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Today's reading

December 6, 2024

Unto Us

Isaiah 8:5-19 & 31; Isaiah 9:1-7

Unto Us
00:00 / 04:31

As chapter 8 begins the theme of a child acting as a prophetic sign continues. This time Isaiah is told to have a child with his wife and they are to name him, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which means, quick to plunder and swift to spoil. Isaiah was once again telling King Ahaz that Assyria was coming and before this child could speak the words, mother or father; both Syria and Israel would be carried away by Assyria.

"The LORD spoke to me again:

'Because this people has refused 

the waters of Shloah that flow

gently, and rejoice over Rezin and

the son of Remaliah, therefore,

behold, the Lord is bringing up

against them the waters of the

River, mighty and many, the king

of Assyria and all his glory. And it

will rise over all its channels and go

over all its banks, and it will sweep

on into Judah, it will overflow and

pass on, reaching even to the neck,

and its outspread wings will fill the

breadth of your land, O Immanuel.'"

​

Isaiah 8:5-8 (ESV)

In a dramatic picture Isaiah explains that the people of God, (Judah and Israel) could have enjoyed a gentle winding stream of correction, but instead their disobedience had elicited a raging river that will sweep Israel away completely and will nearly drown the nation of Judah, but it will survive. Isaiah's prophecies were beginning to wreak havoc on the wellbeing of this wandering nation. They were seeking out mediums, and divination as they desperately looked for a solution. Isaiah challenged them saying,

"Should not a people inquire 

of their God? Should they inquire of

the dead on behalf of the living?

​

Isaiah 8:19b (ESV)

"Do not call

conspiracy all that this people calls

conspiracy, and do not fear what

they fear, nor be in dread. But the 

LORD of hosts, him you shall honor

as holy. Let him be your fear, and 

let him be your dread. And he will

become a sanctuary and a stone of

offense and a rock of stumbling to

both houses of Israel, a trap and a 

snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

​

Isaiah 8:12-14 (ESV)

Isaiah continued to prophecy to Ahaz, but instead of judgement, God through Isaiah paints a picture of hope.

"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."

​

Isaiah 9:1 (ESV)

Zebulun and Naphtali were the tribes of Israel that settled in the area that Assyria would attack first. They would experience the longest period of affliction at the hands of their enemy. This area was also situated around the sea of Galilee and would be the area that Jesus spent the majority of his time preaching the good news of His Kingdom. As the people of this land shook in fear watching the horizon for destruction that seemed inevitable, Isaiah scrawled a dazzling image of hope upon their imagination.

"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.

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.

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.

For every boot of the tramping

     warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire."

​

Isaiah 9:2-5 (ESV)

Isaiah explains to people in a season of dread that there would be a day when oppression would cease. The thrill of this hope would come in the form of a child born to be a king, heralded by angels.

"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.

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.

​

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

This is Christmas to you.

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