Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The people who walked in darkness"
Text: Isaiah 9:2
LIVING IN DARKNESS
Darkness prevailed over Israel in the days of Isaiah. Little did the nation know that a similar darkness would be upon its people for a very long time.
“Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.”
Isaiah 9:1-2
1. Darkness described.
a) It was called “gloom”.
b) It was particularly hard on those who were distressed.
c) They could not see light much, if at all.
2. Oppression of the nation.
a) Babylon would be the nation that conquered Judah.
b) The nation would be ruled by other mighty empires:
i) The Medo-Persians
ii) The Greeks
iii) The Romans
3. This text was cited by Matthew.
a) The Apostle Matthew cited this text when he wrote his gospel.
b) Israel was still under Gentile rule (The Romans).
c) Darkness continued to prevail over Israel
(Zebulun and Naphthali were mentioned as example).
d) Galilee had more Gentiles living there than Jews.
e) Hence, it was called “Galilee of the Gentiles”.
4. The prophecy of “a great light”.
a) The LORD gave a word of hope to Judah.
b) He will give a great light to His people.
c) That great light would be:
i) Immanuel
ii) The Messiah (The Anointed One)
d) The darkness was so great it was described as “the shadow of death”.
i) The Lord Jesus would come as The Light of the world.
ii) He would dispel the darkness that threatens to engulf everyone.