When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
—Psalm 8:3-4
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...
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.
—Isaiah 9:2,6
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
—Luke 2:8-9
A corrupt king put his trust in negotiation with foreign powers. Not only did he not trust the Lord, he rejected a sign of the Lord's care for His people when it was offered, even urged, through the word of the Lord to Isaiah. But, like it or not, the Lord gave a sign, along with the warning that those who rejected, looking elsewhere for guidance, would find only distress and gloom, anguish and thick darkness.
But then there is a promise of the coming of light and joy to those lived in deep darkness. The Lord would give cause for rejoicing, “for” (because)...
The burden of oppression would be broken.
The equipment of war and violence would be destroyed.
A child would be born.
Instead of a yoke on the shoulders of the oppressed, He would bear the burden of righteous and rightful authority. Instead of bloodshed and chaos, He would be the Prince of Peace.
And the symbolism of people in darkness seeing great light and rejoicing was enacted in literal terms with the shepherds in the field witnessed the night sky bursting open with light and glory and praise.
And a message that began, “Don't be afraid”. Because the Child had been born.
Son (part 5)
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
—Psalm 8:3-4
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...
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.
—Isaiah 9:2,6
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
—Luke 2:8-9
A corrupt king put his trust in negotiation with foreign powers. Not only did he not trust the Lord, he rejected a sign of the Lord's care for His people when it was offered, even urged, through the word of the Lord to Isaiah. But, like it or not, the Lord gave a sign, along with the warning that those who rejected, looking elsewhere for guidance, would find only distress and gloom, anguish and thick darkness.
But then there is a promise of the coming of light and joy to those lived in deep darkness. The Lord would give cause for rejoicing, “for” (because)...
The burden of oppression would be broken.
The equipment of war and violence would be destroyed.
A child would be born.
Instead of a yoke on the shoulders of the oppressed, He would bear the burden of righteous and rightful authority. Instead of bloodshed and chaos, He would be the Prince of Peace.
And the symbolism of people in darkness seeing great light and rejoicing was enacted in literal terms with the shepherds in the field witnessed the night sky bursting open with light and glory and praise.
And a message that began, “Don't be afraid”. Because the Child had been born.