Isaiah's Prophecy

Day 2

Isaiah 9:2-7

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The nation of Israel was in the midst of what was perhaps the darkest time in their history to that point. Despair ruled the day—the political situation seemed hopeless, the enemies of God’s people were everywhere. Enter the Prophet Isaiah, who relayed God’s message to his people.

God always will because God always has. Isaiah reminded the people of how the Lord had used Gideon to lead a militia of 300 men, equipped with only clay pots, torches, and trumpets, to share in his defeat of the mighty Midianite army, that was about 450 times the size of the Israelite forces, to rescue his people (Judges 6-7). Victory is not found in human wisdom or strength or ability; victory is of the Lord alone.

In God there is hope and power and victory! God always will because God always has. Through Isaiah, God made the ultimate promise—to send his Deliverer, the Messiah, to rule and to reign forever, to turn chaos to peace, to shine light in the darkness, to protect and to guide his people. This Messiah is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

We live in times of deep darkness, in an age of confusion and despair like none we have ever known. The promise made through Isaiah to the people of Israel centuries ago is God’s promise to us still today. God always will because God always has. No matter the powers that be, God is still the ultimate Ruler and he is still in control. We can trust God in Christ to care for us and deliver us as his people. He proved His love and power by the death on the cross and resurrection from the grave of Christ. Jesus said that he will never leave us or forsake us. We have his promise of His constant presence and guidance in the Holy Spirit. No matter what the circumstances of our lives may be, God is on our side and will ultimately deliver us. In the meantime, we can have hope, peace, and joy in Christ.

Over 300 messianic prophecies, including this one in Isaiah, were fulfilled in exact detail in Jesus Christ. Because of this, we can trust every New Testament promise about Christ’s second coming. God always will because God always has. We can be confident that, if we are in Christ, we will live with him eternally whenever our time on earth is finished.

In these dark and uncertain times, we can rest assured knowing that no matter what may come about from the rule of any earthly government, God’s kingdom is eternal, and nothing and no one can stand against His authority and power. Let us join together and pledge anew our lives to the One whose Kingdom has already triumphed and stands forever. Let us live in the peace and joy that only Christ can give, and let us share it with others. Let us live as disciples of the only King who lives and reigns forever, and let us realize anew the depth of love He has for us so that we would have renewed passion to make disciples who can also know and share that love. Maybe you feel like you are wandering in darkness right now or if your life seems a mess, out of control. If so, what better time than the Christmas season to give your life to the Light of the World and invite the Prince of Peace into your heart?

Both my parents were music professors and professional musicians. Every year around this time, they would play in an orchestra to accompany the 1741 masterpiece by G. F. Handel, the Messiah. As a child, I hated having to sit and wait while they rehearsed every week for weeks in advance of the performance. After giving my life to the Lord as an adult, however, I came to realize that every word in the three-hour-long work comes from Isaiah and Revelation. The lyrics for one of the sections are straight out of the glorious promise in Isaiah 9:6. This promise becomes even more powerful when reinforced by the words of the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” from Revelation 11:15 (NKJV): “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!” God always will because God always has! Amen! Glory to God!
Roger Phelps | Discipleship Pastor

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