Today’s Scripture:

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 [b]The people who walk in darkness    will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness,[c]    a light will shine.3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,    and its people will rejoice.They will rejoice before you    as people rejoice at the harvest    and like warriors dividing the plunder.4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.You will break the oppressor’s rod,    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.5 The boots of the warrior    and the uniforms bloodstained by warwill all be burned.    They will be fuel for the fire.

6 For a child is born to us,    a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.    And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His government and its peace    will never end.He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David    for all eternity.The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies    will make this happen!

8 The Lord has spoken out against Jacob;    his judgment has fallen upon Israel.9 And the people of Israel[e] and Samaria,    who spoke with such pride and arrogance,    will soon know it.10 They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,    and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”

11 But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel    and stir up all their foes.12 The Syrians[f] from the east and the Philistines from the west    will bare their fangs and devour Israel.But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.    His fist is still poised to strike.

13 For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent.    They will not seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.14 Therefore, in a single day the Lord will destroy both the head and the tail,    the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.15 The leaders of Israel are the head,    and the lying prophets are the tail.16 For the leaders of the people have misled them.    They have led them down the path of destruction.17 That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men    and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans.For they are all wicked hypocrites,    and they all speak foolishness.But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.    His fist is still poised to strike.