A Child Who Will Bring Light

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

A Child Who Will Bring Light

Date: Dec. 22, 2019

Passage

Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2   The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
  those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
3   You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
  they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4   For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5   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   For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
  and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7   Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
  on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
  with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 9:6

  For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
  and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

1. A light from Zebulun and Naphtali (1-5)

God's people suffered through many dark and distressing times. Among the people of Israel, the Northern kingdom, which included the land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, may have suffered the most. But God humbles his people so he may raise them up. Through Isaiah, God promised to bring a great light, freeing them from their oppressors and bringing peace and joy. This corresponds to the spiritual blessings we receive in Christ.

2. The Prince of Peace (6-7)

God revealed through Isaiah that the great light would be a child who would come and rule over God's people eternally. Of course, this is Jesus Christ, whose hometown was in Galilee, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. Christ can be everything to us-our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. We are greatly comforted because his kingdom will never end.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the hope you give to people living in darkness. Let Jesus' light shine upon us, and may his kingdom and peace increase in our time.

One Word: God sends light to those living in darkness

Countless Saved from God’s Wrath by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:9-10

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Today's Question

Are all sins equally evil?

See answer and references