QT 12/12/2022 Isa 9:1-7, Birth of God precedes the Judgment of God

Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV) —

1 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.

2 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.

…

6 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.

7 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.

 

NOTE: Someday, the final part of God's plan will come to pass. Even now, the Lord is preparing the world for that day. There have been evil days in the past, definitely much more physically evil than today. But a new evil is growing, an evil in the heart that opposes all that God has called good. This new evil rejects the teachings of God and imposes a new anti-God message. They take pride in their sin and the rejection of God's word. What should bring shame now brings empathy and support. They do not understand the justice, righteousness, and holiness of God. He will not overlook our sin.

 

Isaiah 9:15–19 (ESV) —

15 the elder and honored man is the head,

and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail;

16 for those who guide this people have been leading them astray,

and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.

17 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men,

and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows;

for everyone is godless and an evildoer,

and every mouth speaks folly.

For all this his anger has not turned away,

and his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burns like a fire;

it consumes briers and thorns;

it kindles the thickets of the forest,

and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts

the land is scorched,

and the people are like fuel for the fire;

no one spares another.

 

While the passage appears to refer to some specific actions against Israel, it is well supported in other passages as God's actions that are coming against us. The days are evil. We live in the age of apostasy even in our churches. How long O Lord?

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing to stand up for truth?
2. What am I doing to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for friends and family that don't you or only think they know you because of the false security of religions that don't teach actual truth, only worldly-feel good lies. Open eyes to Jesus this Christmas season. May it not be too late.