June 29, 2024 - Isaiah 9-12

So much disloyalty and disobedience and judgment.  The people were like that vineyard of chapter 5:  expected to bring forth sweet grapes but gave only sour.  That’s why the “But” of chapter 9 is so startling:  “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. . . . 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. . . . For to us a child is born” (9:1-7).  It was amazing that God would do this.  How deep was the gloom!  How invasive was the darkness!  John figured it out:  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . . to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”  (John1:4-13).

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,

to herald our salvation.

He stoops to earth, the God of might,

our hope and expectation.

He comes in human flesh to dwell,

our God with us, Immanuel,

the night of darkness ending,

our fallen race befriending.   --Johann von Rist (1641)