Slices
Prepare
Deep underground there are places where there is literally no light at all. Your eyes do not adjust; you cannot see a thing. Have you ever been in a place of such deep darkness?
Bible passage
9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan –
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Explore
I was outside stumbling in the dark trying to find the bin, waving my arms madly trying to set off the motion-sensitive light. Eventually it came on. The garden was bathed in light. Instantly I could see to get where I needed to be safely.
Isaiah 9 uses various pictures to describe the wonderful future that awaits God’s people, including the light of dawn (v 2), the joy of harvest (v 3), the shattering of burdens and oppression (v 4) and the removal of tools and weapons of war (v 5). These are not tweaks to make things slightly better. These describe a momentous, world-changing moment.
‘To us a child is born, to us a son is given’ (v 6). The birth of a child changes the lives of her parents – and maybe a few other close relatives – but beyond that, not much is different. Yet this child changes everything, not only now but for ever (v 7). We know this child has a name – Jesus – and today we celebrate the day his light shone in the world’s darkness, the day everything changed.
Respond
Jesus is both our friend and the glorious King described here. Some days we need reminding of one of those truths; some days the other. Whichever you need to hear today, give thanks to God for the wonderful gift of Jesus.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Corinthians 7; Revelation 18
Pray for Scripture Union
As we celebrate the coming of Jesus today, pray for all those children and young people who have yet to experience the wonder of God stepping into our world to show his love and bring hope. Pray that churches will have fresh vision to share that good news with the 95.
