Advent: Hope

INTRODUCTION: What are you hoping for? Do you remember when you were a kid? Hoping for a Christmas gift? (Some story like this?)

Hope is needed most when all seems lost.

Isaiah 8:22 ESV

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.

Merry Christmas!

Read 8:22 - darkness surrounds. But something strange happens.

This is the world Jesus enters into.…its not that different than right now.

Isaiah 9:1 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.

Gloom- darkness

Her - Israel.

Anguish?

Former/latter - former is full of contempt.

Zebulun and Naphtali - Names of tribes - old names for regions, like the spanish colony of FL.

SHOW PICTURE.

Place where Israel was taken away by Assyrians. The worst since eygpt. Maybe worse.

More about the Assyrians.

Latter times - some time later, much different than before

More glorious - KJV/NKJV say afflict. But I think more accurately say they were under the burden of His glory.

Sea - sea of galilee.

Galilee of the nations or gentiles - very gentile region. Border area, very poor.

This is where Jesus came! Born bethlehem, but did ministry in Galilee!

Matthew 4:15-16

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

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.

1 in 280,000 - then eygpt, then galilee - PETER STONER SCIENCE SPEAKS!

3 Prophecies - Hosea 11:1 - out of Egypt. Micah 5:2 Bethlehem,

Alaska -darkness for a long time

“Have you experienced God’s hope?”......

I can’t even walk around my house without stepping on toy.

Plato’s allegory of the cave - Why Christians look so weird.

Alaska?

John 1:4?, Luke 1

Joy is possible in hard times because of Hope - 9:3-5

Isaiah 9:3 ESV

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.

Multiplied the nation - grafted in gentiles. John 10. Abraham multitude of people.

Joy/Rejoice - Notice this is rejoice, we should rejoice, even though they were a midst of hardships. They rejoice.

Christmas joy??

Harvest - biggest festival - last festival for many cultures was Dec 21.

You couldn’t store all the food anyway. Eat and drink - what many of us will be doing. (good excuse )

Divide the spoils - both the harvest and victory is because of the Lord.

Isaiah 9:4 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.

Yoke/Staff/Rod - Yoke - slavery. Staff- Animals? Rod - Army

Midian - Gideon , judges 6-7. 32k to 300 men against 135k. It was completely God.

Isaiah 9:5 ESV

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.

Things just got real. - no one reads verse 5 before 6. Haha this is why.

Every boot and garment - Not only were they going to be defeated, but completely. They take the clothes and burn them for fuel. Their defeat will be useful to Israel.

“Why are we living a joyless life?”

Probably because we have not seen or realized the light.

Hope is only as good as who it’s placed in. - 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

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.

Sing Messiah.

Child is born, to us a son is given - Reminiscent of Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Son is given - wife gave me a son. No one gives a son! Sign of his divinity.

Given - meaning that it was an intentional gift.

Shoulder - means they will be submissive to Him

Frequently kings had multiple titles.

Wonderful Counselor - counselor is wise leader, wonderful extra description.

Mighty God - Frequently used for God the Father. . Strong.

Everlasting Father - everlasting is a godly description. Caring.

Prince of peace - Bring peace. - Mich 5:5 he shall be their peace. Luke 2:14

They did have yoke, staff, and rod against them.

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.

Throne of David - meaning he would have to be from the line of David.

Marks of the kingdom: Justice and righteousness.

Who is your hope in?

CONCLUSION: What is hope? Confident expectation - visual illustration. Shoot a basket. Hope....Then dunk it. That’s hope.