Advent II
TOPIC: DARKNESS IN THE MIDST OF LIGHT
TEXT: Isaiah 9:1-7(NKJV)
9:1. Nevertheless 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.
9:2. 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.
9:3. 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.
9:4. 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.
9:5. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning [and] fuel of fire.
9:6. For unto us a Child is born, 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.
9:7. 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.
STUDY:
Advent focuses on John the Baptist, the Gentiles being included in God’s family, Christ’s coming in judgment and peace, and the church’s hopeful expectation of the completion of his promises. Today’s passage is one of the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah. It partly says: “The people who dwelt in darkness have seen a great light.” Jesus’ birth brought the fulfillment of this prophecy. John later said of Him: “… in Him was life and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Before the creation of the 1st Adam, the world was full of darkness; without form and void. And God said ‘let there be light and there was light.’ Similarly, before the coming of the 2nd Adam (the Great Light), the earth was filled with spiritual darkness. However, though all who sat in darkness saw the great light, there was no guaranty that they all left darkness. Though darkness did not comprehend the light, the light did not “kill” darkness. Darkness left the public space where the light appeared and entered into the private residence prepared by men who loved darkness. Beloved, darkness has lost its legal authority over you by Christ’s birth and death. As we look forward to another Christmas, let us ask the Lord to shed His light in every darkened spot in our lives.
PRAYER:
Lord, may I experience You, the Great Light, to the fullest and in its fullness, Amen!
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