Isaiah 9:1-7
This is a fitting section to cover a month out from Christmas, during our time of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ coming to earth.
“The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness will see a great Light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Amplified
This is a verse I read over and over, and meditate on. The power in those simple statements!
Jesus came to be a Light to those living in spiritual darkness.
When I ponder the meaning of that darkness I see two aspects to it.
The first aspect is the obvious one. Those who do not know God, who have never met Jesus, or anticipated meeting Him. Who struggle through the difficulties of life without help. losing themselves in the darkness, they are desperate for a way out but cannot find it.
My heart goes out to those people. I so want them to see that wonderful Light.
The second aspect is those of us who love and follow Jesus. We get stuck in the hard things in life and cannot see the way through to Jesus. He came for us too. We sometimes need a fresh glimpse of that great Light.
The relief for the person who finds the Light and follows it out into the sunshine. Who follow it into the glory of Jesus’s presence!
What wonderful Joy.
What blessed relief.
“you repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.” The Message
How powerful.
God restores us.
He can restore communities.
He can restore nations.
People can rejoice in Jesus among us, in all He has done.
And here is the celebration of Christmas. The celebration of a festival of joy. The sharing of gifts and warm greetings. That is the heart of Christmas.
“The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants all their whips and cudgels and curses is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.” The Message
For those struggling under the oppression of bullying or abuse.
For those struggling with an oppressive government.
For those who are being racially vilified.
For those trapped in slavery.
For all those experiencing cruelty, unfair treatment and injustice there is hope.
Just as in the book of Judges God gave Gideon victory over the Midianites, God will give us victory over those who harm us. It may not come today, or tomorrow. It may not even come next year. Throughout Biblical history, the Israelites suffered for a long time waiting for God’s deliverance. It always comes at the right time. Not before. Not after.
Jesus came at exactly the right time.
He will return at exactly the right time.
In the meantime he promises a time of deliverance will come and for now He will comfort.
“The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days!” The Message
When Jesus delivers us, those who have sinned against us will be judged. That is His promise. It may seem that the evil in this world have all the money and power. But it will not last. Their time for judgement will come. It may come in their life, or after their death. Pity them if it comes after death.
”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 Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
“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.” NIV
And this is what our joy is all about.
Jesus came as a child. His destiny was to grow and minister to us before dying in our place.
No matter how hard life gets. And we all know how hard it can be.
No matter how hard life gets. Jesus is still there. He still came. He is still with us.
There will be a time of great eternal Joy. We have glimpses now. But later we will see the perfect Joy of being eternally in His presence.
To the people stumbling in darkness a great light will come.
I pray that you will see that great light today and always. And that when you find yourself in darkness, His light will shine out for you.