A Great Light Will Dawn

 One dark night, Harry Hawk was talking with Harriet, his mate. "I'm really hungry. I'm going out to find a mouse." Harriet replied, "It's really dark out there. You sure?" Harry shrugged. "No harm trying." Harriet looked away. "Whatever." Harry flew off into the dark night. Hours later, the sun began to rise. Harriet saw Harry flying back with a juicy beak-full of blood. "Wow! Where'd you find that feast? "Harry pointed with a wing. "See that tree over there?" "Yeah" Harry said, "I didn't." In 8th C. BC, Isaiah's world was also dark. God called him ~ 742BC, when Uzziah died. He served through the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, & Hezekiah- ~64 yr. Assyria & Babylon were battling to dominate his world. He watched nation after nation fall. Assyria began to rise, & war ripped Isaiah's world apart. Galilee (N Israel) was 1st to feel Assyria's lash. Hope faded. Their outlook kept growing darker. Finally, during Hezekiah's reign, in 722BC Israel (N kingdom) fell to Assyria. Their people? Dispersed. Isaiah then saw Judah come into Assyria's crosshairs. Judah's hope also began to fade. Isaiah kept on prophesying till ~ 681BC. Dark times were getting darker. But God still remembered His people. Let's look at Isa 9:2, 6-7. 2aThe people walking in darkness have seen a great light. It's future. But Isaiah sees it as already done. A great light will someday dawn into his dark world. In the midst of war... In the midst of darkness... Isaiah sees a new age. The last days. The Messiah's age. What will it look like? God told him in Isa 2:1-2, 4. The eyes of all nations will turn to Jerusalem. A new world government. The KoG, & world peace. But now? Isaiah's world is as dark, spiritually, as it is politically. God indicts them in Isa 1:2, 4, 12-17. They're rebellious. Corrupt. They've forsaken the Lord. Idolatry is everywhere. To the Lord, their worship is meaningless. Everywhere Isaiah looks, there's injustice, oppression, & moral failure. His people deserve nothing from God. They're under penalty of death. Yet God is gracious & merciful. Precisely on these people, 2bOn those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. It may be dark, but light is coming. He promised. There's hope. How will God give them hope? Will He send a hero to conquer their persecutors? No! God will show the world true strength. True power. How? He'll come in weakness. Love. God will show the world. Love is true power. Love conquers all. A servant will be 1st in God's KoG. The Servant. How will God show the world? He'll become the most helpless human of all. Not rich or royal. He'll be born as a baby, into poverty. 6aFor to us a child is born. Born? He'll be human. Born, just like we are. 6bTo us a son is given. Given? This Son will also be God. God will give us His Son. 6cAnd the government will be on his shoulders. He's David's greater descendant. He'll inherit the throne prepared for Him from the foundation of the world. As David's greater descendant, He's eligible. Man sinned. Only a man should pay the price of setting things right with God. Redeeming all Creation. The problem? No human can. Only God can set things right. Therefore, this child will also be God's Son. God in the flesh. Only man should. Only God can. He's God-man. He's eligible. He can. His arrival means the dawn of a new day. A Great Light. The Light of the world, come to tent with us. The new day? God & man, reconciled. All Creation, brought out from under the curse. The Light of the world will be great. How great? 4 titles He could wear will show us. 6dHe'll be called (lit.) Wonder of a Counselor. In Hebrew, wonderful means extraordinary. Amazing. Miraculous. Humanly, no explanation. The point? His counsel will be wonderful. How so? Let's look at some of His teaching. Who's greatest in the KoG? Not what we'd think. Look at Lk 9:48. He who's least among you all-he's the greatest. God doesn't judge by our standards, either. Look at Mt 5:19-20. God judges disobeying His commandments. We get that. What don't we get? No matter how hard we try to obey, we won't enter the KoH. Why? Sin isn't just what we do. Look at Mt 5:21-22. Nursing anger is as bad as murder. And Mt 5:27-28. Even looking lustfully is adultery. And how does Jesus say to meet our needs? That's also beyond understanding. Look at Mt 6:31-33. Stop trying! Instead, seek 1st His kingdom & His righteousness. All our needs will be given to us, as well. And to be saved? Look at Jn 3:16. Stop trying to obey the commandments. All who believe in Him have eternal life. Truly, Jesus' counsel is wonderful. Amazing. Beyond us. No wonder all who heard Him were amazed. Look at Jn 10:30. 30I & the Father are one. This baby will be God's Son. God in the flesh. He could wear another title. He'll be called 6eMighty God. In Hebrew, El Gibbor. Gibbor is strength, power, or hero. Human heroes are self-made. Athletes. Billionaires. Humanly, they are mighty! The world adores them. But the One who's coming? His might dwarfs theirs! He's Gibbor. Mighty! He's also El. In the OT, El is usually the one true God. The One coming is far greater than any man. He won't just have God's power. He'll be the God of power! El Gibbor. Mighty God. God & His unlimited power in a human baby. His shoulders will carry the world's government. His shoulders will be strong enough to bear any burden we bring Him. Past. Present. Or future. The baby who is Mighty God will meet even our greatest need, salvation. He can wear a 3rd title. He'll be called 6fEverlasting Father. For centuries, this title was shrouded in mystery. What human could wear that name? None. Father of a nation (e.g., Abraham) is the highest human title. Everlasting Father is far higher. In Hebrew, father often means possessor of. He's the Father who has eternity. Jesus both lives forever & has eternity. For Him, there's no death. Instead, He's conqueror of death. In Christ, a great light of hope shines on all who live in the darkness of death's shadow. He has eternity. And in Jn 14:2-3, He promises. 2In my Father's house are many rooms. I'm going there to prepare a place for you. 3I'll come back & take you to be with me. As our Father who has eternity, Jesus gives it to His children. There's a 4th title. He'll be called 6gPrince of Peace. In Hebrew, it's Shar Shalom. The prince who brings shalom-healthy well-being. Unlike all other rulers-then & now. Worldly influence is based on power. America, the "last" superpower. Nebuchadnezzar? Pharaoh? Even David? They reigned by power & bloody conquest of others. But Jesus? His rule rests on a bloody sacrifice of Himself! And His sacrifice brought a peace unknown since Adam's sin. Peace with God. More than a truce between us & God. More than a cease-fire. Jesus' peace transforms us from God's enemies into God's children! His peace passes understanding. 7aOf the increase of his government & peace there will be no end. He'll bring peace wherever He reigns. Peace with God. Peace between Jew & Gentile. And God will bring all Creation under His rule. 7bHe'll reign on David's throne & over his kingdom. Forever. He'll 7cestablish & uphold David's throne with justice & righteousness from that time on & forever. No more injustice. No more rule by force. Only justice & righteousness. Love in action. How sure is all this? 7dThe zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Let's wrap it up. A Great Light has dawned. Jesus Christ. For now, He's reigning from heaven. But He's still the Light of the world. The Son of man has come. We have His counsel through His Holy Spirit. It's wonderful. If we follow, He'll guide us. As Mighty God, He's our Hero. His power sees us through every storm. And as our Everlasting Father, He's given us eternity. He's made us His children. And as the Prince of Peace, He puts in our hearts His peace that passes understanding. Jesus Christ, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, & Prince of Peace-He's worthy of all our love & worship. Heart, mind, soul, & strength. Today, we enter Advent, the new church year. Let's prepare the soil of our hearts. Make ready for Him to be born again in us, this Christmas. A Great Light Will Dawn - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Page 1 of 1