A GREAT GRACE GIVEN

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 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. 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. 6 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. 7 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.

I. HEED HIS WARNING

Isaiah 8:11–22 ESV

11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” 16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

Isaiah 8:12 ESV

12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.

Isaiah 1–39 (2) Fearing God, Not Military Might (8:1–18)

The righteous must stand firm; they cannot fear what other people say or do.303 Although others will talk about a “conspiracy” (qešer),304 Isaiah and his followers were not to get caught up in this talk and fear mongering. The nature of the conspiracy is not explained but several options are available. (a) In 7:4 God warned Ahaz not to fear the conspiratorial alliance of Rezin and Pekah against Judah; (b) Ahaz’s agreement with Assyria might be seen as a conspiracy; (c) some could have accused Isaiah and his disciples of planning a conspiracy because of their opposition to Ahaz’s plans; (d) rumors could arise about an internal coup to depose Ahaz (with Tabeel in 7:6); or (e) some might view God as having a conspiracy to destroy his people.305 Since God warns them not to agree with “everything” others present as a conspiracy, it appears that the people of Judah were talking about several conspiracies. The exhortation does not deny that there will be some conspiracies, it merely warns against being paralyzed by fear concerning all the rumors that will arise in the coming days.

Isaiah—God Saves Sinners Grace

The message here is that a God-consciousness redefines urgency: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread” (v. 12). Ahaz and Judah were wringing their hands over the Syro-Ephraimite threat, the way we fear terrorists today. And God’s remnant is not without fear. But their whole approach is different. The way they see it, they dare not overlook God. They see God at work in the events swirling around them. And in fearing him, they stabilize themselves.

Isaiah 8:16–18 ESV

16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Isaiah—God Saves Sinners Grace

But hypocrites—the majority in Isaiah’s day—choose a darkness that falls with increasing devastation (vv. 19–22). Our only safety is seen in verse 20: “To the teaching and to the testimony!” In other words, “Run to the truth!” And those who don’t? “If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (v. 20). Isaiah’s people had the truth, but they didn’t value it as their guide for life. Why? “They have no dawn”—no illumination within. Real faith and unreal faith are as different as light and darkness, even with the Bible open before us. But grace imparts to the remnant a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God, so that the eyes of their hearts are enlightened to all that he’s worth, and they live in wealth and light (Ephesians 1:17, 18).

II. A GREAT LIGHT COMING

Isaiah 9:1–3 ESV

1 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. 2 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. 3 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.

Matthew 4:12–17 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Isaiah 8:21–9:1 ESV

21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. 1 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.

III. THE GREAT GRACE OF GOD

Isaiah 9:4–7 ESV

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. 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. 6 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. 7 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.

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

7 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.

Isaiah—God Saves Sinners Chapter 10: The Triumph of Grace Over Our Failure: Judah II

His passion is driving history toward the final triumph of grace in the messianic kingdom.

Isaiah—God Saves Sinners Triumph

Look at Jesus. As the Wonderful Counselor, he has the best ideas and strategies. Let’s follow him. As the Mighty God, he defeats his enemies easily. Let’s hide behind him. As the Everlasting Father, he loves us endlessly. Let’s enjoy him. As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us while we are still his enemies. Let’s welcome his dominion.