Opening Scriptures: Isaiah 8:21 – 9:1 – 7
Let me remind you that when the Bible was written there were no chapter divisions. It was not until later that chapter divisions were placed into scripture so that would could get some organization when finding passages
Introduction
I mentioned last Sunday that Isaiah talked about two areas. There was the judgement of God and the redemption plan. Last Sunday we saw how I
God gives King Ahaz an opportunity to see the deliverance hand of God. Yet Ahaz refuses a sign. There was so much more than Ahaz. This was about Israel, this was about God sending redemption.
Israel plunges into darkness.
Plundged into great darkness. Darkness of sin. Darkness of oppression. Darkness of rebellion.
Isaiah 8:21 They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse [p]their king and their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless,
In spite of what it looks like. There is about to be a change. God is intervening on the scene. Notice there is a comma there which means to pause. Which means we need to stop right here and soak everything in.
Selah time. Rest. Pause. Think.
Psalm 3 contains the words Selah three times, at the end of sections of thought, and at the very end of the Psalm:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah
Child of Hope
With just one word, "Nevertheless," Isaiah erases all of the gloom of darkness over the earth and foresees the dawn of a "great light," bringing hope even to those who live in the land of the "shadow of death" (Isa_9:2). How true to the character of God! Not even the darkest gloom can keep the light of His presence from shining, even upon those who live in the land of the shadow of death.
But God Moment
43 times in scriptures that phrase is used. It shows God’s intervention in the darkest of moment. When it seems all hope is lost. When it seems that there is no other way to go. When we are at the rock and a hard place.
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. (2) The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Why? There is a Great Light to be light upon the world. This is a prophetic passage of the coming Messiah.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”
John 8: 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Great light
(3) You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
This great light brings joy to all the world. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king.”
(4) For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. (5) For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
War will not be necessary when the prince of peace comes.
A Child is Born
(6) For unto us a Child is born, (connecting to Isaiah 7:14) Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful – the wonder of God.
Wonderful in the Hebrew is "pele" and is used only of God, and it means, "To accomplish things that are too hard, hidden, things too high, to do or show marvelous works, miracles; to perform, to be, or to make great, wondrous things."
The mystery of God. The mysterious ways of God. The mysterious ways in which He works. The incredible way in which God intervenes. As in this situation here. The unexpected and unfathomable way in which God finds a way.
He will find a way to intervene.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Counselor
He is "Counselor." Who is the Counselor? John 14:15-16, "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth." Another _ (Greek_ allos) - means one who is exactly like something else. Jesus is saying that He and the Holy Spirit are exactly alike. The Counselor is the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, One who walks alongside of you, who guides you, who teaches you. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor (supernatural, wonder working, beyond our imagination, above what we can even think, guide, teacher, intercessor)
Mighty God
This describes the power of God.
Here is the real "Christ of Christmas". I sometimes wonder whether beneath all the busyness of the Christmas season if we realize the truth that God became man.
Think of this "priceless" Christmas gift - God became man. "Emmanuel" - "God with us"
God became flesh. “In the beginning was the word and the word was God. The same John 1:1
The simplest Hebrew word for God is “El”. It is the word that is used to refer to the one true God, the creator, the supreme being. It is used in conjunction with other words to give God a variety of more specific names such as “El Shaddei” or “God Almighty”. It is never used of a man – in fact it is often used as the opposite to the word “man”, eg “God is not a man”.
Here, it is combined with the word “gibbor”, hero. In giving the child this name, Isaiah is describing him as a hero who is far more than Moses or Joshua or David; he is calling him a divine hero, a God who does heroic acts. This is the God of salvation. Isaiah says in 10:21, just a chapter and a half later, when talking about Israel returning from captivity in Babylon:
“A remnant will return, will return to the Mighty God.”
Think of Christ, healing the blind, the lame, the sick; think of Christ calling Lazarus from the tomb; think of Christ, rising triumphantly from the grave, victorious over sin and death! Is there a greater hero than the Lord Jesus Christ? He is El Gibbor, the Mighty God.
Everlasting Father
Personal God.
As Father He is Life Giver.
When you pray, pray “Our Father”. This changes the relationship. He is everlasting. Bringing eternal life. He is our father.
The best things about a good father include: compassion, loving care, protection, guidance, support, encouragement. Throughout the Bible God is called “Father”.
Prince of Peace
It may be hard to see a time where there is world peace. It will happen.
Peace
When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds to herald the birth of Jesus they shouted, “Glory to
God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace” (Luke 2:14). During Christmas time we reflect on the birth of the Prince of Peace. In Christ we have peace with
God and peace with others. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you” (John 14:27).
In the Old Testament, the word shalom is a state of wholeness and harmony that is intended to resonate in all relationships. When used as a greeting, shalom was a wish for outward freedom from disturbance as well as an inward sense of well-being. To a people constantly harassed by enemies, peace was the premiere blessing. In Numbers 6:24-26, God gave Moses these words to use when blessing His people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
(7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
What did Jesus say to Pilate?
Jn 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight to prevent my arrest …. {but} my kingdom is from another place.”
Conclusion
God wants to give a Nevertheless moment in your situation. God wants to show you that He can do the impossible. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He wants to bring light to your darkness.
