Isaiah: A Song of Waiting
For Meditation
It is a strange thing that we Christians start our year with a season of waiting. But that is what Advent calls us to do. Advent calls us to sit and wait, and to explore what it means to be a people in darkness, waiting for the light.
This week we’ll be looking at Isaiah 9 and mediating on these things. We will explore how to be honest about the darkness in our lives. We talk about how to practice being a people who wait. And we will discuss how Advent helps us cultivate a real longing for the true light: the light of Christ the Messiah.
Isaiah 9:1–7
1 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 nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 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.
7 Of the greatness 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.