Hanukkah Day 5: We Have Seen a Great Light

Passage: Isaiah 9:2
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”

Pondering:
I love that there is so much symbolism throughout scripture. It often carries such richness and depth that goes beyond the surface meaning. Isaiah 9:2 is no exception.  

In Hebrew/Aramaic thought, light represented spiritual understanding, truth, life. Darkness represented spiritual blindness or ignorance, deception, even death. The beautiful promise of Isaiah 9:2 is that even where the depths of despair and oppression seem darkest, a light will shine to dispel the darkness and restore truth, salvation and life.

“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will [h]rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

These verses clearly point to Yeshua as being that great light Who would arrive bringing new order. His birth signaled the beginning of the restoration of the Kingdom of Yahweh on earth as it is in heaven. Verse 7 tells us that there will be no end to the increase of His government and of peace. His justice and righteousness are established in the earth “from then on and forevermore.” That includes right now!

When we look around today, it may not look like His government and peace are continuing to increase in the earth. But they are. How do we know? Because His word is true and eternal. Yahweh doesn’t lie. So, in order to see the continual increase of His kingdom and peace, we must disengage from our own understanding and lean into His. We have to see with His eyes. This is what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.

No matter what things look like, we can take great hope in the simple truth that Emmanuel – Yahweh with us – is still among us in the form of His Holy Spirit. We can rest assured that His kingdom is still advancing. The enemy would love us to believe that Yahweh’s kingdom is no longer increasing, but scripture tells otherwise. Our enemy is the father of lies. Now it is we, the ekklesia, who are carrying the light that shatters the darkness of oppression, despair and deception. It is we against whom the gates of hell shall not prevail. More on that on Day 6. 

Prayer:
Heavenly Father. Wow. Thank You for the great hope in Isaiah chapter 9 that offers so much promise not only for the arrival of Your Son in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago but for what that means for us today. Tonight as we light the fifth candle,, may we be reminded that our hope is in You as we place our trust and faith in Your Son, Yeshua. May we be encouraged that Your word is true and eternal. Open our eyes to see Your light shining all around us, in spite of the lying shadows our enemy would have us to believe. We believe You and Your word and rejoice that in the life, death and resurrection of Yeshua,  we have seen a great light! Amen!

Worship Song: Our Father by Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson