Isaiah 9:1-21
Ch. 8 finished with "trouble and darkness". Israel walked blindly, groping about in that darkness (v. 2). But suddenly in their pathway "a great light" shines out. The quotation of this passage in Matthew 4:15-16 carries us forward to the time of the Gospel, so that we see shining then the One who is the light of the world (John 9:5). It was in fact in that despised (but how privileged) Galilee that the Lord Jesus accomplished the greater part of His ministry. However, the true light is not only for one area or people. It "lighteth every man". But "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 1:9; John 3:19). Our verses go beyond the time of the Lord’s rejection and beyond the whole present age of the Church which is never dealt with in the prophets. They reveal to us in a direct way Israel’s joy (v. 3) at the time when, after centuries of darkness, the glorious Sun of righteousness shall arise (cf. Isaiah 60:1; Isaiah 60:19-20). V. 6 beautifully reveals to us a number of the names and titles given to the Son. Each of these names provides a blessed subject of contemplation for our souls!