Daily Lesson for December 18, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1 through 9:

But there will be no gloom for those who were 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 will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 

2 The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

   on them light has shined. 

3 You have multiplied the nation,

   you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

   as with joy at the harvest,

   as people exult when dividing plunder. 

4 For the yoke of their burden,

   and the bar across their shoulders,

   the rod of their oppressor,

   you have broken as on the day of Midian. 

5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors

   and all the garments rolled in blood

   shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 

6 For a child has been born for us,

   a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

   and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7 His authority shall grow continually,

   and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

   He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

   from this time onwards and for evermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

At the time Jesus was born the whole region of Galilee was war-torn.  According to the Jewish historian Josephus the Roman Governor in Syria Varus burned resisting towns, crucified hundreds and maybe even thousands of  Jews, sold the rest into slavery.

So these words spoken of the coming messiah were words of promise to refugees. They were words of the promise of rescue and deliverance — promise of an end to oppression and a beginning of good governance.

“And the government will be upon his shoulder.”

If we read these Scriptures closely enough and pay attention to their context, then it’s as if God just won’t let us forget about the refugee during all the run up to Christmas. It’s as if God is saying, “Who is the Galilean now?  Where are they?  Where is Zebulon and Naphtali — the place looked upon with contempt by the rest of the world?  Do you know where that is?  Because that is the place where the messiah will show up. Guaranteed.”

“The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

   on them light has shined.”