Our hope is the Messiah

ISAIAH CHAPTER 9

Despite the predictions of Isaiah, the Lord wanted the people to know that the time of darkness and despair would not go on forever. There would be a time in the future when Galilee would be filled with glory. The people who walked in darkness would see a great light that would shine on all who lived in the land where death casts its shadow. Israel would be great once again and the people would rejoice. For God would break the chains that bound his people and never again would uniforms be bloodstained by war.

For a child would be born, a son given by God and the government would rest on his shoulders. And he would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and his peaceful government would never end. He would rule forever with fairness from the throne of his ancestor David.

For the Lord had spoken out against the braggart Israel and soon Samaria would discover it. In their pride and arrogance, the people of Israel would try to rebuild their country better than before. They would replace the broken bricks with cut stone, and the fallen sycamores with cedars. But the Lord would repay their bragging by bringing Rezin's enemies, the Assyrians against them, along with Armeans from the east and Philistines from the west, and they would devour Israel. But God's anger would still not be satisfied and the people would still not repent and turn to the Lord Almighty.

Therefore, in a single day, the Lord would destroy the head and tail, the palm branch and the reed. The leaders of Israel were the head and the lying prophets were the tail. The wickedness was like a brushfire and burned not only briers and thorns but also forests. The land was blackened by the fury of God. No one spared anybody, they fought against their neighbors to steal food and eat their own children. Manasseh would feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim would feed on Manasseh until both devoured Judah. And still God's anger would not be satisfied.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Though God made the people of Israel a nation and gave them the land they occupied, they put their trust in themselves rather than in him. Ephraim and Manasseh were tribes in the north, descended from Joseph's two sons. The great light that is spoken of in verse 2 comes from the territories of Zebulun and Naphtai where Jesus grew up and often ministered.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Here the Messiah is named! Here in this chapter is the hope for all the world to see. Revealed hundreds of years before it actually took place! The message of hope came true and was fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ and established his eternal kingdom. He came to deliver all people from slavery to sin.

In this day and age we live in, how wonderful to trace the predictions back and know that the people then had this promise of peace too. Just like we do today.

If you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart, do it today. Get down on your knees and invite him to come into your heart and make you whole ! He will change you forever!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.