Reflections on Isaiah 9

Isaiah 09 (Contemporary English Version)
1. But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain. The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee were once hated. But this land of the Gentiles across the Jordan River and along the Mediterranean Sea will be greatly respected.
   
2. Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows.
   
3. Our LORD, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
   
4. You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian.
   
5. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
   
6. A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
   
7. His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice. The LORD All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done.
   
8. The Lord had warned the people of Israel,
   
9. and all of them knew it, including everyone in the capital city of Samaria. But they were proud and stubborn and said,
   
10. "Houses of brick and sycamore have fallen to the ground, but we will build houses with stones and cedar."
    
11. The LORD made their enemies attack them.
    
12. He sent the Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they swallowed up Israel. But even this did not stop him from being angry, so he kept on punishing them.
    
13. The people of Israel still did not turn back to the LORD All-Powerful and worship him.
    
14. In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches.
    
15. Their rulers and leaders were the head, and the lying prophets were the tail.
    
16. They had led the nation down the wrong path, and the people were confused.
    
17. The Lord was angry with his people and kept punishing them, because they had turned against him. They were evil and spoke foolishly. That's why he did not have pity on their young people or on their widows and orphans.
    
18. Evil had spread like a raging forest fire sending thornbushes up in smoke.
    
19. The LORD All-Powerful was angry and used the people as fuel for a fire that scorched the land. They turned against each other
    
20. like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives. But still they were not satisfied.
    
21. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh turned against each other, then joined forces to attack Judah. But the LORD was still angry and ready to punish the nation even more.

---

In the midst of talk about God's discipline and judgment of Israel and Judah comes a message of hope. Mention was made in chapter 7 of a child that would be born who would be a sign that God's word through Isaiah was true. Again, mention is made in chapter 9 of a child that would be born, but this child is more than a sign. This child is the Messiah who will give the nation deliverance. All that God has formerly done both to bless and to discipline Israel has not caused her to understand. But when the Messiah comes, a light will dawn. The people will finally understand. From our perspective this prophecy can be confusing for we know that when this child was born many of the things mentioned in these verses did not happen. But we have to realize that Isaiah did not see the whole picture, recognizing that all this would happen in two parts - in two advents of the Messiah. Most of this will occur in that second advent which is yet to come.

In verse 8 the message returns to Israel's present condition at the time of Isaiah and her coming discipline. Despite the discipline, the people will not 'get it'. Instead, they will arrogantly talk of rebuilding the nation even better than it was before the discipline. Therefore the Lord's "anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. The people did not turn to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts." (9:12-13) This will result in the Lord cutting off Israel completely.

We are prone to look for blame in every situation. Who is responsible? In this case, does the blame for Israel's condition lie with the Lord and the ineffectiveness of His discipline to bring Israel back around or does it lie with Israel and her behavior? With the parent of a rebellious child, who is responsible for that behavior, the parent whose discipline may not have been effective or the child who is rebellious? Ultimately a person must accept responsibility for their own behavior, and certainly must be held responsible. No one else is to blame for the choices an individual makes, and all behavior is a choice. Discipline is aimed at causing us to reconsider our choices, but if we do not make better choices, it is not the fault of the discipline.

And so it was with Israel that God's discipline did not cause her to reconsider her rebellious choices. Circumstances kept spiraling downward as God disciplined and Israel did not change her ways. And so Isaiah says in verses 12, 17, and 21, "In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike."