Isaiah 9:1-7[1]

¹ Because there is no gloom for that one people worried about. Like the time he ignored the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee, so full of the Gentiles. ² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; light has shined on those who lived in a land of darkness. ³ You had made the nation numerous; but you had not made its joy great. They will rejoice in your presence like joy at the harvest, like they rejoice when they divide plunder. ⁴ Because you have shattered the yoke of its burden and the stick of its shoulder, the rod of its oppressor, like you did the day of Midian. ⁵ Because every boot, shaking as it marches and each garment is rolled in blood. And it will be for burning–fire fuel. ⁶ Because a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and he has been named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ There is no end to the increase of his dominion and to the peace he brings to the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of Yahveh of armies will do this.

Galilee in the future

If you had asked the average citizen of Judah in Isaiah’s day about the north country, Galilee beyond the Jordon river, their assessment would have been that it was a write-off. Isaiah had just talked about how paganism and idolatry had turned out the light in the holy land, and Galilee was considered the darkest of the dark. There was no hope for Galilee in the future. But, now Isaiah says that it is in this gloomy land of darkness that the light is going to shine first. What? Galilee… are you kidding?

If you are one of those people who thinks that you are the least likely to get religious or do something spiritual, watch out. The LORD has his eye on you. He wants to show the world his grace by shining on the least likely candidates. Like Galilee, which the respectable people had written off as hopeless, the LORD wants to bring his hope to you. He has a destiny for you, and it is not the one you think you have.

LORD, we surrender to the light of Jesus Christ. Take us out of our darkness, and help us to shine so that others will know your grace.

[1] Isaiah 9:1-21 in the English Bible is 8:23-9:20 in the Hebrew Bible.