Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"You have multiplied the nation"
Text: Isaiah 9:3
BEYOND THE DARKNESS
The great light of the Messiah would dispel the darkness that had settled over the land. This was only the beginning of what God would do for His people!
“You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.”
Isaiah 9:3-5
1. A special Joy.
a) God would grant great joy to His people.
i) There would be the joy that comes from light dispelling darkness.
ii) That joy would also increase.
b) Description of Joy.
i) It is compared to joy felt by farmers at harvest time.
ii) It is further compared to joy felt by soldiers when they divide the spoils of war.
2. A yoke broken.
a) Israel was under the yoke of different masters.
b) That yoke would be broken by the Messiah.
c) The heavy yoke remembered.
i) The staff of the oppressor.
ii) The rod of the wicked enemy.
iii) The oppression of the days of Israel in the period of the Judges
was remembered.
iv) Midian’s oppressive rule was very difficult to bear.
v) But God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel (Judges 6-8).
3. Garments and Sandals of the defeated enemies.
a) This is a post-war scenario.
b) After the spoils of war have been divided.
c) The garments and the sandals of the enemies:
i) They are burnt.
ii) There was deep symbolic meaning.
iii) It was to celebrate victory.
iv) There is no mistaking the joy of victory over oppressive enemies.