Advent, Day 8
THE LIGHT WILL BE ETERNAL
From the time of King David on, through fits and starts, the story of God’s people slowly
David. No crusher of evil arose from the kings, and hundreds of years passed with only feint glimmers of hope along a slow descent. The lowly longed for their promised deliver to come, but the hearts of the masses were dark from the inside out, and they kept worshipping idols and committing unspeakable evil. God was furious about the gangrenous rot of oppression and wickedness that gradually worked its way through his people. God even threatened Israel with military defeat and exile if they would not repent of their idol worship and oppression. He waited patiently until the situation in Israel reached a low point, a rock bottom, and then He stepped in. You see, God is not afraid of the depths.
God sent his prophet into the gloom with a bright new beam of hope. The prophet Isaiah spoke beautifully and poetically into the darkness around him. God gave him visions that illuminated the future—God still had good plans despite all the evil of that generation. The crusher of evil would set everything back to right—the son of David would rule forever—the prophet like Moses would speak the very words of God. God had not changed his mind or abandoned his plan. Isaiah gathered all the past promises and focused them as through a lens.
He foretold that the longed-for deliverer would be born of a virgin, and he would be called wonderful counselor (which in those days referred to a military advisor—someone who could win all his battles), Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and prince of peace. These words must have set off fireworks in the minds of all who listened! Who is this human who is to be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father?! How could he be everlasting when he will be born as a human? How could he be Everlasting Father but also a prince? How could he be a war counselor yet also a prince of peace?
Isaiah doesn’t stop his portrait there. He goes on to depict the deliverer as ruling over the nations, which will bow in glad submission. The peace he will bring shall grow and grow endlessly. He will rule with righteousness, justice, and fairness. All these promises stood in stark contrast to the corrupt kings of Israel. And the bit about ruling the nations must have seemed fanciful.
Isaiah’s ministry clarified some important things about the deliver who would come. First, Isaiah reminded Israel that the deliver would rule every nation with justice. He would come from Israel, from the line of David, but he would be king over every nation, and bring justice, righteousness, and equity to them all. A second thing that became clear is that the deliverer was not a response to the faithfulness of Israel. It was right in the middle of the darkest days of Israel that God sent his brightest promises. God was not delivering Israel because they deserved it. He was delivering the whole world through Israel because nobody was good enough without God’s rescue. God showed that his rescue mission stood apart from human effort. God would save us because He is good, not because we are good.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
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, 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. 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.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins… of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
– Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; 11:1-5, 10
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
– If God’s plan was always that every nation would be blessed (Genesis 12:3) and that all nations would follow his deliver (Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:10), why do you think God chose one nation to be his people?
– Do you sometimes feel like you need to be at your very best before you can approach God and receive his mercy? Why do we tend to assume that is how things work?
– If God brings his light into the darkest places, what is stopping us from coming freely to God? How can you come near to God this week?
PRAYER
Lord God, we praise you that you are not afraid of depths or valleys. You are a God who helps the undeserving. Thank you for your faithfulness despite our faithlessness. Thank you for holding us secure. Would you forgive us for our faithlessness and fear? Help us be honest about our failures. Thank you that we don’t have to be impressive or perfect for you to help us. We love you and thank you for your mercy! Amen!