The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
You shall multiply the nation,
You shall increase their gladness;
They will be glad in Your presence
As with the gladness of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. ~ Isaiah 9:2-7
This prophecy was made thousands of years before Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, but God already had it all planned out. Jesus is a great light shining in the darkness. The Israelites thought the Messiah would be a powerful earthly conqueror who would break the yoke of their oppressor and divide the spoils. They couldn’t see beyond the immediate earthly realm—they couldn’t see the heavenly kingdom that will last forever with Jesus on the throne. When Jesus comes again, He will reign on earth as well as in Heaven, and we will be with Him forever. Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Lord God, sometimes I get so focused on the here and now that I don’t realize that this earthly existence is only a dot in my eternal lifetime. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to receive the truth of the Second Coming of Jesus and then an eternal kingdom of peace and love. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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