Unto Us a Child is Born

Introduction

The external threat of Isaiah’s day was the militant Assyrian Empire rising to power in the east. The question forced upon Judah by this threat was one of trust: in what will God’s people trust for salvation—in human strategies of self-rescue, or in prophetic promises of divine grace?

Theme of this section of Isaiah: WHO WILL WE TRUST?

Israel, who demanded a king generations before, since having David and Solomon has had mostly failure kings

They now find themselves under the reign of a new king

Judah is in political upheaval.

The northern tribes of Israel are creating an alliance with ???

Just north of them, a global superpower is rising to power in Assyria

They are

Who will the people of God trust in? Political leaders who promise power and peace, or will they trust in God and the coming Prince of Peace?

The Fear in Our Dark World (Isaiah 7-8)

Ahaz was a bad leader

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

Divided Kingdom

Over a period of some 500+ years the family of Abraham multiplied so that by the time of Moses in Egypt, they were a nation. Moses is used by God to free them from enslavement in Egypt, they receive the Torah, the Covenant at Mount Sinai, and they are led to the Promised Land. Once they take the promised land and set up each of the 12 tribes with different land in which to settle, they do something no kingdom had done. They don’t name a king. Rather, they have judges who are champions for

But now, the kingdom of Israel was divided. In the north, you had what often was referred to as Ephraim or commonly, Israel. In the south, Judah.

Decision to Trust

Isaiah told Ahaz not to fear the alliance of Northern Israel and Syria. God would protect them.

Isaiah 7:3-9 tells us that God told Isaiah the alliance would not stand. Specifically he told Ahaz to not FEAR.

Isaiah 7:4 “And say to him, Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint...”

Why should King Ahaz not fear?

Isaiah 7:7 “thus says the Lord God: “ ‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.”

God gives Ahaz a promise: the power you fear should not

Isaiah 7:9 “...If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’ ””

Destructive Compromise

Ahaz was not just a leader who stoked division, who brought about destruction, but he was a leader that walked in darkness. One that would compromise on principles to protect his power. We see this in II Kings 16:7-8 - when faced with this threat from the North, Ahaz not only seeks an alliance with a wicked king to preserve his political power, he is willing to steal from the house of the Lord.

2 Kings 16:7–8 (ESV)

So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” Ahaz also took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent a present to the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 8:22 (ESV)

And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

APPLICATION

We have bad leaders today. Both sides of the aisle. Things are overly politicized. Issues are used as weapons for those in power to retain and accumulate more power. The system is set up so that political leaders are incentivized for us to be divided as a nation because it rallies their base to support them. Areas where there needs to be serious conversation and debate turns into a shouting match and an attempt to make my side look smart and successful and the other side to look foolish and evil.

For us, as the people of God, we must engage the culture without losing the Gospel. This means being involved and informed politically, yet not to idolize or identify politically.

Let me speak to those of you who are not Christians that have come here today or are watching online. I’m not sure if you are watching/here because someone invited you to come, if you have been asking questions and found us through our facebook page because a friend of a friend shared this service, or you yourself are not sure why you came. If you are here, and if you are a young adult like myself in your 20’s or 30’s it is likely the politics the church of Jesus Christ has identified with that has kept you from church. Not necessarily the beliefs, the doctrines of Christianity, but the entanglement with politics.

The church has become overly politicized. The word “Evangelical” is now primarily identified as a voting bloc. If it wasn’t already apparent why that is an issue, consider that they divide evangelicals by the color of our skin. What does the word evangelical mean? Literally - “GOSPEL.” We are to be a gospel people. If we are known for one thing, it is the gospel. If we post on our social media about only one thing, it is the gospel. If we find one thing to talk about in our family gatherings, it is the gospel.

This week, the Dobbs case was argued before the Supreme Court. This is the first legitimate challenge to the Roe v. Wade decision nearly 50 years ago. That decision has led to the death of millions of children every year. Which also means millions of mothers and fathers hurting over the false promise of freedom if they go through this tragedy. Some of you - many of you - in this room may have experienced an abortion personally or are close with someone else who has. God is a God of grace and this church, I pray, is a place of grace. We care about life in the womb, in no small part because of Christmas. We believe Psalm 139 “God knit us together in the womb” and that “our days have been counted.” That when Jesus was in Mary’s womb he was proclaimed by an angel to be the Son of God (not that he would become the Son of God). So we, as Christians, hold tightly to the value of all life, from life in the womb to elderly care entering hospice.

The Hope of Our Bright Future (Isaiah 9:1-5)

The coming light

The defeated oppressors

The eternal King

THE COMING LIGHT

Isaiah 9:1 (ESV)

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 is a glorious future Isaiah sees as if it is something that has happened in the past. God has given a promise of hope. In contrast to the distress and darkness of the visible reality around them, for a moment the veil is lifted and Isaiah can see plainly what is before the people of Israel. And it is not gloom, but glorious. And where does it begin? In Galilee. Where Jesus would begin his ministry.

WHY IS VERSE 2-7 PRINTED LIKE A PSALM?

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

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.

Why will there be no gloom where the darkness has been absolute? Because the people have seen a great light.

God created this light

Genesis 1:3–4 ESV

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

And ultimately, even the light points us to Jesus:

John 1:4–5 (ESV)

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Practical application for you: when you drive around Oklahoma City to look at Christmas lights, stop as a family to consider how Christmas lights penetrate the dark night. Even though the lights are not typically large, you can clearly see every one. Light has this ability to break through the darkness. The brightness is not burdened by the dark. The dark can do nothing to dim the light. Light shines in the darkness. And for people who are lost in the dark, given a light they can find home again.

This passage in contrasting the dark hopelessness of chapters 7-8 promises a hopeful light. He speaks of it as if it has already come to pass.

THE DEFEATED OPPRESSORS

Isaiah 9:3 (ESV)

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.

The nation has been multiplied - the faithful few have increased! And the result? An increase in joy!

Trusting God’s power and protection for you will not always lead to decreased suffering, but it always leads to deeper joy.

Isaiah 9:4–5 (ESV)

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.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

The yoke of his burden (King Ahaz) is heavy. The staff The rod of the oppressor is real.

THE ETERNAL KING

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

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.

The Promise of Our Coming King

We Look Back and See Jesus

Luke 2:8–11 (ESV)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Savior - people under Rome’s rule called the Caesar “savior.” Christians look the word and used it of Christ.

Host - military term for a band of soldiers (common in ancient Greece.) Battalion of cosmic warriors sparkle in the sky declaring “peace”

In contrast to King Ahaz whose fear led him to declare an allegiance to a wicked king, the true king when he enters the world brings peace.

Do you need peace this Christmas? Perhaps the peace you are seeking will only come when you change your perspective. Peace is not obtained through

English Standard Version Chapter 2

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14  “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

We Look Forward and See Jesus

This prophecy was not fully filled in Isaiah’s day. Rather it was pointing to a day still to come. And yet… this prophecy is not fully fulfilled in Christ.

Revelation 22:16–17 (ESV)

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Revelation 22:20 (ESV)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

This Advent, this Christmas, there should be a piece of your holiday that leaves you unfulfilled.