Week 3: The Messiah Who Brings Light Isaiah 8:1-9:7 Hook Main Point: God s presence brings joy to his people and judgment to the unfaithful. Nothing can be scarier than walking in the woods at night without a flashlight, headlamp, or any source of light. Even if our eyes adjust to the darkness, it s very easy to imagine the snap of every twig or the rustle of every leaf to be the sound of some very hungry animal waiting to attack! Even walking in a city in the darkness raises our fears of what might happen around any corner or in the darkness of an alleyway. When we journey into the night, whether walking, driving, or any other way, we feel much safer when we know there is a light for our way. In this passage, we are given assurances that the only way to feel an eternal sense of peace and security in a dark world is through living in the light of Jesus Christ. What stories would you share about a time you were in the dark without a light? How did you feel? What happened to make you feel better? What is the best kind of light to use in the dark? Where do you find it? When have you felt as though your life was one of walking in the dark without any light to guide your way? What does God tell us to do during these times?
Week 3: The Messiah Who Brings Light Isaiah 8:1-9:7 Book Main Point: God s presence brings joy to his people and judgment to the unfaithful. Text Summary: Isaiah 8:1-9:7 Isaiah has some bad news for Judah. Assyria is coming! Because Judah has rejected God, there will be judgment and exile. Living life outside of God s covenant commands only brings darkness. Yet, Isaiah also receives assurances that the remnant will be protected. Living in God s presence brings lasting peace. Even more, there is a coming light who will sit on David s throne and secure justice and peace for all God s people. Isaiah 8:1-10 [Read] Sub-Point: Living outside of God s plan only brings darkness and desperation. King Ahaz and Judah s opportunity to repent and faithfully follow God has passed. So in Isaiah 8:1 10, we read a final word about God s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. Through prediction and fulfillment of a boy s birth, Isaiah reveals the fall of Jerusalem and prepares the listener for a later prophecy about another boy s birth during different times and achieving singularly significant purposes. God is not making idle threats when He commands Isaiah in verse 1 to record his future son s name (Maher-shalal-hash-baz) on a tablet of stone. Such an act certainly called to memory the carving of the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone. In this way, in the very act of carving in stone as well as in the words used, the Lord both indicts His people for breaking their covenant responsibilities and also confirms His word as sure and certain to come to pass. Just as the people could not escape the responsibilities of the Mosaic Law given on Sinai and carved into stone, so Jerusalem would not be able to avoid the dire consequences of their idolatry. Also, as Isaiah prepares to give the people some bad news, two witnesses are called to attest to what is about to follow (v. 2). Such a practice faithfully adheres to the Old Testament law (cf. Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15) commanding the confirmation of two or three witnesses before finalizing a guilty verdict. Significantly, calling witnesses under the old covenant was most commonly associated with seeking verdicts demanding death. So Isaiah is not simply adhering to Mosaic standards but he is hinting at the death and destruction to come because of Jerusalem s sin. Jerusalem s actions were not small mistakes or harmless errors in judgment. The people had been guilty of abandoning God s law and taking up idolatry. Also in fulfillment of God s covenant warnings against idolatry (Deut. 4), the people would face exile because of their unfaithful practices. Indeed, Isaiah and his wife receive a son as recorded in verses 3 4. They follow God s direction by naming him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. His name literally means the spoil speeds, the prey
hastens and indicates the foretold doom of Jerusalem. Ironically, Judah s fear of Syria and Israel in Isaiah 7 turns out to be misplaced. Rather than Syria and Israel, Judah would be defeated and exiled by the Assyrians not Syria or Israel. God again confirms in verse 5 6 the reasons for Judah s exile. Judah refused the waters of Shiloh indicating the people s rejection of God s gentle care in favor of worldly status and political alliances (vv. 5 6; cf. Jeremiah 2:13). 1 Judah firmly believed they had chosen the best path toward security and peace. King Ahaz and the people were unconvinced that God could offer the security they needed. Judah was about to learn the deceptive, destructive power of human strength. Instead of living and thriving under God s care, Judah would face the raging might of Assyria (vv. 7 8). Judah and Jerusalem rejected God s plans for the illusion that seeking their own way would bring satisfaction. Nothing could be further from the truth. Verses 7 8 describe Assyria as a rushing river overflowing its banks and overwhelming Jerusalem. Water is a destructive force leaving very little in its wake. In 2011, a tsunami wreaked death and destruction in Japan. 2 Tragically, this event caused 15,895 deaths and injured many. As of today, approximately 2,500 people are still unaccounted for. More than 120,000 buildings were destroyed, 278,000 were half-destroyed and 726,000 were partially destroyed. The economic cost tallied approximately $309 billion dollars. As this tragic event illustrates, rushing water is a deadly, destructive thing. In a similar fashion, the Assyrian army was going to rush over Jerusalem bringing sure, swift judgment. The final verses of this section move away from Judah and Jerusalem, offering a proclamation for all peoples and countries. Very simply, God is the ultimate authority in the universe. He is sovereign, powerful, and holy. When He stands against you, there is no armor strong enough, no political alliance large enough, or no human knowledge deep enough to overcome His power (v. 9). There is no greater power than God. When God speaks, it comes to pass. When God judges, it is sure. When God punishes, it is just. Yet, where God dwells, there is peace. In verse 10, Isaiah points out that no human wisdom, authority, or threat can unsettle the people who dwell in God s presence. Isaiah repeats the call to trust in God, the God who dwells with His people, the peace and security of Immanuel, God with us! As a kind of link between the Immanuel passage of Isaiah 7 and the upcoming declaration regarding the great light in verses 2 7, God makes plain our need for more than human strength and security. Living outside God s plan and rejecting God s Word only brings 1 John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1 39 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986), 225. 2 Facts taken from the following articles: C. N. N. Library, 2011 Japan Earthquake - Tsunami Fast Facts, CNN, n.d., https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/17/world/asia/japan-earthquake--- tsunami-fast-facts/index.html; Becky Oskin, Contributing Writer September 13, and 2017 04:11pm ET, Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and Information, Live Science, n.d., https://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html.
darkness and desperation. We must look to Christ, the light of the world. Dwell with God through the One who came to dwell with man, Jesus Christ. What kind of things do people put their faith in today instead of trusting God? Why is it important to understand the consequences of rebellion against God? As God s people, why do we need to hear God s word of judgment? What excuses do people give for rejecting God and how should God s people respond? Isaiah 8:11-22 [Read] Sub-Point: Living in fellowship with God fills our lives with joy and satisfaction. On the back of God s warnings in verses 1 10, Isaiah receives another word from the Lord warning him against following the ways of Judah. God is calling Isaiah to stand strong in the face of a people who want to make their own plans, serve their own gods, and promote their own fame in the world. 3 Judah stood in fear of what was going to happen to them (7:2) but Isaiah, as God s faithful prophet, had no reason for such fear. God s strong hand on Isaiah offered clear assurance that Immanuel would watch over Isaiah (v. 11). Rather than fearing the future Assyrian invasion, God reminds Isaiah that He is the only being who is worthy of our deepest respect and fear. Fear the Lord and He will protect and preserve you. Verses 12 13 offer a contrast in responses to troubling times. When facing fear, Judah resorted to crafting plans for getting out of trouble their way rather than looking to God. Isaiah is encouraged to have a healthy fear of God rather than men. Much like the New Testament witness given by Jesus (Matt. 10:28), Isaiah is to stand unafraid of those who kill the body. Instead, Isaiah should fear God who can destroy body and soul in hell. While it might seem strange to fear God, other parts of Scripture testify that in the fear of the Lord one finds security and wisdom (cf. Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). Here it is the same. Isaiah s healthy reverence for God s holiness and authority secures a lasting sanctuary. Through right relationship with God, we are offered the very security sought not only in Judah in Isaiah s day, but in our day, too. Every person longs for peace that surpasses understanding and such a peace can only be found in God. In fact, verses 14 15 point out that the safety offered to Isaiah actually serves to confuse and hinder the unfaithful nations of Judah and Israel. The sanctuary offered to Isaiah becomes a stone in the road that the faithless stumble over. 4 God s presence is an inevitable reality but there is a twofold promise in the nearness of a holy, sovereign God. Immanuel is a promise 3 Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah: A Historical and Theological Survey (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), 79. 4 John N. Oswalt, Isaiah (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 151.
of peace, joy, and security for those who know and love God. Recall that these promises for peace and safety echo not simply for Isaiah but for the remnant God would send back to the land. God s presence is a place of refuge even in a time of exile and testing. On the other hand, Immanuel is a promise of judgment, destruction, and punishment to the unbelieving who reject God s grace in favor of idolatry and pride. The Gospel of faith in God alone has always been a stumbling block and Isaiah offers the same commentary. If a person rejects God s grace, there is no escape from God s righteous wrath. We open ourselves to bear the full penalty justly charged to sinful humanity when we reject God s offer for a life of peace through faith alone. There is no escaping God s presence but only the option of life or death, sanctuary or stumbling. Isaiah concludes this section with a confirmation that the promise of life and health rests only on those who faithfully follow God. Verses 16 17 describe a binding up of the words spoken by God for those who are His disciples. The promise of God s presence is a promise of joy and hope (v. 17). In contrast, verses 18 22 describe just how disorienting life without God will be for Judah. The people will ask important questions but receive no answers. The people search for signs and God gives them a very clear declaration of their fate (v. 18). In this isolation, the people will look to mediums and necromancers who cannot do anything but chirp and mutter (v. 19). There is not hope in idolatry or false prophets (vv. 18, 20). The unfaithful will suffer hunger and distress and will live life in total darkness, hoping for a new day of sunlight and warmth that will never come (v. 20). In their agony, they will turn on each other and lash out at each other in anger. Sadly, as verses 21 22 convey, the people will look frantically for some meaning or relief but will only find disunity and darkness. They will look up to heaven, down to the earth, and everywhere in between but be totally unable to see a way out. What does it mean to fear the Lord? How are we supposed to cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord? How does God s presence in a person s life affect how that person approaches trials and suffering in life? Describe a life that is dependent on God for peace and security. How can your life look more like this? Isaiah 9:1-7 [Read] Sub-Point: Living in dependence on Jesus satisfies our deepest longings. Isaiah 9:1 7 unfolds a marvelous description of the coming Messiah, an unexpected and unlikely description of this One who brings light and life (v. 2). Isaiah begins by proclaiming relief and blessing for those who have experienced hardships (v. 1). The long walk in the
darkness comes to a close with the advent of the great light (v. 2). Even as God humbles His people, His intent is to bring restoration and satisfaction. When Isaiah mentions the way to the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, he is pointing out the specific region of the world that would come to see the Messiah come to earth (v. 1). The way to the sea references the Galilean network of roads that crisscrossed the region between the Mediterranean Sea, the Jordan River, and northern Egypt. 5 The land beyond the Jordan clearly references Canaan, the Promised Land. In fact, Moses uses a similar phrase when communicating his longing to see the land God had promised His people (Deuteronomy 3:25). The Galilee of the nations again points to a specific region but also hints to the multiculturalism of the land when Jesus is born as well as pointing to spread the Gospel from one nation (Israel) out to every nation. 6 Taken together, Isaiah points to the specific place where the Messiah would be born, a place filled with longing for God s redemption and brimming with opportunity for the Savior to reveal salvation to all the world. What would this Messiah be like? What would characterize his life and reign? The joy and light brought by the Messiah s advent has distinct characteristics revealed by Isaiah and confirmed by the New Testament. The Messiah will reveal what was once hidden through the light of his presence (v. 2). Jesus reveals the Father and speaks to His people (Hebrews 1:1 3). The Messiah offers joy and supplies every need in abundance (v. 3). Jesus brings abundant life (John 10:10) and promises to supply all needs (Philemon 4:19). The Messiah will bring freedom and rest to all his children (v. 4). Jesus promised rest to the weary and heavy-laden (Matthew 11:28). The Messiah will bring peace and security to a nation ravaged by war and conquest (v. 5). Jesus offers a way of loving enemies and praying for persecutors in order to live in the kingdom of His love (Matthew 5:44). While these descriptions build anticipation toward a mighty, just Messiah coming to overcome oppression and offer peace, Isaiah s prophecy takes an unexpected twist. The light, joy, and security promised would come from a small, humble child! And not just any ordinary child, he would be a child born of a virgin (v. 6). The Messiah s advent would be ordinarily extraordinary. The extraordinary, one-of-a-kind coming of the long-awaited Messiah would come through the ordinary commonness of childbirth, albeit a virgin birth. What a strange story! How could this be? What seems to be a startling shift actually points back to God s insistence on doing things His way, for His glory, by His own power. God subverts our human desire for a mighty, magnificent Messiah by redefining our understanding of might and magnificence. 5 Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah, 83. 6 Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah, 83.
This Messiah would be mighty. In fact, He would have rule over all the nations, fulfilling a Davidic promise of an eternal king (v. 6). He would possess all the authority and power of God; he would be called Mighty God. Not a name given lightly but a confirmation of the incarnate God who would one day come down to earth in order to rule and reign. This Messiah is princely, the Prince of Peace, bringing a might that assures all will be well and secures a peace unlike any other. The New Testament confirms this Messiah reveals his might and secures our peace not through conquest but through a cross. His kingdom will grow and exist without end, guaranteeing an eternal rest secured by the Messiah (v. 7). This Messiah would also be magnificent. He possesses wisdom surpassing even the wisest of men, he would be the Wonderful Counselor. His decisions and counsel reveal God s will perfectly without any hint of self-promotion or prideful agenda. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, a perfect source of heavenly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). He is the Mighty God, possessing all the divine power of the triune God (Colossians 1:16 17). He is the Everlasting Father, ruling forever (Hebrews 1:10 11). Jesus is the Prince of Peace (v. 6), ruling as God s Son over heaven and earth, bringing lasting peace in this life and the next (Romans 5:1). Isaiah concludes by confirming all this will be brought about not by man s power or because of man s goodness but only because of God s sovereign plan (v. 7). What surprises you the most about Isaiah s description of the coming Messiah? How does Isaiah s description change the way you think about Jesus? What kind of Messiah do you think the world wants to see today? How does it differ from Isaiah s description? How is it the same?
Week 3: The Messiah Who Brings Light Isaiah 8:1-9:7 Took Main Point: God s presence brings joy to his people and judgment to the unfaithful. This world can be a dark and scary place. We go through times when we aren t sure what to do; we feel like we are groping in the darkness. Sometimes this happens when we are living in rebellion and sin; we aren t walking in the Spirit and God will not bless our lives. Sometimes this happens just because we live in a fallen, broken world; we are seeking God but we feel as if we are alone. Whenever you are walking in darkness, look to the light of Christ to show you the way. Trust Him to be with you and care for you. Consider these ways to walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). Challenges Follow Jesus alone. All of us are pursuing joy in this life, but we must constantly guard against allowing the things of life to become idols or distractions. It is good to find godly joy in family, careers, education, or hobbies. These are gifts of life granted by God! However, be on guard against allowing the comforts of life to pull you away from complete reliance on God alone. Be on guard against allowing the trials of life to make you feel bitter about others who seem to have an easier life. Follow Christ alone in every circumstance of life, looking to bring Him glory in all you do. Fear the Lord. We all fear something. Whether it s public speaking, spiders, or heights, there are things in this life we just don t want to do. Yet, Scripture calls us to have a good kind of fear, the fear of the Lord. Fearing God means living as though God is God and you are not. It means prayerfully and intentionally meditating on God s holiness and power revealed in Scripture. This fear will draw us to drop our self-dependence and look to Christ alone for salvation. Then, as Christ dwells in us and with us, we are granted safety through every circumstance. The struggles of life won t overwhelm us but open our eyes to our sovereign God s gracious care. Find satisfaction in Christ. It seems as though no one is satisfied today. There is a constant flow of new information, faster technologies, cooler clothes, bigger houses, or better jobs. While information isn t bad, technology and material possessions serve a purpose, and we all are called to serve God in the world; none of these things can satisfy your deepest longings. Look to Christ alone for satisfaction. Fix your gaze on Him and understand the joys of life as gifts of His grace, opportunities to display His glory through every moment of your life.