The Light in the Darkness

• 1^st – The Light… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – The Hope… vs. 1-2
    • Oppressed… vs. 1
      • Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed.
      • As when at first He lightly esteemed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.
      • And afterward more heavily oppressed her by the way of the sea.
      • Beyond the Jordan in Galilee of the Gentiles!
      • In LIGHT of the DARKNESS that was going to come upon the LAND…
      • The ASSYRIAN army that would rush over them like a mighty FLOOD…
      • God gave a RAY of hope – the DARKNESS [gloom] would NOT [לֹא] stay!
      • The TRIBES of Zebulun and Naphtali – NEVER got much attention [lightly esteemed]
      • If there are TRIBES of Israel people forget to mention – they are at the top of the list…
      • Yet they were HEAVILY [כָּבוֹד] oppressed when ASSYRIA attacked [Northern most tribes]
      • attacked came in by the GALILEE – and moved down the Jordan river [valley]
      • They followed the Via Maris [way of the sea] as they conquered Israel…
      • So that the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali became filled with GENTILES!
    • Darkness… vs. 2
      • The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
      • Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death – upon them a light has shined!
      • But in the place where it was DARKEST [Zebulun and Naphtali]
      • Those same people saw [perfect] a GREAT [גָּדוֹל] light [אוֹר]
      • The people in the shadow of DEATH [almost wiped out] – had a light SHINE on them!
      • Matthew 4:13-15 – “[Jesus] dwelt in Capernaum… in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali.”
      • Did you ever wonder WHY did Jesus start His ministry in Capernaum…
      • It would seem to have made more sense to begin in Jerusalem [Temple]
      • But God did NOT bring the light to the BRIGHTEST place…
      • He instead chose to come to the DARKEST – a place where few faithful Jews remained!
      • Our God will let things get very DARK – the shadow of DEATH – Psalms 23:4
      • Not that He has abandoned us – but so that we can see Jesus…
      • Because when things are the DARKEST – the light shines the BRIGHTEST…
      • And we learn NOT to depend on ourselves – but on our God who raises the dead!
      • II Corinthians 1:9 – “We had the sentence of death in ourselves – that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.”
• 2^nd – The Child… vs. 6-7
  • 1^st -His purpose… vs. 6
    • The son…
      • For unto us a Child is born – unto us a Son is given.
      • Isaiah gives the ORIGIN of the LIGHT what would COME…
      • He would be [prophetic perfect] born [pual] as a CHILD [יֶלֶד] – IMMANUEL – Isaiah 7:14
      • Israel would be [prophetic perfect] GIVEN [niphal] – the GIFT of a SON [בֵּן]!
      • Jesus is the SON of God – NOT because He was born to MARY…
      • His title [used 44 times in the NT] – is NOT a reference to His BIRTH…
      • It speaks of His POSITION in the Godhead [Father – SON – Spirit]
    • The Government…
      • And the government will be upon His shoulder!
      • AND [וַ] it will be [imperfect] that the GOVERNMENT will be upon His shoulders…
      • GOVERNMENT [מִשְׂרָה] – 2x in OT [both here] – from the root word to RULE [שַׂר]
      • This likely has a DUAL fulfillment – PRESENT and FUTURE…
      • PRESENT – Ahaz would have a SON – who would grow up to RULE [Hezekiah]
      • And God would use him to set Judah FREE from the YOKE of ASSYRIA…
      • FUTURE – Jesus would come to set us FREE from the YOKE of SIN!
      • The ONLY way God could save us from our SIN – was for the SON to become a CHILD…
      • He had to HUMBLE Himself – become a MAN – so He could DIE for us…
      • He BORE our sins upon His back – took up His CROSS…
      • ONLY then could He RULE [שָׂרָה] over SIN – and set us FREE!
      • Philippians 2:8 – “Being found in appearance as a man – He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross.”
  • 2^nd – His name… vs. 6
    • Wonderful…
      • And His name will be called:
      • Isaiah gives the NAME [singular] of the LIGHT what would COME [five titles]
      • FIRST – Wonderful [פֶּלֶא] – the God who can do the IMPOSSIBLE!
      • The word was first used to DESCRIBE the parting of the RED Sea – Exodus 15:11
      • The second time it is used it is a REMINDER to NOT forget what God can do – Psalms 77:11
      • To a nation that will be FLOODED by the ASSYRIANS…
      • It was important to REMEMBER who has the power to PART oceans!
    • Counselor…
      • SECOND – Counselor [יָעַץ] – the God who has the PLAN!
      • When Moses was trying to answer ALL of the problems of Israel…
      • It caused a line that lasted from morning until night [waiting to see Moses]
      • His father in law Jethro came to him and gave him COUNSEL [יָעַץ] – Exodus 18:19
      • Rather than people standing before him – he needed to stand before God…
      • To a people who were looking to a MAN [king] to give them their answers…
      • God reminds them He is the one who has the PLAN – stand before Him!
    • Mighty God…
      • THIRD – Mighty God – literally the God [אֵל] who is STRONG [גִּבּוֹר]
      • The Assyrian army was MORE powerful than Israel [a lot]
      • NO nation had been able to stand up to them – Isaiah 37:11
      • But as STRONG as they were – they were NOT as strong as GOD…
      • Our God is the ALMIGHTY – ALL [πᾶς] POWERFUL [κράτος] – Revelation 1:8
    • Everlasting Father…
      • FOURTH – Everlasting [עַד] Father [אֲבִי] – this can be interpreted one of TWO ways…
      • It could mean – He is the FATHER who is ETERNAL [had no beginning or end]
      • It could also mean – He is the one who is ALWAYS fathering [protecting us]
      • Because the ROLE of a FATHER is to PROTECT and PROVIDE…
      • Either way it is worth noting – that the SON is also called the FATHER!
      • How can there be ONE God – but in THREE persons…
      • There have been many attempts for people to define the TRINITY…
      • Water [solid – liquid – gas] – or an egg [shell – white – yoke]
      • But the reality is there is NOTHING in this universe like our God [He is unique]
      • We may NOT be able to tell COMPREHEND how three can be one…
      • But we can APPREHEND that is how the Bible defines His nature…
      • Jesus is the MIGHTY God – He is ONE with the Father!
      • John 10:30 – “The Father and I are one.”
    • Prince of peace…
      • PRINCE of peace – literally He has AUTHORITY [שַׂר] over PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]
      • Because only when we LOOK to the ONE who can PART oceans [wonderful]
      • Only when we LISTEN to the ONE who has the PLAN [counselor]
      • Only when we FOLLOW in the ONE who has ALL the power [mighty God]
      • Only when we TRUST in the ONE who is ALWAYS protects us [everlasting Father]
      • THEN we will have PEACE – because we are have Jesus!
      • Ephesians 2:14 – “For He Himself is our peace.”
  • 3^rd – His Authority… vs. 7
    • No end…
      • Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
      • Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom.
      • To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward – even forever!
      • This is where we mark the MESSIANIC nature of this prophecy…
      • Although parts of this were no doubt fulfilled by HEZEKIAH [victory over Assyria]
      • There was an END to his RULE [מִשְׂרָה] – peace did NOT last [Babylon]
      • But the MESSIAH [Jesus] will RULE and bring PEACE [שָׁלוֹם] that will NEVER [אִין] end…
      • God will set Jesus upon the Throne of David [kingdom]
      • It will start [hiphil] in JUSTICE [מִשְׁפָּט] – and be sustained [hiphil] by RIGHTEOUSNESS [צְדָקָה]
      • From NOW [עַתָּה] – until the END of time [עוֹלָם]!
      • After the Tribulation – Jesus will come riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:16
      • He will have the name KING of kings – and LORD of lords…
      • He will return with us – ten thousands of His saints – Jude 1:14
      • With one word he will defeat the Antichrist and his army – II Thessalonians 2:8
      • 30 days after the Return of Jesus – 1290 days after the Abomination – Daniel 12:11
      • Jesus will judge the nations – those who survived the Tribulation – Matthew 25:31-46
      • Then Jesus will establish His Millennial Kingdom – Revelation 20:1-4
      • And there will be peace – the lion will lay down with the lamb – Isaiah 11:6-9
    • Zeal of the Lord…
      • The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this!
      • This would NOT be a work of MAN – it was a work of the LORD of heavens armies [צְבָאוֹת]
      • He will [future] be the one [imperfect] to do this – [׃ס] pause and consider…
      • There is NO question – the END is already written – God WINS!
      • As important a lesson for us today – as it was in the days of Isaiah…
      • We might NOT have an invading army flooding into our country [yet]
      • But NO matter what our PROBLEMS might be – the SOLUTION is the same…
      • Come to the God whose KINGDOM will NEVER end – and we will find PEACE!
• 3^rd – Judgement of Samaria… vs. 8-21
  • 1^st – No Repentance… vs. 8-13
    • Northern Kingdom… vs. 8
      • The Lord sent a word against Jacob and it has fallen on Israel!
      • Then the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] sent a WORD to rebellious JACOB [self-reliant]
      • And it also fell upon the faithful people of ISRAEL [governed by God]
      • Because when godly people stand with the ungodly – they end up sharing their fate!
    • Rebuild… vs. 9-10
      • All the people will know Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria.
      • Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 
      • The bricks have fallen down – but we will rebuild with hewn stones.
      • The sycamores are cut down – but we will replace them with cedars!
      • EVERYONE [כָּל] who was in the NORTHERN Kingdom [Ephraim] would KNOW [יָדַע]
      • Especially to those who live in their Capital city of SAMARIA…
      • Who always speak [infinitive] in PRIDE [גַּאֲוָה] – thinking [heart] they are GREAT [גָּדוֹל]
      • That although the BRICKS had fallen – and SYCAMORE tree were cut down…
      • They would REBUILD – and replace them with STONE and CEDAR [something better]
      • Their PRIDE convincing them that things would IMPROVE!
      • People like to think POSITIVELY – look for the silver lining…
      • But unless we put God into the equation – things are more likely to get WORSE…
      • And no matter how ENCOURAGING our words might be…
      • What we are going to SEE [יָדַע] – is that God is NOT done teaching us HUMILITY!
    • Destruction… vs. 11-12
      • Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him – spur his enemies on.
      • The Syrians before and the Philistines behind – they shall devour Israel with an open mouth!
      • Because [sequential] of the PRIDE of the NORTHERN Kingdom [Samaria]
      • The LORD Himself would raise [hiphil] up the ENEMIES [צַר] of Rezin [King of Syria]
      • And STIR up [piel] those who HATE [אֹיֵב] Israel – against them [עַל]
      • God would bring SYRIA from the EAST – and the PHILISTINES from the WEST…
      • Together would CONSUME the nation like a closing mouth!
    • Anger of God… vs. 12-13
      • For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
      • For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them. Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts!
      • But their destruction [כָּל] would NOT quench the ANGER of the LORD…
      • His hand would still be STRETCHED out to STRIKE harder…
      • Because the people still did NOT turn [לֹא־שָׁב] to the one who was DISCIPLINING them…
      • Neither did they SEEK the LORD of HOSTS [צְבָאוֹת]!
      • A father does NOT spank his child – because he enjoys seeing them in pain…
      • The point of a punishment – it to teach a lesson…
      • But if that child refuses to LEARN the lesson the father is teaching…
      • Then it means for the sake of the child – the father will PUNISH them even harder!
      • Hebrews 12:6 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens – scourges every son whom He receives.”
  • 2^nd – Bad leadership… vs. 14-17
    • Head and tail… vs. 14-16
      • Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel – Palm branch – bulrush in one day.
      • The elder and honorable – he is the head. The prophet who teaches lies – he is the tail.
      • For the leaders of this people cause them to err – those who are led by them are destroyed!
      • He would remove both the MIGHTY [palm branch] – and LOWLY [bulrush] in ONE day…
      • A poetic way of saying the whole nation would suffer because of rebellion…
      • Why did [sequential] Israel refused to TURN to the LORD…
      • Because of their HEAD and TAIL – that the Lord [hiphil] would CUT off…
      • The ELDER who was lifted [passive] up – the HEAD…
      • And the PROPHET who teaches [hiphil] LIES – the TAIL…
      • Both LED [piel] the people away from God – to their DESTRUCTION!
      • There are TWO places people look to for answers in times of trouble…
      • They look to GOVERNMENT – to give them practical answers…
      • And they look to the CHURCH – to give them spiritual answers…
      • If NEITHER is pointing the people back to God – then a nation is in real trouble!
    • Whole nation…
      • Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men.
      • Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows.
      • For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer – and every mouth speaks folly!
      • THEREFORE [כֵּן] – the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] is [imperfect] NOT happy with the KIDS [בָּחוּר]
      • He is [imperfect] NOT showing ANY mercy [piel] to the fatherless or widow…
      • One would assume God would be the more lenient on these THREE categories…
      • They represent the INNOCENT [kids] and UNDERPRIVILEGED [widows and orphans]
      • But the leaders had led ALL of the people to be HYPOCRITES….
      • They were ALL doing EVIL [רָעַע] – yet out of their mouths came PRAISE to God [folly]!
    • Not done…
      • For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
      • Even though the MASTER showed NO mercy…
      • For the SECOND time we are told – ALL this [כָּל] would NOT quench the ANGER of God…
      • His hand would still be STRETCHED out to STRIKE harder Israel even HARDER!
  • 3^rd – Social breakdown… vs. 18-21
    • Spreading fire… vs. 18
      • For wickedness burns as the fire. It shall devour the briers and thorns.
      • And kindle in the thickets of the forest – they shall mount up like rising smoke!
      • Because [כִּי] – the WICKEDNESS [רִשְׁעָה] of Judah was like [כָ] a FIRE…
      • It did NOT seem dangerous at FIRST – a spark that started to burn the thorns…
      • But that was just the KINDLE – that fed the FIRE – until the whole FOREST was consumed…
      • And before long a PILLAR of smoke rose up from the devastation!
      • How dangerous can a LIE be – how bad is bending the truth…
      • How much trouble can ONE look get me into – surely it CANNOT hurt!
      • People tend to have a very LAX view of SIN [not very dangerous]
      • What they fail to realize is that it SPREADS – and CONSUMES…
      • And if it is NOT dealt with quickly – all that is left is a burned out life…
      • With the SMOKE of the devastation being the headstone that marks their grave!
    • Consuming fire… vs. 19-20
      • Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up.
      • And the people shall be as fuel for the fire. No man shall spare his brother.
      • And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry.
      • He shall devour on the left hand and not be satisfied.
      • Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm!
      • In [בְּ] the WRATH the LORD of heavens armies [צְבָאוֹת] poured out…
      • The LAND grew [niphal] DARK [because of the smoke]
      • As the people became [sequential] the FUEL that fed the FIRESTORM…
      • The people CONSUMED each other – not even having pity on their FAMILY [bother]
      • They ATTACKED their neighbor on the left – and CONSUMED the one on their right…
      • Yet they were still HUNGRY – and ended up eating their own ARM!
      • This might be hyperbole – people putting themselves before others…
      • But it could also be LITERAL – the result of a severe famine caused by a siege…
      • Men reduced to cannibalism in order to survive – II Kings 6:28-29
      • God had warned Israel what would happen if they turned away from Him!
      • Deuteronomy 28:53 – “You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.” [NLT]
    • Divided… vs. 21
      • Manasseh shall devour Ephraim – and Ephraim Manasseh.
      • Together they shall be against Judah.
      • For all this His anger is not turned away – but His hand is stretched out still!
      • Manasseh and Ephraim [sons of Joseph] would be against one another [brothers]
      • And they would come together to attack Judah [relative]
      • The Northern Kingdom against the Southern Kingdom in a CIVIL war…
      • Yet for the THIRD time we read – in ALL this [כָּל] the anger of God was NOT satisfied…
      • His hand was still STRETCHED out to STRIKE them even HARDER!