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Tuesday 10 December

Isaiah’s prophecy of a Saviour

By Richard Ames-Lewis

Isaiah 9.2-7

This stirring passage of hope was written by the prophet Isaiah during a stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire, around 730BCE, and the decline of Israel. But in this passage, Isaiah predicts that, in the darkness of defeat, a light will dawn, that God will destroy the Assyrian army and their oppressive yoke, that boots and military equipment will no longerbe needed. For a royal son, a son of David, will be born, who will take over the government and who will be the prince of peace.

Like later readers of the prophet Isaiah, we can read this as a prediction of an event far more significant than the domestic battles of the ancient Middle East. Isaiah’s poetry of light in darkness, of the birth of a saviour, of a reign of justice, righteousness and peacemake this a prophecy of God’s gracious gift of himself in the birth of Jesus, an event which fulfilled the prophecy several hundred years later.

A number of images bring this prophecy especially close to us. “The people who walked in darkness” is an apt description of us in this present time and in this Advent season. We are looking for hope during troubled times, and it is upon us that” The light has shined”.  This light of hope is focussed on an extraordinary event, “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us.” Through the lens of faith, we read this as the Incarnation of God, who loved the world a so much that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life.

We still wait for the peace, justice and righteousness that he brings, and this waiting is part of our Advent hope. We pray that within our community of faith, the Church of Jesus Christ, such qualities may be found, as a sign to the world he came to save that we have not been abandoned and that we live in the love of God.

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Isaiah 9.2-7

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.

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.

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.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

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.

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.