Isaiah 9

9 ¹ Nevertheless, there will be no gloom for the land that was in anguish. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the time to come he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. ^a a v1 Matthew applies this prophecy to Jesus's ministry in Galilee — Matt 4:15-16. The light dawning in Zebulun and Naphtali is Jesus himself. ² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those who lived in a land of deep darkness, a light has shone. ^b b v2 Matthew tells us this light dawned in Jesus — he applies these very words to the start of his ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:15-16). ³ You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy. They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as men are glad when they divide the plunder. ⁴ For the yoke of his burden, and the bar across his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have shattered as on the day of Midian. ⁵ For every boot of the trampling warrior in the din of battle, and every garment soaked in blood, will be burned as fuel for the fire. ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Father, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ^c c v6 The child born and Son given is Jesus — his four names reveal who he is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father in his eternal care for his people, Prince of Peace. He and our Father remain distinct Persons of one God. ⁷ There will be no end to the increase of his government and peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now on and forevermore. The zeal of the Father of heaven's armies will accomplish this. ^d d v7 The throne of David finds its eternal King in Jesus — Luke 1:32-33. Our Father, the LORD of all heaven's armies, brings about what no earthly king could: a kingdom of justice and righteousness without end.

A Word Against Jacob's Pride

⁸ The Sovereign Father has sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel. ⁹ And all the people will know it — Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria — who say with proud and arrogant hearts: ¹⁰ "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place." ¹¹ So our Father raises against them the adversaries of Rezin, and stirs up their enemies— ¹² Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still outstretched.

¹³ Yet the people did not turn to the one who struck them, nor did they seek the Father of heaven's armies. ¹⁴ So our Father cut off from Israel both head and tail, palm branch and reed, in a single day— ¹⁵ the elder and the honored man are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. ¹⁶ For those who guide this people lead them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. ¹⁷ Therefore the Sovereign Father does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their orphans and their widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still outstretched.

¹⁸ For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. ¹⁹ Through the wrath of the Father of heaven's armies, the land is scorched, and the people have become like fuel for the fire; no one spares his brother. ²⁰ They carve on the right, but are still hungry; they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm— ²¹ Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still outstretched.