The Light of the World and Hope for All Mankind

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

God has given a light and hope has been given to all people, regardless of nationality or race. Let’s celebrate the giving of Christ, God’s only begotten Son!

Introduction

It is not all doom and gloom for us–there is a light, a beacon of hope, which we celebrate this season.  I hope you will take a moment to join me for this week’s lesson, as we celebrate the Son who was given.  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover Isaiah 9:1-7, as we go over Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah–the light and hope for all mankind.

Gloom of Living in Rebellion

Isaiah 9 opens by speaking of gloom and distress, while also making mention of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali.  While many of us are familiar with the prophecy found in Isaiah 9, I want to highlight and go over Isaiah 9:1 as it will help to show why Christ was/is needed.

Zebulun and Naphtali were both sons of Jacob (Israel).  Naphtali was born through Bilhah, the maid of Rachel (Gen. 30:7-8), Jacob’s barren wife, though she did eventually give birth to Joseph and Benjamin.  Zebulun was born through Leah, Rachel’s sister, and also the wife of Jacob.  

The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were given land in the north, which eventually became part of Israel, the northern kingdom, during the divided kingdom years.  The northern kingdom fell into great sin and never turned away from it.  Every king who ruled in the northern kingdom was wicked in their ways.  Kings like Ahab killed God’s prophets and encouraged idolatry in the region.

Because they refused to repent, the Lord permitted the northern kingdom to be conquered by the Assyrians.  2 Kings 15:27-29 covers the fall of cities like Naphtali to the Assyrians and how those of Israel were carried away captive to Assyria.  

The northern kingdom ultimately fell to the Assyrians, and unlike the southern kingdom in its fall to Babylon, it never truly recovered.  Those of the north ended up breeding with Gentiles in the land, to which the Jews began to despise them for.  The Samaritans were despised by the Jews because, in their eyes, while Samaritans could lay claim to Jacob (Israel), they had defiled and corrupted themselves.

I share this information because there was a time of gloom for those of the northern kingdom because God permitted it.  Gloom came, not because of God, but because of the sin of the people.  God does not tolerate sin, as sin is seen as rebellion to the Lord.  

Rebelling against God is no way to live, and those of Israel found that out the hard way.  As Isaiah 9:1 makes clear, gloom and distress had come upon them, and they were heavily oppressed.  Those who choose to live in rebellion will find that there is no pleasure in the soul when one chooses to live in rebellion against God.

Hope and Joy in God’s Salvation

One can also look at Isaiah 9:1 with a bit of hope, especially when we add Isaiah 9:2.  While Zebulun and Naphtali fell to the Assyrians, the prophecy speaks of how there would be no more gloom in the land.  This scripture reminds me of Psalm 30:5, when the psalmist sang that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

While the Lord was displeased with Naphtali and Zebulun, the prophecy spoke of a future day when they would see a great light, by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles.  The opening two verses of Isaiah 9 point to the coming of Christ, the Messiah, coming to those who had rebelled against the Lord.

Galilee, if you take a look at the ancient map, was in the north, and included cities like Naphtali and Zebulun!  So, when we see “Galilee of the Gentiles”, we should understand that Gentiles lived in the land.  In the day of Isaiah, Gentiles lived in Galilee, and may have even been the majority.  However, by the time of Jesus, after Assyria had conquered the land, Gentiles were certainly the majority in Galilee.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph and Mary had to return home, in what was once the southern kingdom, to pay their taxes.  However, their home was in Nazareth, which was in the land of Galilee.  Jesus’ ministry was based out of Galilee, where He focused on His people, yet it was impossible for Him not to also minister to Gentiles.  

Throughout the gospels, we see where Jesus ministered to and helped several Gentiles.  For example, He helped the Canaanite woman, a gentile, whose daughter was demon-possessed (Matt. 15:21-28).  Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes, a country of Gentiles, and He cast Legion from the man whom Legion possessed (Mark 5:1-20).  Jesus even went to the Samaritan woman, who then brought a whole town to meet Him (John 4:1-26).

So, as the prophecy said, a great light did come to those who once dwelt in wickedness and darkness.  Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:3,4 as He brought about great joy to those who had been burdened by sin.  

A Son Is Born and Given

The more familiar scripture of this prophecy is Isaiah 9:6 as it is often quoted around this time of year.

Who Christ was/is given to

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,” Isaiah 9:6 begins.  Everything that was covered in Isaiah 9:1-5 was fulfilled because Christ was born.  The Son of God has been born, has lived, and has laid down His life for mankind.  

Yes, I want to repeat that Christ wasn’t simply given to the Jews, but He was also given to Gentiles–He was given to all people.  On several occasions, Jesus made it clear He was given to the world.  Jesus told Nicodemus that God loved the world and gave His only begotten Son (John 3:6).  To the disciples, Jesus told them that He had another flock to add to the fold of Israel that He will shepherd over as one shepherd over one flock (John 10:16).

His authority is sovereign

“The government will be upon His shoulder,” the prophecy continued.  Now, which government is the prophecy referring to?  The government that the prophecy refers to is not an earthly government, but rather, it is a reference to His sovereign rule.

After His resurrection, Jesus said to the disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18).”  In His sovereignty, the Son is very much aware of what is taking place on earth and elsewhere in creation.  God does remove and raise kings; however, He also changes the times and seasons, as Daniel said (Dan. 2:21).

Do I say this to make little of our place within God’s creation?  Absolutely not.  However, I feel that it is incredibly important for us to understand Christ’s position of all authority being given to Him.  In His second coming, Christ will use His authority to separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:31-46).  Christ will also lead the army of heaven in the final defeat of Satan and sin (Rev. 19:11-21).

The names of Christ

“His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” the prophecy continued.  The names of Christ are many as we often call Him our Savior and Redeemer.  Jesus often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, highlighting that while He was the Son of God, He was also born through the womb of a woman.

His name is Wonderful, not simply in the adjective definition, but is the person thereof.  Jesus has defeated Satan and sin already through the shedding of His blood.  One day, He will call His future bride to Him, and because of Him, we who are of sincere faith will have overcome sin and the world.  

His name is Counselor because who is it that counsels Him?  In Isaiah 40:13-14, it was asked of those in Jerusalem, “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him?  With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him the path of justice?  Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?

God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last (Rev. 22:13).  God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  As John said, “In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).”  Christ does not need our counsel, but you better believe we need His counsel if we are to overcome and enter into His kingdom.

His name is Mighty God because God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Son dwelt in this world of sin as holy, righteous, and divine.  

His name is Everlasting Father because Christ is everlasting.  Christ came from eternity to dwell among us.  As Paul wrote in Hebrews 9, while mankind had an earthly tabernacle, the tabernacle pointed to Christ.  Paul wrote, “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation (Heb. 9:11).”

The high priest of the earthly tabernacle could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement.  Christ, however, entered the Most Holy Place once for all, shedding His blood to atone for our sins and reconcile mankind to God (Heb. 9:12).  Christ is why those who believe will not perish but will have everlasting life.

His name is the Prince of Peace because He reconciled all things, bringing harmony between God and mankind through His shed blood (Col. 1:19-20).

The Everlasting King and Our Hope

The prophecy of Isaiah 9, regarding the Messiah, ends with Isaiah 9:7 speaking of His everlasting rule on the throne of David.  

In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, the Lord made a covenant with David to establish his throne forever.  It was because of the Davidic covenant that one could or could not be the Messiah, nor have a right to the throne.  Even though Joseph was not the Father of Jesus, Jesus was able to lay claim to the throne through him because Joseph married Mary.  Actually, Mary was also of the seed of David, but the throne could not be claimed through the woman.  

Christ coming through the seed of David shows the faithfulness of God, as He is faithful to what He promises.  So, when God promises us everlasting life through faith in His only begotten Son, we ought to feel fully confident that God is going to keep that promise.  At the last day, all of us who are of faith, will be raised at the last day to dwell in His kingdom.

As shown in the Revelation of Christ, we will be married to Christ and dwell in the new and holy Jerusalem that is being prepared for us.  So, while things may seem as if it is doom and gloom today, there is a promise to the faithful–we have hope.  Our hope is in Christ and God’s faithfulness, and so therefore, we have nothing to fear.