

"The people that in darkness sat a glorious light have seen. The light has shined on them who long in shades of death have been, In shades of death have been.
"To hail Thee, Sun of Righteousness, the gath'ring nations come; They joy as when the reapers bear their harvest treasures home, Their harvest treasures home."
God sent the prophet Isaiah to give a message of hope to people who walked in darkness, the Israelites in "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali" (Isaiah 9:1b). Those two tribes lived in northern Israel and would be among the first to be overrun and conquered by invading armies from the north. They lived in fear, in the dark shadow of death at the hands of their enemies, but a Light was coming to banish that terrifying shadow. The people would rejoice as they might at an abundant harvest. Their enemies would be defeated, all because a Child would be born—not just any child.
The Child to be born, the Son to be given, would have names never before given to any child born on earth, the Names of God Himself because the Child would be God in human flesh. He would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6b). This Child would reign over a Kingdom of peace that would have no end. The promised Son was the Light who would shatter the darkness of death and bring triumph, joy, and peace.
We may or may not live in a place easily overrun by invaders, like the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, but we know a lot about darkness. Sometimes we experience the darkness of fear and dread in the face of illness or the threat of violence. We know about the shadow of death that can bring anxiety and grief into our lives. We experience the deep darkness of sin and guilt, but the Light is shining for us because "to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6a). The promise of the holy Child has been fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the bright Sun of Righteousness, the Sun who rises "with healing in its wings" (Malachi 4:2b).
Jesus is the Son who takes our sins away, healing us with His forgiveness and clothing us in His righteousness. Through faith in Him, God's holy Son, we no longer live in the darkness of sin, guilt, and the fear of death. The shadow of death is banished from our lives because Jesus, the Mighty God, the Son of the Everlasting Father, conquered death. The Spirit of God, our Wonderful Counselor, is always with us as we live in the peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring. All of this is ours because a Child was born to us.
WE PRAY: Jesus, Sun of Righteousness, shine in my life so that I will reflect the light of Your love to others. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "The People That in Darkness Sat," which is number 412 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is there a person in your life who seems to always have the latest "scoop" of what's going on?
2. How did God use Isaiah to warn His people of things to come? What was the bad thing Isaiah warned of? What was the good thing he spoke of in their future?
3. How can we be like Isaiah in our conversations with others? What might that sound like?
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 39-40 Matthew 21:23-46
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