The Light Can Outshine The Darkness

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.

There have been multiple discussions, within the theological circles, about whether Isaiah was referring to Christ’s birth in this passage.

Personally, I choose to side with those who think Isaiah had been given the vision of hope — reversal of greedy human egos -- to come into the world with the promised Messiah 

Isaiah was speaking at a time when the world around him was in the throws of terrible, destructive, leadership.  

It was most certainly a time of “Deep darkness.” That is in the shadow of death itself.  In the Hebrew: the land of the dead. No more positive life within the people. No hope, nor strength to count on to sustain them. 

This condition is spelled out for us at the end of chapter 8:

¹⁹Now if people say to you, ‘Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, ²⁰for teaching and for instruction?’ surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn! ²¹They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king and their gods. They will turn their faces upwards, ²²or they will look to the earth, but will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness.(Is. 8)

Into that darkness came a radiant light.

A light delivered in the form of a tiny baby boy.

“And a child shall lead them.” (Is. 11:6)

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.

Now as most bearings of good new, this one does seem a tiny bit crazy, to say the least.                                                                                                                 

Really? There shall be endless peace?

It is a dream.  Right?

Those words were predicted in the midst of the ancient world. 

Jesus was born much later.

And still, today, the peace promised is basically nonexistent.  Or so it seems.

Many people come, on Christmas Eve, to hear the Christmas story.  Most of them only come on Christmas and Easter.  That isn't a judgement, it is simply a sad truth.

They come into the dimly lite church building from a world outside that is less than peaceful.  Some of them find a bit of peace as they sing Silent Night in a candle lite moment.

And then they return to the world they live in everyday.

This sad truth often haunts my heart.

I wish there was something they hear or experience, in that worship service, that they could really believe and hold on to.

Something that would help them realize that readings like Isaiah are meant to being the news of extraordinary possibility. A possibilities that our world situation constantly Denys as possible.

My truth is that God came into the messy -- distructive -- world to bring hope, and joy, and the calm of peace.

He came to create a world where all people might feel safe and accepted.

He came to complete God's original design for living -- where his human creatures could put aside their pride. Living in faith toward peace and good-will.

I believe that God is still, today, working on that unbelievable possibility right here on this earth.

And if the nightly news would just start telling more stories about how most people are good, and caring, and willing to help; giving less concerned about the bully and power hungry people.  Then maybe, just maybe, more people would realize that our world is not in such dire straits after all.

Then maybe:  ^5.. all the boots of the tramping warriors, and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 

Then maybe people would see the possibility that God is active in the mix of good and not so good.

   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.

I am thinking that a simple -- very simple -- solution is to remove the hype that give news to the bad news.  

If they would quit giving those power hungry individual the spot light.

Then maybe the people who walk in such darkness could see the greater light.

I don't know.  What do you think?

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. (Is. 9)