Is.9:1-7, Behold Great Glory in the Darkness – The Names of the True L…

Is.9:1-7, Behold Great Glory in the Darkness – The Names of the True Light, the Messiah

1. In a seemingly endless tunnel(1-2) We often experience darkness and despair in our lives, feeling like we can't see the way forward. An uncertain future, economic crisis, relationship difficulties,&spiritual stagnation can cover our lives like a thick fog. The same was true in the time of King Ahaz of Judah, around the 8th century BC(734?), the setting of today's passage. The threat of the great nation of Assyria, political instability, and above all, the spiritual corruption of the people who did not rely on God but worshipped idols, plunged the people into deep darkness. Isaiah describes this state as follows: "The people walking in darkness"(1), "those living in the land of the shadow of death"(2). But in the midst of that darkness and despair, God promises the Messiah who will come from the lineage of David. He declares that when His light comes, the land of shame and suffering will be transformed into a land of glory(1,2). Q:What did God promise to the land of despair and suffering?→"A great light."

2. The Ruler Who Came as Light(1-5): God will shine a great light in the darkness and give great joy and great peace.
① The people will see a great light(1-2)/ This land was previously a land of darkness, despised because of Syria and Assyria. They were a people walking in darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death. But Isaiah declares, "Now they will see a great light"(2). This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus. “The people living in darkness have seen a great light(Jesus Christ); on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light(Jesus Christ) has dawned.”(Mt.4:15-16) Jesus is not simply someone who gave good teachings. He is the light itself that dispels darkness. “I am the light of the world.”(John 8:12) Even today, there is darkness in our lives: economic hardship, broken relationships, spiritual stagnation… But God gives true light in the darkest moments. That light is Jesus Christ. The life of a believer is a life of looking to this light, Jesus Christ, and the mission of the church is to shine this light of Jesus Christ into the world. “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine.”(Mt.5:14-16)

② Great joy and gladness will come(2-3)/ Isaiah mentions “joy or rejoice” four times. It is the joy like that of harvest time, the joy of dividing the spoils of war. This joy is not an emotion that arises from improved circumstances. It is the joy of salvation experienced in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Messiah transforms sorrow into joy. I bless you to experience joy and gladness by receiving Jesus, who came as this light.
③ There will be great peace(4-5)/ The reason they can rejoice is because the war has ended. The heavy yoke is broken, the rod of the oppressor is shattered, and the soldiers' boots and blood-stained garments are burned. This is like the day of Gideon, the judge who defeated Midian, which oppressed Israel(Judges 7). God is not simply someone who removes enemies. He is the one who eliminates the very source of war. This refers to the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross, which goes beyond political liberation&frees us from the law of sin&death. Through His blood, we enjoy true freedom&true peace. *Comparison&competition, failure&fear, guilt &addiction weigh heavily on us. But the Lord breaks our yoke. He breaks the chains of our sin&proclaims freedom to our oppressed souls. Faith is a life of freedom, escaping from oppression through the Lord. It is a life that does not succumb to oppression but proclaims freedom in Christ. I pray that we may become believers who joyfully worship God in that freedom.

3. The Great Messiah Will Come(6–7)/ “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” This light did not come in the form of a powerful army, but as a child. However, Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. Four great names are given to Him:
1) Jesus Christ is the Wonderful Counselor – The name "Wonderful" is the name given to Gideon's father Manoah, showing God as a transcendent being. He is a wondrous& admirable being. Everything Jesus did & everything He is is wonderful. The Lord who raised the dead, healed the sick, walked on water,& performed the miracle of the loaves and fish is a wonderful being. The wonderful Lord who created the sun, moon,& stars in the heavens,& everything else, including all our affairs, makes us the most blessed beings because we have met Him. The Counselor is a guide. Jesus sees, hears,& knows all our circumstances& guides us with perfect wisdom. He is the one who sends the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to counsel us. Charles Spurgeon said, “Humanity first encountered a wrong counselor. The wicked counselor, the serpent, led Eve astray, bringing sin & death to the whole world. But our Jesus is the counselor who came to solve the problems of the world, death,& sin. He is the answer to all problems.
2) He is the Mighty God – the Lord of power, for whom nothing is impossible. Jesus is the Almighty One who can do all things. He is God. Jesus is not just a great saint or wise man. Jesus is the Almighty God. He is the one who conquered death and rose again. He is the one who conquered sin and gave us life.

3) He is the Everlasting Father – the protective Father who cares for us forever. Humans are not eternal. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever; He is the eternal God. When finite humans believe in the eternal Jesus, they receive eternal life(Jn.3:16). As a Father, He cares for and protects His children. He guides and holds me forever. He holds my hand. Is. 41:10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
4) He is the Prince of Peace – there is no lasting peace in the world. We may experience temporary stability. But when the wind blows, the heat comes, and sickness and suffering arrive, everyone loses their peace. But our Jesus came as the Prince of Peace. He restored the broken relationship between God and sinful humanity through the cross, giving us true peace. He rose again and reigns with justice and righteousness, bringing peace.” He is King.
The reign of this Messiah King is without end. This promise was fulfilled in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is still progressing towards its completion(Already, Not Yet).
*Qu: Before the King of Peace, what should I lay down, and to what should I submit?

4. Illustration: A Diamond in the Darkness/ The story of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. In 1914, his ship, the 'Endurance,' was trapped and wrecked in the Antarctic ice. The crew had to endure nearly two years in sub-zero temperatures and endless darkness. When despair reached its peak, Shackleton constantly instilled hope in his crew, saying, "We will surely return." One day, a crew member discovered a tiny ray of sunlight shining through a crack in the ice. Although the light was small, it made the frozen ice fragments shine like diamonds. That single small light gave the crew a reason to survive and the courage to persevere, and ultimately, all 27 members were miraculously rescued. Is your life's situation as cold and dark as the Antarctic ice? Jesus is the eternal light that penetrates the ice walls of our lives. When that light touches us, may the broken fragments of our lives shine like diamonds.
5. Conclusion&Application/ Jesus is not only the one who came to Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, but also the King who comes into our darkness today. We don't have to create the light; we simply need to go to Jesus Christ, the true light that is already shining. “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this”(7).
6.Application Questions for Sharing/What area of ​​your life feels most like 'darkness'?(Economy, health, children, faith, etc.) Which of Jesus' four names(Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace), in particular, do you want Him to reveal Himself as to you today? What "heavy yoke"(worries, stubbornness, guilt, etc.) do you need to lay down today to experience the Lord's "peace"?

7. Prayer of Commitment/ Holy& merciful God the Father, today we have heard the message of hope proclaimed through the prophet Isaiah. We confess with faith that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and that the light of life has shone upon those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. Let us find light in the darkness. Lord, sometimes our lives are like the Gentile land of Galilee, marginalized& oppressed by heavy burdens like the Assyrian oppression. Keep us from despair in the face of overwhelming difficulties, and allow us to gaze upon the brilliant light of Jesus Christ that shines through the ice walls of our lives. Let us experience the miracle of despair's ice shards transforming into diamonds shining in Your light.

We trust in You, the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. In the face of life's difficult problems that we cannot solve with our own wisdom, we seek the counsel of You, the "Wonderful Counselor." May the Almighty God pour out strength and power into our weakness. May we find true rest in the embrace of the "Everlasting Father" who holds and protects us in our weakness, and may we taste the heavenly peace that the world cannot give through the "Prince of Peace." Let us trust in God's zeal. There are souls weary from trying to create light with their own will and strength. We hold onto the promise, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this." Believing that You will personally establish peace and justice in our lives, we lay down all our worries and heavy burdens today. I lay all of this at the feet of the Lord. I pray all these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who overcame the darkness and came as the true light. Amen.