READING: ISAIAH 9:2-7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

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.

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.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

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 Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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 for ever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

REFLECTION

Hello and welcome to a special week for Foundation podcasts here at STC Sheffield. My Name is Dave and I’m part of the team here. Last week we came to the end of our journey through Matthew’s Gospel.  As I’m sure you know, the cold weather and the sudden appearance of fir trees are signs that herald the seasons of Advent and Christmas.  We thought what better than to use this podcast, some of the time we set apart to delve into God’s word each day, to look deeper into this Advent story. To explore what it means for each of us this Christmas, 2016 years after the events unfolded.

In fact, we’re going to go back even further than 2000 years, all the way back to the prophecies of a man called Isaiah. We’re going to focus on one passage all week, Isaiah 9:2-7. I’ll read it to us shortly and I think you’ll recognise it, as it’s a classic Advent reading, full of meaning to explore and unpack. To help me do just that, over the next three days you will be hearing the voices of three special guests from our staff team. Then I’ll be back on Friday to wrap up the week.

I’m going to read the whole passage now, but do take the opportunity this week to read it several times for yourself.

As we’re going to be spending some time on this passage let me give a little background on it to set up the week. I’ll then give us a simple question for us to ponder as we start this week.

This prophecy, this foretelling of Jesus, was written over 700 years before He was born in that Bethlehem stable. It was a message to Israel, God’s chosen nation, God’s own people. Israel after all, was the nation that He had nurtured from birth, liberated from slavery in Egypt, sustained through 40 years of desert journey and brought into the great Promised Land. However Israel was not the nation it once was. It wasn’t even one nation any more. Rejecting God’s leadership, Israel had asked for Kings, surely a king would give them all they desired?! All they hoped for? But it didn’t work out like that. The nation divided in two, into Israel and Judah. God slipped down the priorities list and was forgotten. People started turning to manmade idols. They had enemies on all sides and would soon be carried off into captivity and exile. It was into this place, into this dark place, that Isaiah spoke of the light that was to come. It was into this lost hope, crushed dreams, that Isaiah declared the coming of the Saviour. God’s rescue plan. His Son.

My simple question for us today is this; what does this passage mean to you? What words stand out? We’re going to hear over the next few days what God has been saying to some of my colleagues through this passage. But today, this week, read the passage again, what is God saying to you? This is going to be a great week.

PRAYER

Thank you God for this passage, as we unpack it, as we talk of Your great rescue plan, thank you that we can know you. Thank you for Jesus. Speak to us this week Lord we pray, Amen.