August 08, 2024 | Be God's Light
To Us a Child is Born
Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7(NIV)
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Devotional
As we have seen, the northern kingdom of Israel was about to fall to the Assyrians. The people would be captured and assimilated into Assyrian culture. The ten tribes that made up Israel included Zebulun and Naphtali mentioned in today’s reading. All would be lost.
But Isaiah gives a word of hope, saying, “in the future [God] will honor Galilee” (v. 1). Galilee would become the region where Jesus grew up and made the headquarters of His ministry, over seven hundred years later.
When Matthew wrote his gospel about Jesus, he included these words from Matthew 4:12-17:
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
These words are a quote from Isaiah, who later went on to say in Isaiah 9:6-7,
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
How was Isaiah’s prophecy timely for the people in his day? What does it mean for us today?
Poem
The Light, Darkness Dispersion
Once upon a time ago
On tent camp expedition
With daughter and some friends of mine
Had outing as our mission
The tents were up, the campfire stoked
The sun sank low, then dark
And just as bed rolls hit the floor
My daughter’s needs did start
“Mommie, I have to ‘go’ real bad!”
“Ok,” I said, reluctant
And so we set off to the ‘john’
With ease? I was expectant
But dark the night, and rutted path
Thick tree roots made us stumble
My fault—the flashlight left in tent—
Next obvious, our tumble
But then a beam of light appeared,
My friend, had heard our waking
A flashlight beaming from her hand
Rescue, her undertaking
We walked along, now path full lit
Each step secure and certain
We reached our destination, safe
The light, darkness dispersion
On the way back, my daughter, young
Asked now the light to hold
She pointed beam way down the path
And all her steps were bold
But once again a tumble came;
My wise friend gave a teaching
“You must keep beam upon your feet,
Not far ahead, you’re reaching.”
“The beam is there to light your feet
Each step illuminating
Just like the Word of God, our light
The darkness overtaking.”
Safe now, tucked in, may daughter’s breath
At ease, deep in her sleeping
But I awake, did ponder long
God’s word, anew, now teaching
“Behold, a people, darkness tread
A great Light they shall see!
God’s glory beaming all around
Your camp; rejoicing be!”
My prayer that night, “Darkness disperse!
Your Light, my life illumine
And hold my hand along life’s path—
Grant me this close communion.”
