Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Prophecy 7: Isaiah 9:1-2


Daily Thoughts – December 10th
Prophecy 7: Isaiah 9:1-2
"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan- 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."       - Isaiah 9:1-2
The first thing to consider, realize that the times leading up to Isaiah's prophecy in ch 9 were filled with some very desperate times for the people of Israel. The threat about the coming invasion from Assyria had the Israelites in fear and gloom. Especially those regions in the North - Zebulun, and Nephtali. A little biblical geography: Nephtali was north and Zebulun was west of the Sea of Galilee. Nazareth is also west of the Sea of Galilee, near Zebulun. The Jordan river extends from the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee to the northern shores of the Dead Sea along the eastern border of Israel.

This word of prophecy was comforting and encouraging to the people of Judea and Israel, especially for those in the north so close to the Assyria border. The prophecy gives them an encouraging word from God that there is a special blessing in their future. Their land will be "...honored...a light has dawned" by God personally through the Messiah. Following the Assyrian invasion, these people in the north will experience walking in darkness, and therefore they will experience the light first. This was interpreted by them to mean that the Messiah would dwell in their territory and bring the light of the Lord to them and bring an end to their despair and trials.

After his birth in Bethlehem, Joseph and his family eventually return to their home in Nazareth. Jesus spends the majority of his life in and around the Sea of Galilee. He lived in Nazareth and Capernaum and spent significant time during His 3-year ministry in Cana, Bethsaida, Tiberius, Beth Shean, Tabgha and Bethany. All of this fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9:2 "living in the land of the shadow of death <Assyrian invasion from the north> a light <Messiah> has arrived"

In desperation, the Israelites of the 7th Century BC found comfort in knowing that God would provide a Messiah. How much more blessed are we to have seen these prophecies fulfilled and have seen God keep His promises. This gives us confidence that He will also keep His promises regarding our future.

- Rich


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