One of my favorite books of the Old Testament is that of Isaiah. No other book has as many prophecies of the coming messiah whose birth we celebrate at Christmas than this book. Isaiah lived about 800 years before Christ but the promises of the one who would come and defeat Satan pile up in Isaiah’s prophecies. 

Like our own day, Isaiah lived in a time when truth had become relative, the domestic and international scene was complicated and the forces of evil seemed to outweigh the forces of righteousness. In addition, for many, faith in God had simply become a ritual without substance. People’s actions did not match their professed beliefs. There was tremendous discouragement, a great deal of injustice and plain old evil going on. It was a time where good news was hard to find. It was a dark, dark time.

And then...we find this ray of hope in Isaiah 9. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...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. Of the increase 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.”

A child would be born and the darkness of our world would be pierced by the light of this son who would be given to us. That is what happened at the coming of Christ. A great light appeared for those living in the land of a shadow of death, bringing hope, truth, love, compassion, and redemption for those who believed that this child had been sent by God. Today, with all the bad news we hear and experience as a world struggles with Covid 19, remember that there is a light in the darkness and it is Jesus. In fact, He is the only light in the darkness of a sinful and broken world and sinful and broken lives. 

And who is this Jesus? Isaiah gives Him four names. As the Wonderful Counselor, He is the one who guides our steps, decisions, and who helps us negotiate the complexities and difficulties of our daily lives. As the Almighty God, He is not only able to give us counsel but He has the power to intervene in our lives. He is all powerful. As the Everlasting Father, He is the one Father who will never let us down or disappoint us. He is a father who can be trusted and who loves us as no other father can - forever. As the Prince of Peace, He is the one who can bring peace between us and God and who will ultimately bring peace to our chaotic and un-peaceful world.

This is the One who came at Advent and this is the One who walks with you today. He is our light in a dark world. He is our counselor, the one who can intervene on our behalf, our faithful father and the one who will ultimately bring peace to our world. That should change the way we view life today. And tomorrow. He is our light shining in a world of darkness.

Father, thank you for giving your Son to us. Thank you for the light you provide for me in a dark world. Thank you that you are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Amen.