Rev. Don Campbell
Isaiah 9-12
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 13, 2019
“LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS”
Isaiah delivered a message of judgment and destruction to Israel and Judah much as did Amos: “And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness” (Isaiah 8:22). We again have a divine “but.” “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:1-2).
We need not speculate as to Isaiah’s meaning: Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:12-17).
There are no Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ that are yet to be fulfilled, for he said: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49).
Paul said that the thrust of the gospel is “Christ and him crucified,” but Isaiah tells us what spirit those who preach the gospel should manifest: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:4-6).
CONNECTIONS
A village in Samaria refused to receive Jesus into their village and James and John wanted to know if he wanted them to call down fire from heaven to consume the village. He rebuked them and told them they did not know what manner of spirit they were (Luke 9:51-55). There is a place for hell-ire-and-brimstone preaching, especially when rebuking God’s own rebellious preaching, but the very word “gospel” means “good news.” What then should be the attitude of all who profess to preach that gospel?
2. “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). How does Paul explain this in Romans 15:12?
