Narrow Way - A daily devotional from Trochia.org Grace From darkness to light by JoHannah Reardon What darkness enveloped the people referred to in this passage? What is the great light that is promised? “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” Isaiah 9:1-7 NLT The second paragraph above is probably familiar to you if you have ever listened to Handel’s Messiah. But it’s good to see it within its context. When we realize that Israel was exiled from their promised land and living in captivity (in darkness), those familiar words burst forth with the exuberance that Handel expressed in his “Hallelujah Chorus.” Surely when the Israelites heard those words as they struggled in a foreign land, it must have made them feel like singing for joy. It should have the same effect on us. When we realize that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment and embodiment of this passage, the great light, we can’t help but rejoice. Though we were once in great darkness, we have now been brought into glorious light through his sacrifice for us. Not only that, we have the great expectation and assurance that one day he will put all that is wrong in this world right, bringing the justice and fairness we all crave. Prayer: “Lord, our hearts sing with the good news that you will one day reign in glory and that the whole earth will understand who you are and bow to your perfect rule. We long for the day that ends all the pain and suffering that we experience, and that will ensure justice for every creature on earth. Hasten that day!”
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 15:20:23 +0000
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