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Song Page for
Isaiah 9: 1-7 |
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Lyrics
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Bible Commentary
1
The Syrians
and Assyrians first ravaged the countries here mentioned
which lay remote
and most exposed to the inroads of the neighbouring enemies, and
afterwards he more grievously afflicted the land by the way of the
sea and beyond Jordan (Isaiah
9:1), referring probably to
those days when God began to cut Israel short and to smite them in
all their coasts,
2 Kings 10:32.
Note, God tries what less judgments will do with a people before he
brings greater; but if a light affliction does
not do its work with us,
to humble and reform us, we must expect to be afflicted more
grievously; for when God judges he will overcome.2
2 Thus it was in
those very places of Israel which had formerly suffered the most
that Christ first came forward to teach in a synagogue, and there he
did his first miracle in Cana of Galilee. See Luke 4 and John 2.
"Thus the light began to shine in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali
where the gloom had first settled centuries earlier.
The present tense in this marvelous passage should not be
confusing. The language is in the present
or the past because of the certainty of the prophecy.3
3
"The numbers of a nation
are its strength and wealth if the numerous be industrious; and it
is God that increases nations, Job 12:23. Yet it follows, "Thou
hast not increased the joy--the carnal joy and mirth, and those
things that are commonly the matter and occasion thereof. But,
notwithstanding that, they joy before thee; there is a great
deal of serious spiritual joy among them, joy in the presence of
God, with an eye to him." This is very applicable to the times of
gospel light, spoken of
Isaiah 9:2.
The gospel brings with it plenty and victory; but those that would
have the joy of it must expect to go through a hard work, as the
husbandman before he has the joy of harvest, and a hard conflict, as
the soldier before he has the joy of dividing the spoil; but the
joy, when it comes, will be an abundant recompense for the toil.2
4
The question arises as to why the
particular deliverance "of Midian"
was the one selected for mention here. The great deliverance
promised under the reign of Messiah in this passage would not be
accomplished by military power. The Prince of Peace would have no
use for the weapons of military might but would rely upon spiritual
weapons; and the deliverance from the Midianites accomplished by
Gideon was the most effective illustration for the peace that would
be won under the Messiah. Gideon's deliverance was accomplished
without military prowess by a small group selected out of Israel
expressly for the purpose, so that Israel might not vaunt itself
against the Lord, saying, My own hand hath saved me.3
5
The burning of
military weapons, clothing, and equipment are spoken of here as
being abolished so as to prepare our minds for the New Era under
Messiah; but instead of the glorious New Age being foretold as the
work of some new Joshua or Gideon, "It is the Child already foretold
as Immanuel in Isa. 7:14."who suddenly appears as the hope of the
whole world.3
6
This Child was born for the benefit of us men, of us
sinners, of all believers, from the beginning to the end of the
world. Justly is he called Wonderful, for he is both God and man.
His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints. He is the
Counsellor, for he knew the counsels of God from eternity; and he
gives counsel to men, in which he consults our welfare. He is the
Wonderful Counsellor; none teaches like him. He is God, the mighty
One. Such is the work of the Mediator, that no less power than that
of the mighty God could bring it to pass. He is God, one with the
Father. As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the
Giver of peace in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is
fully established, men shall learn war no more. The government shall
be upon him; he shall bear the burden of it.4
7
Glorious things are spoken of Christ's
government. There is no end to the increase of its peace, for the
happiness of its subjects shall last for ever. The exact agreement
of this prophecy with the doctrine of the New Testament, shows that
Jewish prophets and Christian teachers had the same view of the
person and salvation of the Messiah. To what earthly king or kingdom
can these words apply?4
References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2.
Matthew Henry
Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
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http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
3.
Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament
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http://www.studylight.org/com
4.
Matthew Henry
Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
5. Isaiah
9:5-6 – Historic Events or Messianic Prophecy?
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http://www.messiahtruth.com/isa9.html |
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About Isaiah 9:1-7 |
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Easyfind |
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Bible
Author |
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The prophet Isaiah was the
author of the book called by his name. |
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Music
Composed |
The
music was composed in
2004
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Music for
Isaiah 9:1-7 |
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Isaiah 9 Puzzles |
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Quotes on Isaiah
9:1-7 |
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The Bible Quotes
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Verse 2 fulfilled by Jesus |
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The following passage from Matt.
4:12-16 is a fulfilment of the prophecy
of Isaiah 9:2:
When Jesus heard that John was delivered up he withdrew into
Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in
Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun
and Naphtali: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
through Isaiah the prophet, saying: The land of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali, toward the
sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people that sat in darkness
saw a great light. And to them
that sat in the region and shadow of death,
to them did light spring up.2
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A Historical Perspective
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The ninth chapter in the Book of
Isaiah deals with the crisis that existed in the Kingdom
of Judah during a time when the Assyrian king Sannheriv
wanted to destroy it. Isaiah responds to the messenger
sent by Hezekiah with a message in which he reaffirms
the promise that God made to David, namely, that the
kingdom would be preserved (see 2 Sam 7:12-16). The
army of Sannheriv, the king who previously exiled the
tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, lays siege to
Jerusalem seeking to capture and exile the people of the
Kingdom of Judah. The nation turned to God and obeyed
Hezekiah's order not to respond and, as noted (see 2
Chron 32:21, above), a miracle occurred. An angel came
and slaughtered the Assyrian army, and the king,
Sannheriv, was assassinated by members of his own family
upon his return in defeat. Thus, the Jewish nation that
was on the brink of destruction, standing in the shadow
of death, suddenly and miraculously was redeemed, and it
stood in a great light.5
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