Project 119: Isaiah 9:1-7
| Project 119 | Mary Splawn
"Something to Sing About"
I start listening to Christmas music in mid-August. This began in the year 2000 when I was living in Mexico and was very sad about the fact that I wasn’t going home for Christmas. At that time, I only owned one Christmas CD—a disc entitled Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey.
I listened to it over and over and memorized the lines of each song. Later, I shared my love of this album with my husband, Wayne, and he and I have become particularly attached to one song: “Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child.” The song features a soloist and a choir, and we each take our part as we lip sync the song together on long car rides to South Carolina on Christmas morning. He is Mariah, and I am the backup vocals! On a serious note, the chorus reminds us of some wonderful truths of Jesus. “New life, new hope, new joy He brings, won't you listen to the angels sing, glory, glory, glory to the newborn King!”
This chorus is reminiscent of the message in Isaiah 9, which is both joyful and theologically rich. This prophecy proclaims new joy and gladness where there was once gloom and anguish. This joy comes because of the birth of a newborn King! But this King would not be just any old king: He would be the same King that Nathan prophesied about to King David in 2 Samuel 7 (yesterday’s reading). This King, whom we now know to be Jesus, would sit on David’s throne and rule with justice and righteousness forever.
Listen to the vivid, hopeful language spoken about our great King some 700 years before His birth: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV).
May these truths be ever etched in our minds as we navigate a world that often seems polarized, hopeless, and unjust. Jesus reigns as King, and His promises are sure. He has come to bring new life, joy, peace, justice, and righteousness, and His kingdom is forever! Now, that is something to sing about!
Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV):
For to Us a Child Is Born
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled 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 shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.