Listen to the audio of today’s Reflection:
https://soundcloud.com/hapearce/reflection-for-december-17-2024
Isaiah 9:2-7
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
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 men 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 Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase 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 forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
After a reading yesterday that recounted Jesus’ agonized prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, today we return to readings that are associated with the advent story of his birth as the Christ child.
As you might remember from past Reflections, the Hebrews have traditionally considered themselves to be the people of “the Law and the prophets.” When they speak of the Law, they are referring to the Torah, which is the collective name for the first five books of the Old Testament. And when they speak about the prophets, the book of the prophet Isaiah is one of the most important books of prophesy in their religious life – maybe even the most important book of prophesy.
You might wonder how we know that the book of the prophet Isaiah was so important to the ancient Hebrews. According to the Bible scholars, we know that because of the number of times it was quoted among later Jewish writings, including the New Testament. It also turns out that a large number of fragments of scrolls of Isaiah have been found by historians and archeologists – including some among the Dead Sea Scrolls. So it seems pretty clear that there was a lot of reading and copying of the book of the prophet Isaiah going on among people of the Hebrew tradition.
And as we pointed out last week in one of our Reflections, Jesus himself quoted from the book of Isaiah in talking about his own ministry.
But for those of us who follow him today, quite a bit of our attention to Isaiah comes during the Advent season. That’s when we read a number of prophesies from the book that we understand to be foretelling the birth of Jesus. Today’s reading from Isaiah is a good example. It comes from the ninth chapter, and it’s one of the readings we frequently read during this season. In fact, one of the most beloved sections of Handel’s Messiah takes its name from this passage: “For Unto Us a Child is Born.”
And just to review what we said last week about the book of Isaiah, many of the most respected Old Testament scholars say that it seems to have been written over a fairly long period of time – probably too long for it to have been written by any one individual. In fact, Old Testament scholars often refer to three distinct parts of Isaiah, referring to them as “First Isaiah,” “Second Isaiah” and “Third Isaiah.”
“First Isaiah” seems to have been written before 587 BC, when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. This part includes a lot of prophetic warnings that God was going to punish the covenant people unless they stopped worshiping foreign gods and turned aside from their sinful and unjust way of life.
“Second Isaiah” seems to have been written after that punishment arrived in the form of the Babylonian army. They destroyed Jerusalem and dragged off the population into exile. But there’s a much different tone to this second part of the book – the themes are very distinct. First Isaiah was a book of warnings, but Second Isaiah is a book of comfort and hope to a people who were living through very difficult times.
“Third Isaiah” seems to have been written even later – after some of the exiles were allowed to go home in 523 BC. In this third part, the tone changes again. The covenant people are warned not to go back to the sinful ways that were understood to have led to their punishment in the exile.
Today’s reading comes from the second section of the book – the section that offers hope in dark times. In fact, although this part of the book was written during the Babylonian exile, it offers hope that goes far beyond the return from the exile to the promised land. “Second Isaiah” promises the coming of a figure who will be more than just a worldly ruler. This figure, whose appearance will mark the dawning of a new light to people living in “the shadow of death,” will actually be a manifestation of God himself.
Today’s reading gives some interesting details about this promised figure to come. It says he will rule from the throne of David, and will establish a reign that will never end. That reign will be more than just a military and political power – it will be a reign of “justice and righteousness.” In fact, rather than promising the destruction of the nation’s enemies through military force (which is what the people of Israel had all come to expect and hope for) this passage promises that the one to come will establish a time of peace, in which war itself will be swept away.
Of course, those of us who follow Jesus understand him to be the figure foretold in this passage – which is why we read it with such great hope at this time of year. We can clearly see the outline of the reign of peace and justice foretold all those centuries ago. The followers of Jesus have done more to bring about God’s reign than any other movement in human history. But it’s just as clear that the mighty God is still at work bringing that kingdom to fulfillment.
So as witnesses that God really has sent his “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace” into the world, we can cling to our faith, even in the darkest of times. In times of war and turmoil and polarization, we can hold onto our hope that God is at work fulfilling his ancient promises.
In fact, we should remind ourselves that the world has been even darker than it is today. For all the world’s problems, those of us living today have a far smaller chance of starving to death or dying by violence than people who lived just a century ago. And most of the greatest progress made against the world’s great problems has been led by followers of Jesus. People who have lived in darkness really are seeing a great light breaking little by little into the world.
And it’s the Messiah we celebrate in this season who was and is and will be the source of the greatest light in the history of the world.
Let’s pray. Lord, you know that sometimes the times we live in can seem dark and discouraging. In this season, touch our hearts with the promise of your coming again, and renew within us the hope of your peace for all the world. Amen.
Peace be with you,
Henry
Recent Comments