A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

Passage: Isaiah 9:1-7

Key verse: 2

NIV

9 [a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom(A) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,(B) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness(C)
    have seen a great light;(D)
on those living in the land of deep darkness(E)
    a light has dawned.(F)
3 You have enlarged the nation(G)
    and increased their joy;(H)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.(I)
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,(J)
    you have shattered(K)
the yoke(L) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,(M)
    the rod of their oppressor.(N)
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,(O)
    will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,(P)
    to us a son is given,(Q)
    and the government(R) will be on his shoulders.(S)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,(T) Mighty God,(U)
    Everlasting(V) Father,(W) Prince of Peace.(X)
7 Of the greatness of his government(Y) and peace(Z)
    there will be no end.(AA)
He will reign(AB) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice(AC) and righteousness(AD)
    from that time on and forever.(AE)
The zeal(AF) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-21 is numbered 9:1-20.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

For to Us a Child Is Born

9 [a] But there will be no (A)gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he (B)brought into contempt the land of (C)Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he (D)has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[b]

2 [c] (E)The people (F)who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of (G)deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
3 (H)You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with (I)joy at the harvest,
    as they (J)are glad (K)when they divide the spoil.
4 (L)For the yoke of his burden,
    (M)and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as (N)on the day of Midian.
5 (O)For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 (P)For to us a child is born,
    to us (Q)a son is given;
(R)and the government shall be (S)upon[d] his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful (T)Counselor, (U)Mighty God,
    (V)Everlasting (W)Father, Prince of (X)Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    (Y)there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
(Z)with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
(AA)The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 9:1 Ch 8:23 in Hebrew
  2. Isaiah 9:1 Or of the Gentiles
  3. Isaiah 9:2 Ch 9:1 in Hebrew
  4. Isaiah 9:6 Or is upon
  5. Isaiah 9:6 Or is called
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

After the darkness comes the dawn of a new day. This passage is a Messianic prophecy of the coming of a wonderful savior. A child is born, and a son is given. Even though a child is powerless and immature, the Bible puts great hope in the birth of such a child. Jesus came as a baby in a manger. He was born in the midst of struggle and oppression, in obscurity from the world. Yet he became the Lord of a kingdom that extends beyond physical borders and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms. He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

For those who live in a place of deep darkness and shadow, Jesus is the light of dawn. He reaches out to those in the pits of humanity to bring them out of despair. Our Lord is the everlasting Lord who establishes justice and righteousness in a broken and fallen world. He cares for the marginalized, lonely, and despised. He establishes justice for the abused, the enslaved, and the neglected. He is full of zeal to accomplish this. His love and passion for humanity gives hope to all.

Prayer: Lord, you sent your son as a baby in a manger to be a ray of hope in dark times. Thank you for your great love and zeal to save me.

One Word: To us a child is born.