210: The Lights of Christmas; Isaiah 9.1-7

Intro

Finally ok to listen to Christmas music

Darkness - Christmas lights

Darkness of life - The hope of Christmas

Transition

We’re not stopping today at the traditional narratives.

8th century BC—

Context and the end of chapter 8

Didn’t follow God the way they used to.

Fighting with Israel

Assyria

Always winter and never Christmas

Darkness - People looking for answers in all the wrong places

Isaiah says, “If the advice doesn’t mesh with God’s word, they have no light.”

So he points them in the right direction and lets them in on God’s plan.

Along the way I’ll provide some historical context to give insights.

Text

Isaiah 8:19–22 NIV

19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

Is 8.19-

Always winter and never Christmas

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Isaiah 9:1–2 NIV

1 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— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

The Light of Christmas

In the middle of distress, God promised Christmas. Christmas was, and is, God’s plan to change everything.

Christmas would be

Zebulun and Nephtali were in Northern Israel near the Sea of Galilee, but they were the first to fall to Assyria. But that doesn’t mean God was done with them. God had a plan for them yet! The light of Christmas was coming!

In spite of their sin and struggles, God was going to show up and be raised in Galilee.

To those living in deep darkness.

If you’ve spent much time walking around in the darkness, you’ll know it can be dangerous.

Hunting story

Darkness is a powerful metaphor in scripture.

Danger

Fear

Ignorance of God

Sin

Shadow of death

We should be careful when we look back at them in judgement. Sooner or later we all end up in the darkness. Sooner or later we all in up stumbling around in the dark.

A light has dawned. Christmas was coming. Poetry. The tense changed το the perfect tense (completed).

Now Isaiah defines what he means.

The tense changed το the perfect tense.

Isaiah 9:3–5 NIV

3 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. 4 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. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

Is 9.

Christmas Defined

Christmas is marked by joy!

He has enlarged the nation.

Consider the context. The nation is split and the North had fell to Assyria. They were gone. Most walked around in darkness, ignorant of YHWH. Were God’s promises trustworthy?

You have enlarged the nation! This is much larger than you thought.

In Isaiah’s poem, joy sweeps over the people.

Three pictures

God’s people grow in number

The harvest is incredible

Instead of getting beat-up. They divide the spoils of war.

As in the days of Midian

Unlikely hero named Joshua (Yeshua).

Christmas will make everything different.

He covers all their fears and replaces them with every sort of joy imaginable.

Consider the context. The nation is split and the North had fell to Assyria. They were gone. Most walked around in darkness, ignorant of YHWH. Christmas changes all that!

Light replaced darkness, plenty replaced famine, deliverance replaced oppression. Joy replaced death. Everything would change because of Christmas.

About 750 years later, angels would light up the night sky and say, “Don’t be afraid…peace on earth.” Christmas somehow brings “shalom.”

Shalom is more than simply an absence of conflict

Shalom - illustrate

Illustrate

What is the scariest thing in your life?

Let God’s word speak to you this morning. Christmas is the beginning of God’s incredible plan to make everything sad come untrue.

Illustrate

But how? How is God going to do this?

Isaiah 9.6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV

6 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. 7 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.

Christmas is explained

How will God rescue his people? With an angelic army? With spectacular miracles? Nope, just like with Midian, he is going to do something not spectacular, but seemingly weak. He didn’t offer a General, he offered a baby. In fact, God is so strong that he overcomes his enemies by becoming vulnerable, transparent, and humble.

Unto us a child is born—a son is given. Isaiah puts himself in the mix. Unto us...

The hope of Christmas isn’t a feel-good story about a young couple beating the odds. Christmas is real hope for all people! Not because it’s inspirational, but because it is true. Christmas is about the King of Heaven coming to remove fear, right the wrongs, and bring life.

Government on his shoulders?

Government on his shoulders?

Four divine titles that bring the light of Christmas to a dark world.

Best understood by understanding the context

Wonderful Counselor

Lit. “A Wonder of a Counselor”

So many voices, offering direction and advice

Isaiah is saying what this child has to say is supernatural.

Its so easy to write off Jesus...

Hear him today

Fear, hurting, lonely

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Hurting

Lonely

Struggling with the weight of your choices.

John 3:16–17 NIV

16 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

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Even if he has humbled you… the hope of Christmas is the story of God’s faithfulness! Zebulun and Naphtali.

Mighty God

I broke Jesus? I may meet him!

Weak Jesus? Nope. This Jesus will carry the full might of God, a power so great that he could handle all the sin of those who would put their trust in him.

This King is willing to fight for you, and he carries the full weight of the power of God himself.

The miracles were incredible signs but the full strength of Jesus is seen on the cross when he says, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing?”

Even to the cross

Everlasting Father

We may act like we don’t have a father, but he is a Father nonetheless.

Galatians 4:6 NIV

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Christmas demonstrates that God is faithful when we aren’t.

We cry out Abba

Prince of Peace

Others may promise, but only Jesus brings peace.

Shalom

Close

When we think of Christmas we think of; family, gifts, and so on. All wonderful but Christmas is so much more. Christmas is about a promised child, a child that would dispel darkness, a child that would bring light.

And the fact that this was written nearly 800 years prior, gives me confidence for what he’ll do in the future.