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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