Advent 1 - Hope
27/11/22
Preach
Scripture
Questions
Isaiah 9:1-7 “pictures a complete reversal of the judgment of the preceding chapters”1 [Isaiah 6-8].
1 But there will be no gloom for those who were in distress. In former times he treated the land of Zebulun and Naphtali with contempt, but in the future he will honor the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Zebulun and Naphtali “were among those hardest hit by the Assyrians in the 733 campaign (see 2 Kings 15:29, supported in the inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser).”2 There is evidence that there was a significant Assyrian presence in galilee in Isaiah’s day.3 What might “Galilee of the nations” also refer to in light of our studies in Mark’s gospel? There is a shift happening. What is it?
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; light has shined on those who lived in a land of darkness.
Isaiah suddenly switched to the past tense. Is he talking about the past? What is the great light?
3 You have made the nation numerous; you have [not] made the joy great. They rejoice in your presence as with joy at the harvest, as they rejoice when they divide plunder.
Most translations do not have the “not”. “Numerous” and “great” are similar words in the Hebrew. Who is the “nation”? Why will their joy be great? What is the victory?
4 For you have shattered the yoke of its burden and the stick of its shoulder, the rod of its oppressor, on the day of Midian. 5a For every boot that marches and shakes the earth and garment rolled in blood will be for burning—fire fuel.
Midian oppression was 500 or so years earlier during the Judges period. How is it being used here? Who are THE archetypal bad guys in the bible? The mindset of the ANE was that you submitted to oppression4. What does God promise?
5b For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Mighty God, El Gib·bôr, could be translated “Warrior God”. How had YHWH shown himself to be a Warrior God in the past? But “Isaiah witnessed the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and the near similar fate of Judah during Sennacherib’s invasion”5. YHWH is looking defeated before the gods of the Assyrians. How will Jesus be a "Warrior God"?
7 His dominion will grow continually, and to peace there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of YHWH of hosts will do this.
How does this fit with Jesus kingdom over the last 2000 years and the future?
More
Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Is 9:1–12:6.
Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Is 9:1.
ditto
“Akkadian wisdom literature indicates that bearing a god’s yoke is desirable because of the fringe benefits.” Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Is 9:4.
Donald E. Hartley, “Isaiah the Prophet,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).