Isaiah 9:1-2,6-7
Imagine being lost in the dark and then seeing a bright light showing you the way. The most troubling type of darkness is spiritual darkness that accompanies being trapped by habitual sin, unresolved conflicts, emotional strain, and other forms of spiritual oppression that are downstream from our doubts and lack of trust in God.
The people of God lived in darkness during the reign of King Ahaz, who ruled the southern kingdom of Judah. King Ahaz became concerned when the Assyrians eviscerated the northern kingdom of Israel and took King Hoshea as a prisoner of war. Ahaz did not fear God. He feared the Assyrians. Instead of seeking spiritual counsel and trusting God, King Ahaz made a political alliance with Assyria. In order to gain Assyrian favor, Ahaz allowed himself to be overcome by Assyrian culture. The Jerusalem Temple was stripped of its altar and other sacred items. He closed the doors of the Temple and constructed altars to foreign gods on the hillsides around Jerusalem. He led the people of Judah away from God to worship foreign gods. This was detestable to God, and the practice that garnered God’s highest contempt was child sacrifice to the god Molech. King Ahaz sacrificed his sons for protection, blessing, and a secure future from Molech. (2 Kgs 16:3, 2 Chr 28:3)
Darkness is the condition of a fear-driven heart that turns from trusting God and leads to spiritual and moral decay. Downstream from idolatry, the fabric of Judah’s society began to collapse. Sexual immorality and social injustice increased. Leaders of Judah were corrupted by bribes, nepotism, and lack of concern to obey God’s laws to care for the widowed and orphaned. Man-made laws were put into the books to deprive people of fair trials. The justice system favored the wealthy and oppressed the poor. (Is 1:23, 10:1-2)
Isaiah offered a message of hope from the Lord, saying that a light would come to the people walking in darkness. (Is 9:1-2) The light would be a promised child who would rescue his people and be known as
Wonderful Counselor (giving perfect guidance)
Mighty God (being all-powerful and divine)
Everlasting Father (caring for his people forever)
Prince of Peace (bringing peace to the world)
Reflecting on the darkness that engulfed God’s people during the reign of Ahaz, we recognize that we are living in a time of idolatry on both a national and global scale. The key lesson for us serves as a warning: we must turn away from idolatry and trust in God’s promise to bring light into the darkness surrounding us and within us.
The darkness around us is shaped by various influences, including the media, social pressures, work demands, identity struggles, materialism, and even politics. It’s vital to ask yourself: In whom do I place my ultimate trust?
Devote yourself to Christ, and as you do, His light will illuminate the dark corners of your heart, revealing any unconfessed sin. Sometimes, unconfessed sin may appear to be goodness, masquerading under a facade of holiness. The Pharisees exemplified this; they checked many boxes on the "I’m a Holy Man" list, yet Jesus referred to them as "white-washed tombs," clean on the outside but empty on the inside (Matthew 23:27-28). God sent His Son, Jesus, to shine a light into the world and expose the sin in every heart.
Do not resist the light shining into your heart. It can be intense, and it’s important not to resist His judgment on the thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and commitments that need to change. Embrace the light of the Lord’s means of grace to lead you out of darkness and into glorious light. These means of grace include reading scripture, praying, remembering your baptism and identity as a child of God, participating in the Lord’s Supper, and engaging in these practices alongside fellow believers. God bless you!
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