Isaiah 9 - A Light In Darkness

I. A Great Light

Isaiah painted a glorious future for Israel in a beautiful poetry: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." (9:2)

Isaiah said that in the "former time", meaning in Isaiah's time, God will bring judgement to Zebulun and Napthtali, that represents Israel in the north. But in future, God will do something glorious that will first be seen by those in Galilee and in the North. Hence those in darkness will be first to see the light. (9:2; see also Matt 4:16)

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Galilee, where most of His ministry was. He showed the light God's Salvation plan. Indeed, He himself was the light who came: "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

The darkness he came to take away was not the suffering under oppression of a foreign governments (Assyria, Babylonians, Persians, etc until the Romans), but to free us from the darkness and slavery of sin. (John 8:34-36)

He will come as a helpless child but His titles are divine. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (9:6)

God is not only good (wonderful), and powerful (mighty) but is wise (counselor), which is why God allows suffering so we can seek for the Saviour Jesus Christ, and avoid His judgment.

The freedom from human government will come in His second coming where the enemies of Israel (and enemies of the faith) are destroyed as completely as Gideon destroyed the Midians. (9:4-7; Judges 7).

He will bring world-wide peace (though people will still be people and will still have sin), until the world is destroyed by fire at the end of 1,000 years. Thereafter He will continue to rule in the new heavens and new Earth "forever more".

II. Arrogance of Israel

Ephraim and Inhabitants of Samaria (Israel and its capital) were pronounced as having pride and arrogance. (9:9)  They were not afraid of the calamities that God had brought. Instead of returning to God and repent, they boasted that they can make their houses better than what was destroyed, and plant better trees than what was uprooted. (9:10, 13)

They allied with Rezin, the King of Syria - but ironically God will bring the enemies of Syria against Israel, from the "head to the tail", meaning all levels of the society. (9:11,14)  Everyone had been judged "godless and an evildoer" (9:17)

III. The Fire of Wickedness

Wickedness is compared to a raging fire. Like a fire that burns down trees after trees, wickedness and violence will spread through vengeance and hate. (9:18)

The northern kingdom came into existence by the rebellion of Jeroboam against David's line of kings. Since then there the rulership of Israel have been through coup d'etat and murders. Families and supporters of the previous kings would be hunted down and killed. Isaiah described: "Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah." (9:21)

As a result, God will make the people themselves "fuel" for the fire that is coming. There will be disunity and betrayals among the people of Israel when the enemies come, and as such they will not be able to survive.