The People Walking In Darkness

Isaiah 9.1-7

Christmas is a season of lights. Songs have been written which include words such as:
Strings of street lights, even stop lights, blink a bright red and green...

or

Broadway lights beaming, skyscrapers gleaming, children are dreaming, Its Christmas in New York...

The lights on the candles on the Advent Wreath, Christmas Trees and outside are all part of the season.

Interestingly enough as far as daylight goes the weeks leading up to Christmas and following Christmas are the shortest and darkest of the year. Temperatures fall up to and after the celebration for a number of weeks.

This points to the fact that darkness can not only be physical but it can be emotional and spiritual. This holiday like no other can bring warm feelings and good memories and it can bring a person down to a low point emotionally. Losses in our lives can make life difficult to say the least. I was speaking to someone at a funeral this week and said that more than any other time of the year we have memories of this season burned into our minds. I may remember certain things about another time but Christmas is a file of cumulative memories... from a child, a teen and through adulthood. We relate more memories to the elders in our lives and when they are gone miss them more it seems at this time of the year.

The message of Isaiah, the prophet, in this 9th chapter, was directed to people in northern Israel, 700 BC. When the invading Assyrian armies came into Israel, they came through the north. The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were the first to get hit and therefore bore the brunt of the battles.

The people walking in darkness have seen a Great Light...

1. The Darkness -v.2
There was much death in this region due to war, way more than in other areas of the nation. Because of this gloom, distress abounded.

Sinful living can do this. Breaking God's law breaks down people. It breaks them down personally and relationally. Say a person is embezzling money from their employer. They have to conceal it. They have guilt. Down deep inside they wonder if and when they will be caught. This adds untold stress upon their bodies and minds. When found out they are fired and perhaps prosecuted. There is shock among those who trusted them.

Unforgiveness ruins relationships. It tears up families. This time of the year brings it to bear. Darkness comes to people living in sin. They live in darkness.

Depression comes to people more at Christmas time than any other time of the year. Those who are grieving grieve more this month. It is a time when being alone takes on greater force. It is also a time if funds are short to buy gifts more depression can come.

It is a time when if family lives in another part of the country or the world sadness comes. The distance seems longer. Separation from people we love whether through death or distance (physically or emotionally) can bring darkness and even depression.

2. The People -v.2
Zebulun and Naphtali were the area of Galilee.
The people in Isaiah's time who lived there lived in the land of the shadow of death. They walked in darkness. We may feel like that today.

The feelings that there is no way out, like our lives will always be like this, makes it hard to lay hold of hope. But this section of scripture is full of promises for those in darkness.

God is interested in people. He cares about groups of people and individuals. He knows about our life situations no matter how alone we feel.

These people had suffered much. - now He is promising to honor them with the Light and that He did! The power of Light is greater than the darkness!

3. The Light- v.2
Seen a great Light... a Light has dawned.
Hope. This was the dawning of the New and Everlasting Covenant.
The place where there had been so much death and darkness was about to be honored- given special glory.
The place of darkness was going to have a great light- the Light of the World.
This place of sorrow- deep sorrow was going to rejoice.
The place in the nation that suffered the greatest loss was going to be the host of Jesus' ministry on earth.

God keeps all His Promises. Let the Light within you shine this week. If you are walking in darkness may the reality of Christ's coming bring light into your heart.

May the dawn begin today in you.