Nevertheless, the dimness or that time of darkness and despair shall not go on forever (for Israel). Though soon the land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be under God’s contempt and judgment, yet in the future these very lands, Galilee and northern Transjordan, where lies the road to the sea, will be filled with glory. For Israel will again be great a nation multiplied and filled with joy like that of the reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.-TLB This passage of scripture comes at a time when the nation of Israel has hit a low point.
It comes at a time when the message of love, peace, hope, and joy is much needed.
This advent season, the candles that we light represent love, peace, hope, and much needed joy.
The white candle is the Christ candle it signifies the light of Christ, who ushers in love, peace, hope, and joy, and it is traditionally lit on Christmas day.
In John 8:12, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk (or stumble) in darkness, but have the light of life.”
When light enters, darkness dissipates. Light and darkness are polar opposites and what better time to emphasize this during this time of year.
The Christmas season ushers in the symbols of the birth of Christ; from the Christmas tree to the lights on the house, to the star on the Christmas tree, to the candles that are lit and shine in darkness. Not only is light a symbol of the Christmas season but light also reminds us of the love, peace, hope, and joy we have through the Savior. Light moreover is a sign of life.
Another symbol of life during this Christmas season is the advent wreath. The advent wreath is an evergreen.
Not only is it green, which is the color of life, and new beginnings but the wreath is round, and represents a picture of a never-ending circle.
Christ Jesus during Christmas and in all seasons is a neverending circle of eternal life to all that believe on Him.
The nation of Israel is struggling at this point and time of Isaiah’s writing with grasping onto the idea of love, peace, hope, and joy.
The 137 book of Psalms records the struggle. Psalms 137 says: “By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down, yea, and we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows (trees) in the midst of it.KJV They declared how can we sing when we are in a strange land? They did not feel much like singing and they did not feel the spirit of joy.
The Temple of Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again, at least some six times at the close of the Old Testament.
At the time of Isaiah’s writings, nothing has happened to redeem the people, but Isaiah prophesizes of love, peace, hope, and Joy. We have to wait all the way until we get to the New Testament before the prophecy is fulfilled concerning the birth of Christ.
No matter what comes, no matter how long the wait, just hold on and wait. Isaiah says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.”-KJV When I was a kid, growing up in a large family, food in the refrigerator was a free-for-all. It was consumed on a first-comefirst- serve basis. In order to keep sibling rivals or anyone, even our parents from eating something that we wanted to eat we would leave a note on it and say “I licked on all over this!” “It belongs to me, don’t touch!” Whether it was a donut, or the last drumstick, whatever it was.
This act of ownership and full disclosure that the item in the fridge was now claimed and contaminated with our salvia a design meant as a deterrent from would-be consumers.
In certain families, this act of ownership by contamination would not be effective. It would not be effective for a mama like Rochelle from the sitcom, “Everybody Hates Chris.”
A mama like Rochelle would respond, “So you licked on this drumstick?” “Child please, you came out of me.” “Your salvia and spit are a part of me!” A mama like that would take the drumstick that was licked all over and eat it right in your face!
A mama like Rochelle would remind a kid, “You forgot when you were a baby you had a juicy mouth and I would kiss you, and a string of salvia would leave your mouth from my mouth.” “You forgot I used to chew your food up in little pieces and put it in your mouth so that you can eat it.” “You forgot when your little nose was runny and you got the dried crust around your nose, I would lick my thumb, take my salvia, and wipe your nose.” “When you fell down and skinned your little knee, I would dab a little of my salvia on it, wipe the boo-boo, kiss it, and make it a little better.” A mama like Rochelle might respond, “Child please!” “You think a little bit of salvia contamination is going to stop me?”
Notice God’s response to man, his creation that has been contaminated. God uses a little baby to perfect the imperfections of man.
What Satan tried to contaminate and make imperfect, God takes an untouched virgin’s womb. Out of flesh and blood, He decides I am going to create a human Savior, in order to redeem my human creation.
So that what I begin in the very beginning, after I created the heavens and the earth; the fowls of the air; the fish and mammals of the sea; and the beast of the fields, that I called good. It is my creation and it is good.
After God did this, He then decides He will create man after His likeness and after His image. He steps back and says all of His creation is good, but this man that I created in My image, O it is very good! Satan’s schemes and tricks to try to contaminate God’s creation are met with God’s plan for mankind.
God beats Satan at his own game. God had a plan all along to redeem mankind from Satan after Satan has licked and slobbered all over man. After he got through contaminating man with sin and death.
After he got through contaminating man with sickness and disease. Because prior to the fall of Adam there was no sin, therefore there was no sickness, disease, or death. But what Satan touches, he brings about disease. What he touches he brings about death. He is like a cancer, and he invites mankind to sin. For he knows that the wages of sin is death.
But God, by an overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, places a Savior in human form in the uncontaminated womb of a virgin. Out of her womb, Mary’s womb, a human child will be born. A child made of flesh and blood. He will redeem mankind, from all of Satan’s licking, slobbering, and contamination. God beats Satan at his own, game, not checkers, but chess. Checkmate!
Isaiah testifies of it prophetically. He says: “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair shall not go on forever. Though soon the land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be under God’s contempt and judgment, yet in the future these very lands, Galilee and northern Transjordan, where lies the road to the sea, will be filled with glory.”
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light— a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death.
For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band.
In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.”
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!