Isaiah 9:1-7: a reflection

1But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. 3You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder. 4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. 5For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this.

To a people walking in darkness, Isaiah announces a dawn: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. And the reason for this light is a birth: 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. Into the darkness comes a child who is himself the light, a King whose reign of peace and justice will have no end.

Notice how the light comes: not as an abstract idea, but as a person, a child born, a son given, who is the divine King. The names heaped upon him, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, declare that this child is no ordinary ruler but God himself come to reign, to break the yoke of oppression, to establish a kingdom of peace and justice forever. The answer to the world's darkness is this child, fulfilled in Christ, the light that has come into the world.

That prophecy is the hope of everyone who walks in darkness. The world's darkness, and our own, is real, but into it a great light has shined: the child born, the Son given, Christ the Lord. He is the Wonderful Counselor for our confusion, the Prince of Peace for our conflict, the everlasting King whose reign will not end. If you walk in darkness, in confusion, oppression, or gloom, lift your eyes to the light that has come. The child is born, the Son is given; and his light shines into the deepest darkness. Walk toward that light, and let the Prince of Peace establish his peace in you.

Lord, to a people walking in darkness you promised a great light, and the light was a person: a child born, a son given, called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the divine King whose reign of peace would have no end. Thank you that this promise is fulfilled in Christ, the light that has come into the world. When I walk in darkness, in confusion, oppression, or gloom, lift my eyes to that light. Be my Wonderful Counselor in my confusion, my Prince of Peace in my conflict, my everlasting King. Let the light that shines into the deepest darkness shine into mine. The child is born, the Son is given; help me walk toward him, and let his peace be established in me. Thank you for the great light.