Scripture

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. 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. 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. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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.

Jesus is the Promised King who saves us from the darkness of Satan, Sin, and Death.

Devotional

What is Christmas really all about? Well, that’s easy. Jesus! After all, He is the reason for the season. But what about Jesus? What makes Christmas so special?

When we think of Christmas, we usually think of lowly Jesus swaddled in a manger. A precious babe; the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1, 14). But that precious babe was born a mighty King. A King long promised who would come and save us from all our sins.

To see the glory of God’s gift of grace that holy Christmas night, we need to go back, hundreds of years earlier, to see what God promised in that little bundle of joy.

Isaiah 9 is a prophecy all about Jesus. Matthew quotes in His gospel to say Jesus is the great light… the shining dawn… to save those dwelling in a land of deep darkness under the shadow of death (Matthew 4:13-16). Writing against the backdrop of judgment and coming Assyrian invasion, Isaiah looks forward to the peace and salvation Messiah would bring.

He said, “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. 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” (Isaiah 9:2-3). Multiplying the nation means there’s no longer a small, faithful remnant, but a great salvation reaching all those who call on the name of Jesus.

And from this salvation comes great joy. The joy of abundant blessing as with the harvest, and the joy of great victory as those who divide the spoil after a Great Enemy (Sin, Satan, Death, and the Curse) is defeated.

‌And verses 4-6 give three reasons for this great joy each starting with the word “For.” “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” (v. 4). These are all symbols oppression. Being weighed down by a heavy burden. And our burden and the oppression of our enemies of Sin, Satan, and Death would be broken. As on the day of Midian where Gideon was given an impossible victory by the power of God, so Christ, by God’s grace and power would deliver us (cf. Judges 6-7).

“For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire” (v. 5). The war would be over. In Christ their would be peace… peace with God, peace with one another, and peace among the nations. He is the King of Peace who “makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire” (Psalm 46:9).

And finally, this great joy and fullness of joy that frees us from all burden and oppression, delivers us from every enemy and brings us peace, would come in a Son. “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” (v. 6). Jesus would be the Wonderful Counselor overflowing with all wisdom to reveal God and His will for our salvation. Mighty God, our Warrior King who would deliver us from all our enemies. Everlasting Father, the Father of a New Covenant and a new human race as the Perfect Adam to save us from the sin and condemnation of the First Adam (Hebrews 8:8-13, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-47). And the Prince of Peace who would deliver us by the power of God and make peace by the blood of His cross (cf. Colossians 1:19-20). The King of Peace who would conquer all our enemies and bring us into an Eternal Kingdom of life, blessing, and rest with and peace on every side (1 Kings 4:20-25).

And God promises “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” (v. 7). By God’s own power… by His zeal… Christ salvation will reach the ends of the earth and gather in all of His elect (cf. Isaiah 49:6). On that Christmas night, as that star shown in the sky marking where this Promised King lay… the people dwelling in darkness, languishing in deep gloom under the shadow of death have seen a great light… on them a light has shone.

Outline - Points to Hit in Family Worship

BIG IDEA: Jesus is the promised King who saves us from the darkness of Satan, Sin, and Death.

Isaiah 9:2 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.
- Christ is the Light of the World who saves us from death and darkness (v. 2, cf. John 8:12).
Isaiah 9:3 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.
- ‌In Christ is the fullness of joy; the joy of abundant blessing (harvest) and the joy of great victory (spoil) (v.3).
Isaiah 9:4–5 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. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
- ‌Jesus saves us and delivers us by the power of God when it was impossible to save ourselves and brings an end to our war with Sin, Satan, and Death (as on the day of Midian)(v. 4-5).
Isaiah 9:6 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.
- Jesus is:
  - ‌Wonderful Counselor - Highlight how Jesus is the only way to know God and Salvation
  - ‌Mighty God - Highlight how Jesus is a mighty warrior who delivers us from all our enemies
  - ‌Everlasting Father - Talk about the Promises of the New Covenant
    - ‌New hearts that Love God and Love His Law (New Birth/Spiritual Life)
    - ‌I will be their God and they will be my people
    - ‌They will all know me
    - ‌I will be merciful toward their iniquities and remember their sins no more
  - ‌Prince of Peace - Highlight how we have reconciliation with God and how the Gospel brings peace and wholeness that saves us from the curse and the Fall
‌The zeal of God’s grace to give His Son so that we might have Eternal Life (John 3:16)

Hymn

Lyrics - Joy to the World by Citizens

Verse 1

Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the world the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy

Verse 3

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

Refrain

Glory to God in the Highest
Let Heaven and nature sing
Glory to God in the Highest
Repeat the sounding joy
Glory to God in the Highest
Repeat the sounding joy
Glory to God in the Highest