The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
You shall multiply the nation,
You shall increase their gladness;
They will be glad in Your presence
As with the gladness of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
This prophecy about the birth of Christ is particularly beautiful, and not just because of verse 6, which many of us know from readings at Christmas-time:
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Verse 6 alone is food for many days of worship and reflection. Yet one of the things I love about the passage as a whole is that -- like so many prophetic passages -- the promised relationship with His people is also a description of the relationship God intends with each one of His people. Each of us who knows Him can read the passage as a personal prophecy, not just for eternity, but for now, as we seek His heart in our walk with Him:But there will be no more gloom for me, who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated me with contempt, but later on He shall bring me into a glorious state on the other side of Jordan (passing from spiritual death to spiritual life).
I who walk in darkness will see a great light;
I who live in a dark land, the light will shine on me.
...You shall increase my gladness;
I will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest...
For You shall break the yoke of my burden
and the staff on my shoulders, the rod of my oppressor.