For 120 years Judah, the land of the two tribes who had remained loyal to the house of David, had been ruled by God-honouring, faithful kings. The last of these was king Uzziah who was succeeded by his son Ahaz.
Ahaz was not a God-honouring king.
Ahaz did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord… 2Ki.16:2
Aram (modern-day Syria) and Israel (the northern kingdom) attacked and besieged Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah, but failed to conquer it. Ahaz made an alliance with the king of Assyria. In the end, rather than helping Ahaz, the king of Assyria attacked him and defeated him, so Ahaz and Judah became subject to Assyria. Ahaz had used the treasures in the Temple to pay for Assyria’s help and then, when Ahaz became vassal to Assyria he closed the Temple completely. It is somewhat ironic that a future king of Assyria would help restore the Temple.
2Chron. 28 tells us that Ahaz was under even more pressure from Philistine and Edomite raiding parties on the western and eastern borders. So the kingdom was under pressure from three sides.
The tribal territory of Zebulun and Naphtali was in the far north of the kingdom of Israel, the northern kingdom. This would become the area of Galilee in New Testament times. It would also have been the first part of the kingdom to fall into enemy hands.
It’s against this background of the king’s refusal to trust God and the impending invasion from Assyria and the pressure from Israel, Philistine and Edomite raids that Isaiah speaks about God’s plan and purpose in chapter 9. This is the darkness, the gloom that cast its shadow over the land. Ahaz was looking everywhere else other than to God for deliverance.
Into these dark days, God speaks light. He speaks words of deliverance and hope. Not only this, but the land to be honoured is the land that has rejected God’s appointed king in the past. Remember that after Solomon’s death, the kingdom divided. It is this land, not Jerusalem, not Judah, that will bring forth God’s Son.
God’s promise
- Light from darkness
- Joy from despair
- Freedom from burdens
- Peace from battle
Light from Darkness
To paraphrase Jesus: People who are in the light don’t need light, but people in darkness are the ones most in need of light. Without light we are destined to stumble around in darkness.
Jesus offers us:
- Light to guide. Your word is a light to my feet, a lamp to my path
- Light to expose. People love darkness… come into the light
- Light to bring life. In him was life and that life was the light of men.
NLT: The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Joy from despair
The Psalmist says: You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…
James tells us to: Consider it an opportunity for great joy when “troubles” come our way. What he’s not saying is, “Be happy when things are going badly” as if joy is defined as some form of positive thinking. Joy in this context is connected with a growing faith. Far from being superficial, joy is discovered in the process of a deepening and maturing faith faith in God. Joy comes form being able to say with David, “Even though I walk through the valley if the shadow death, I will not be afraid because you are with me” It’s recognising that light shines in darkness and darkness cannot overcome it.
Freedom from burdens
The days of Midian is a reference to Gideon. A time when the people were suffering the darkness of oppression in the land. In the story, we’re introduced to Gideon as he threshes wheat in a winepress to hide what he is doing from the Midianite marauders. Judges 6 tells us:
The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves and strongholds. They left Israel with no food, reducing the nation to starvation. And God rescued them. Just as he’d done so before when he rescued them from Egypt and would do again and again as Israel stumbled their way into disobedience like a repeating refrain through history.
Their heavy burdens may have come through their sin, but they were always lifted by the grace of God as he acted in love towards them.
Fast forward into the New Testament and Jesus promises an easy yolk. A light burden. Come to me all you who are weary... and receive rest. My yolk in easy and my burden is light
Peace from battle
Where once the people suffered from invasion and war, God promises peace. The one who was coming would in deed be the Prince of Peace. In the last book of the Bible John sees a vision of a great city. A city lit by the glory of God, a place of joy, lifted burdens and peace. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
These are God’s promise, and he intends to keep them through the gift of a Son.
The One to come
Isaiah paints the picture of an eternal kingdom ruled by God himself. Not only ruled by him but established and accomplished by him.
Conclusion
People who walk in darkness matter to God. Good or bad, they matter to God. His promise is to all of them. It’s a promise of hope and possibility because God is a God of hope and grace.
