is based upon the promise of God.

The Certainty of this Great Light is based upon the promise of God.

The Child of the Great Light is Jesus Christ. He alone is Who we need.