Isaiah 9:2 - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:2

Commentary

This passage has been associated with the Christmas season due to the usage of it in Handel's Messiah. The implications of this Scripture are immense. This passage says that 1) we all are walking in darkness and 2) we all need to see a great light. It's not very flattering to think that we walk in darkness, but a view of history would validate this claim pretty quickly. But now Christ is the light that gives light to every man. There is a light that has dawned upon us. We didn't figure it out nor could we figure it out. We need help. Another way to put it is Jesus is not a celestial Sugar Daddy trying to help us out; He's our Savior to set us free from our sins!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...

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. Of the increase 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.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be (I)no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Commentary

Isaiah has more messianic prophecies than any other book in the Hebrew Bible. Augustine called Isaiah the "5th gospel". This famous passage was declared during the rise of the Assyrian dynasty. Israel would be reestablished, but not in the way that was expected: a child would be born. The Jewish leaders of the 1st Century were looking for a Messiah that would ride in on a white horse and set the Jews free from the Romans. Instead, a baby was brought into the world. In weakness and vulnerability, the child was born and nurtured to fulfill His God-given destiny - to establish and uphold God's true kingdom. The kingdom of God that began with the baby king has not stopped increasing ever since.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC