hope
December 1, 2019
All I Want for Christmas: Hope
The people of Israel had been waiting for Messiah for generations. They knew He was coming because God had promised it. They knew He would come from the line of David and would be a King. And they knew He would deliver His people. But they did not know how…or when. By the time of the birth of Jesus, Israel’s glory days had passed. They had served time in exile because of their sin and failure to trust God. Now they were subject to Rome and unable to govern themselves. The chosen people of God were in darkness. But they remembered the promise, and so can we. We are also among God’s chosen and darkness often rules our lives. But there is hope coming. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world is coming. And He is here! There is hope!
Isaiah 9:1-7
9 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 nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
