Imagine that you were walking along the a wild and desolate beach, complete with warnings signs about sharks, sting rays, riptides and frigid water. Something about the action of the waves and the way the light glistened from the jagged rocks gave the siren’s call. Fully understanding that it would be an act of idiocy to enter the water, ignoring the posted promise of peril, you enter the surf.

At first, you think that your first grade YMCA swimming lessons are finally paying but then, you realize that you are in literal deep trouble. You begin to note the sudden onset of fatigue and comprehend that your folly had doomed you. The water is far too rough and cold to allow anyone to survive, and there is no way to get out as the rip tide washes you out to sea. The you notice fins and large dark shapes among the waves.

Having trespassed the clear boundary, you will surely die, and soon. Suddenly, you notice a man swimming strongly toward you, displaying a knowledge of the waves as if he owned them. He offers to rescue you, and after a momentary battle with your damned pride, you take the offer. You remember little after that except that you were indeed saved, but that you rescuer was not able to survive he effort. The surf claimed him, instead of you. You gaze over the furious waters and wonder at his sacrifice and your idiocy. This is truly the paradox of Christmas: our evil of sin and the love of our Savior.

We must note that the solution for our self induced depravity and depravation comes only from God and not from us. We continually seek to make sound cisterns from the fragments of our own demise so that we do not have to admit that we are beyond human repair. Whether these futile attempts come from pride or shame matters little as the condition, though masked, remains. We are broken, and remain so unless some other factor enters the equation.

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.~~~~~~~~~~ Gloom’s foundation: A. The government of King Ahaz is evil. A. The government of King Ahaz is evil. (2 Chronicles 28:1-5) 1. Made cast idols - implies organized effort 2. Sacrificed his sons in the fire 3. He intentionally led the nation away from the Lord 4. The worse the nation’s situation got, the more wicked he became (2 Chronicles 28:22-23)

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.~~~~~~~~~~ Gloom’s foundation: A. The government of King Ahaz is evil. A. The government of King Ahaz is evil. (2 Chronicles 28:1-5) B. Other nations are successfully attacking. Aram, Israel, Edom and Philistia resulting in military, land and population losses. (Large OT numbers are difficult.) 2 Chronicles 28:5-8 Even in this, God still looks after his people. See 9-15

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. ~~~~~~~~~~ Gloom’s foundation: A. The government of King Ahaz is evil. (2 Chronicles 28:1-5) B. Other nations are successfully attacking. C. Ahaz looks to Assyria but only digs a deeper pit. (2 Chronicles 28:16-21) Gloom: seeking your own solutions that cannot, by nature, have a positive affect.

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 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. ~~~~~~~~~~ In spite of the pathetic state that we have sold our selves into, God has a plan for redemption. No one is beyond the reach of Grace. (Remember Manasseh, 2 Chronicles 33:12) The foundation for Hope: God has not given up on sinful people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 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. ~~~~~~~~~~ ~ He will begin where sin-caused despair is the greatest. These were historic places of idolatry and evil, made into a common region by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. (The asociation of Galilee and the Jordan regions adds to the veracity of this text.) God has not given up on sinful people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 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. ~~~~~~~~~~ ~ He will begin where sin-caused despair is the greatest. It all begins in dealing with Sin God has not given up on sinful people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 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. ~~~~~~~~~~ ~ He will begin where sin-caused despair is the greatest. ~ He provides the solution as there is no light within us. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. ~ John 1:9 God has not given up on sinful people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 You have enlarged the nation, and increased their joy; they rejoice before you, as people rejoice at the harvest, they rejoice before you, as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.~~~~~~~~~~ ~ He will reverse the decay that our sin has caused Increase for decrease (don’t go “Word-Faith” here) Rejoicing instead of despair. Enjoying the fruit of your labor. Being on the winning side of the battle. God has not given up on sinful people. ~ He will begin where sin-caused despair is the greatest. ~ He provides the solution as there is no light within us.

~ He will begin where sin-caused despair is the greatest. ~ He provides the solution as there is no light within us. ~ He will reverse the decay that our sin has caused Increase for decrease (don’t go “Word-Faith” here) Rejoicing instead of despair. Enjoying the fruit of your labor. Being on the winning side of the battle. Freedom from oppression The activity of battle will be obsolete Isaiah 9:1-7 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle, and every garment rolled in blood and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. will be fuel for the fire.~~~~~~~~~~ God has not given up on sinful people.

Isaiah 9:1-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 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. from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:1-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, ~~~~~~~~~~ Commentator Clements: the child cannot be “Immanuel“, of Isaiah 7:14, but rather indicates royal succession. If this were the case, the child would have had to have been Hezekiah, who would have been at least 9 years old at this time. He would not be worthy of the titles. Clements downgrades the titles to fit his view. Mighty God -> divine warrior: Everlasting Father-> father forever, stressing his paternal concern for his people. Taking the words at face value, the Child has to be deity and eternal, that is, God.

Isaiah 9:1-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. and the government will be on his shoulders.~~~~~~~~~~ The meaning of “be upon” has been looked at in two different ways. Persecution by the government or responsibility for governing.

Isaiah 9:1-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Prince of Peace. the idea of total well being, safety and completeness miraculous / amazing miraculous / amazing in the warrior sense in the warrior sense Father of the future chief of shalom

Isaiah 9:1-7 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. ~~~~~~~~~~ Submission to the Origin and Originator yields life the way that it was meant to be in the first place. rule, not bureaucracy rule, not bureaucracy shalom shalom

Isaiah 9:1-7 The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.~~~~~~~~~~ Regardless of how bad a life or world situation looks, God has a plan to transform it. Our solutions only increase our depravity, but we refuse to learn this. (Romans 1) Human evil is no math for God’s grace. It begins and finds completion only in Jesus Christ/Messiah. Surrender is the only path to victory.