Visions of Isaiah (10)
Notes
Transcript
I love the title of Text this morning. If you have an ESV bible the title Reads For to us a child is born
And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.
Last week we ended the sermon in darkness. And it’s fitting for this time of year to think about the true meaning of Christmas. As December starts it’s important for us to get our minds right. I know for many of us Christmas is a time of Joy and celebration, but for some of us we experience darkness. I know I have talked to several who have experienced loss during this time of year or we had a tragic event happen and that loss or event can steal the Christmas joy out of our souls. We understand Isaiah 8:22 because we feel that darkness when we think about all that we had lost.
For me as a parent I’ve struggled with feeling the pressure of Christmas giving and the financial stress it put on our family. If you ask my wife, I have a tendency to become the Christmas Grinch instead of the harold of good news. I too fight the darkness of Christmas depression.
But we hit this heading-For To Us a Child is Born-We can either get bogged down by the negative or we can keep our eyes on the Reason we Celebrate Christmas. Let’s look at
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.
There will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. Then it goes into the different forms of Depression Israel had faced.
We don’t understand the geographic importance of this verse, because we didn’t live during this time, but we must understand this:
Nephtali Zebulum Jordan, Galilee were all nations on the North side of Israel and most battles most invasion came from the invaders and surrounding peoples in the North. So when the oppressors came the people in the north felt the brunt of the force of the coming army.
They experienced the hard times first and felt them the deepest, but when the kingdom of God would come God would reverse the pattern. When Jesus was born, when he was growing up and when he preformed his first miracle Jesus brought light first to those who surrounded him in Nazareth-I little fishing town that would have been overlooked by everyone in Galilee.
Where there was first darkness and depression Jesus started giving hope and shining light. He started turning their morning into dancing.
Where there used to be battle joy walked the streets.
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.
Those who walked in Darkness light was shone. They learned how to live in darkness. It’s stated that when people live in physical darkness for a long period of time their eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and body adapts it’s surrounding. The people were used to living i turmoil, but God was brining peace.
If we allow Jesus to break into our darkness he will bring light. WE know that Jesus couldn’t perform many miracles in his home town. Why? Many state it’s because people couldn’t get passed Jesus being the boy who walked to the street. That is true, but I also believe there is a different level-People who are used to darkness don’t want to undergo the necessary blinding and adjustment it takes to see the light.
It’s easy to be depressed this time of year. It takes work to he happy and push through. Your eyes so to speak have to adjust. You have to allow the light to penetrate or you end up pushing the light out
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.
This is clearly talking about deliverance. Its talking about a release from bondage.
The day of Midian is referencing the battle of Gideon. The Midianites were foreign oppressors stealing the joy from the people of God. They were enslaved to the Midianites.
Gideon went from 30,000 soldiers to 300 soldiers against an army of 100,000. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. You see, you’re story of salvation your story of overcoming gloom and dancing with joy has to overwhelm you. If it didn’t God knows that we would bask in our own glory. God knows that we would take all the credit. So God widdles away our chances so that we know it was God who brought the breakthrough.
If you are on the verge of break down you’re in a good place because you’re in a spot where God can bring the break through. If the enemy is attacking you and trying to depress you God wants to shed light and bring joy.
So he does it in the most unexpected way.
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.
So you have this child. The term government literally means ruler. So Isaiah is saying if we receive the Lordship of Jesus we will experience the counsel, the might and the everlasting peace of Jesus.
Then he states this:
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.
Of the increase of His Lordship—meaning the more of our life we hand over control to Him the more of the counsel, might, and everlasting peace of God we will experience. So if you aren’t submitting to Jesus the good news is in submission there is joy.
But if you have submitted to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the good news is that with increased submission comes the increase of light into the dark places of your life.
In other words the more of the depression that we surrender the more God’s counsel, might and everlasting peace we will have.
