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Read Isaiah 9:1-7
Let us dive back into Isaiah together. So far the Isaiah story: God sent Isaiah as a prophet—to prophecy to the people of Judah (God’s people) The book of Isaiah is broken up into three major parts. 1. The Sin of the Kingdoms (God’s Judgment) Isaiah 1-39 2. The Restoration Of Judah after the Exile (Isaiah 40-55). 3. The Promise of New Heaven and Earth (Isaiah 56-66)
Prophecy is always two fold 1. It always talks about future events 2. That will edify/ build up the current community towards rightful, moral living within God’s covenant. Isaiah Ch. 9:1-7 is a future promise to God’s people to tell them that God has a sign of hope for them. God has redemption planned for His people, redemption that only God can bring.
We do not deserve God’s love and grace
But God given us His love and grace regardless if we believe in God or not, that grace is there for us to accept. All we need to do is have faith in Christ and Christ alone. Let us live in this hope found only in Christ.
Definition of Grace: 5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them. (Strong’s dictionary)
Isaiah 9:1-7 is God’s extension to His people (His Grace)
1. This passage is about Jesus. Only Jesus can save. Only Jesus is the light. Jesus is God, Immanuel (God with us).
-Jesus is the light that the people in darkness see. Matthew directly ties Jesus to the fulfillment of this prophecy found in verse 1.
“The Land of Zebulun and the Land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of Death, upon them a Light dawned.
From that Time Jesus began to preach and say ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” --Matthew 4:15-7
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was the beginning with God…In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” --John 1:1 & 4-5
In Isaiah 7:14 God tells Ahaz that He will send a sign of HOPE.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God with Us).” Isaiah 7:14
Jesus is God with us. God is pointing towards a future event for the people of Judah thorugh the prophet of Isaiah during a time of judgement on them. They are judged because they have ran away from God’s covenant—God isn’t enough for them anymore. So God is revealing His plan for hope and redemption—a free gift He will give His people (Grace). A gift of hope, peace, joy all found in salvation which only God can give.
2. Jesus is victorious over every earthly opposition—Jesus/ God is above all of it.
Isaiah is telling His people, the remnant that God will leave, that He has victory over everything on this earth.
“You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness, they will be glad in Your presence, as with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For you shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle of tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for the burning fuel for the fire.”
Isaiah 9:3-5
This victory will be a complete victory, everything that opposes God will be destroyed and conquered just as the Israelites conquered the Midianites in Judges 7. So how will this victory look? Will it be violent, oppressive, aggressive? Will God wage war with His angelic hosts?
No. God’s victory plan involves Himself coming down to our level as the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The God /Man.
3. Jesus’ victory is found in a baby, a peaceful man who provided for people, fed people and eventually died for people as a sinless man. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
He died to give humanity the most wonderful gift of all time. Grace found in salvation. We are victorious because of what Jesus has done—not by what we have done. Jesus defied the natural world, sacrificed Himself, and defeated the grave three days later. Why did He do this? Because He loves His Creation and He saved Us for eternity. He gave us a free gift of wonderful grace. He is the light in our darkness.
Jesus is the prince of peace, the government rests on His shoulders (he is the head) He is a wonderful counsellor, He brings life, not death, and in the end, His kingdom will last where ours will crumble, He is victorious and those who have faith in Him and Him alone are victorious and peace-filled because of Christ.
God’s master plan was to reach out to humanity—to His beloved creation. Even in the midst of judgement—God still gives grace. God loves you.
Ask yourself this when you hear this: What are you thankful for when hearing the story of Jesus?