As we move through Isaiah, let’s review the broad outline suggested by Eugene Peterson:

• Messages of Judgment (chapters 1–39)
• Messages of Comfort (chapters 40–55)
• Messages of Hope (chapters 56–66). 

But one of the fun things is that even though we’re in the middle of the Judgment section, there are glimpses of hope, none as powerful as this section in Isaiah 9, often quoted during the Christmas season:

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. 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. (Isaiah 9.1, 2, ESV)

Much of Jesus’ ministry was in Galilee, way north of Jerusalem and Judea. Verse 2 is the inspiration of one of the stanzas of “O Come, O Come Immanuel:”

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

The text continues:

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 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 9.3, 6, 7, ESV)

Verse 6 provides the lyrics of one of the great choruses in Handel’s Messiah: For Unto Us a Child is Born.

Amen.