Isaiah
9 reminds me of the Christmas season. Not only is there a direct
reference to Jesus the Messiah, but the chapter also follows that
pattern so familiar to many of us. As December 25th
approaches, we are filled with worry about not being able to get
everything done. The full schedules and last minute errands are
interrupted by a few hours of gift giving. Soon afterwards, the post
holiday blues hit, along with credit card bills. Empty boxes whisper
disappointment. Far too many completely miss the gift of salvation.
His mercies are new every morning and every season. The chapter
begins, with a transition, “Nevertheless,
there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress“.
Isaiah shifts from judgment to joy, “In
the past He
humbled the land… but
in the future He will honor Galilee“.
This insignificant area of northern Israel was the easy invading
point of armies, but would later be known for a town called Nazareth.
Isaiah adds, “The people
walking in darkness have seen a great light… You have…increased
their joy… shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across
their shoulders“. There is
little doubt he was speaking of the coming Redeemer, “For
to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will
be on his shoulders“. Isaiah
gives us a list we should be checking twice, “And
He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace“. Are
you looking for peace in bright lights and paper?
Isaiah
continues his messianic prophesy, “The
greatness of His government and
peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne…
with justice and
righteousness from that time on
and forever“. Friend, the Day
has come, the gift has been given. The sadness lingers when we carry
on as if nothing has changed. God gave the answer and the people did
not listen, “it will fall on
Israel. All
the people will know it“.
Instead they try to repair and replace all that sin destroys with
mere decorations, “The bricks
have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig
trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars“.
The unpaid bills keep piling up as a reminder that we do not need a
plastic Santa, we need the Savior.
Isaiah
warned, but Israel and her leaders would not repent; they would not
worship God even after protection from invasion. “But
the people have not returned to Him who struck them, nor have they
sought the LORD Almighty“.
Why protect a people that no longer honor Him? God allowed captivity
and The Land was once again set aside. “The
LORD will cut off from Israel… Those who guide this people mislead
them, and those who are guided are led astray“.
The judgment of God is a fearful thing, “the
Lord will take no… pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is
ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly… His anger is not
turned away… By the wrath of the LORD Almighty the land will be
scorched and
the people will be fuel“. The
miracle of Christmas is that God became man to take our judgment.
Jesus was born to become the Lamb of God. On the cross our sin was
judged. “God made Him who had
no sin to be sin for
us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”
(2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His death and resurrection, He became
our hope. You are left with a choice between judgment or joy. Do you
want empty boxes or the empty grave?