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Isaiah chapter 9

English Standard Version

1But 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.
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. 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. 4 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. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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. 7Of 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. 8The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; 9and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: 10"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place." 11But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies. 12 The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 13The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. 14So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day — 15 the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; 16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. 17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 18For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. 19Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. 20 They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, 21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.

What does Isaiah chapter 9 mean?

This chapter begins with a verse some commentators see as the logical conclusion to the previous chapter, Isaiah 8. There Isaiah had described the constant, symbolic "night" experienced because Israel rejected the word of the Lord (Isaiah 8:20–22). They lived in self-inflicted frustration and darkness. They suffered under the judgment of the Lord.

Now Isaiah again pauses to show that Israel's story will not end with God's coming judgment. Eventually, the darkness will lift. The anguish of God's people will disappear when the Lord keeps His promises and returns Israel to glory. That glory will begin in the regions of northern Israel. This is where God's contempt struck the people and the land through the Assyrian invasion and occupation (Isaiah 9:1).

In the form of a poem written in the past tense, the prophet describes what that glorious future will be like. Those walking in darkness have seen "a great light". The Lord has increased the population. He has restored the harvest and the spoils of battle. All oppressors have been defeated, and all the garments of war have been burned as fuel. They are no longer needed. War is dead. Peace is permanent (Isaiah 9:2–5).

How does this happen? A child has been born, given by God. He will be the king of Israel. But He is shown to be so much more than a mere great leader. He is given the titles of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As Isaiah's book continues to unfold, it will become clear this is the promised Messiah: He who will one day rule over the entire earth from His throne in Israel (Isaiah 9:6).

This king is not mortal, because His government and the peace it brings will never end. He will occupy David's throne with righteousness and justice forever. Believers understand clearly this is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of Israel and savior of the world (Isaiah 9:7).

Isaiah returns to his message of judgment, showing the sharp contrast with his present and Israel's grand future. He describes the word the Lord has sent against the northern ten tribes known in this time as Israel. They will soon know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is God. And that they are guilty of failing to follow Him (Isaiah 9:8).

For now, the people of Israel are so proud and arrogant that they are even unafraid of the coming attacks of the Assyrians. They boast that they will rebuild all that is torn down to be bigger and better and more luxurious. Instead, the Lord will send the enemies of the Syrians to "devour Israel" (Isaiah 9:9–12).

Even then, the people will not turn to God for help and salvation. In response, the Lord will wipe out all of Israel's leaders in a day. The least to the greatest, from the elders to the false prophets who advise them, none will escape. They have led the people astray, and God will bring His judgement. God will not have compassion on any of the people, however. The corruption reaches to every level of society, from the fatherless to the young men. All are guilty of sin and foolish talk (Isaiah 9:13–17.

Isaiah concludes the chapter by picturing unchecked human wickedness as a fire that consumes everything in its path. The land is scorched by sin's effects, as well as by God's wrath. Wickedness causes people to devour each other. They even devour themselves in a futile attempt to satisfy sin's endless appetite. Brothers and tribes destroy each other and the Lord's judgment will come on Israel (Isaiah 9:18–21).
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Book Summary
Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).
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Chapter Context
Isaiah 9 begins with what may be the conclusion of the previous chapter. Isaiah 8 ended with the description of the darkness experienced by those in Israel who reject the Lord. The prophet describes a day in Israel's far future when the gloom will lift and glory will return. A child will become king of Israel, but He will also be the Everlasting Father who will rule forever. However, In Isaiah's time, the Lord will judge Israel with destruction from other nations. The following chapter pronounces disaster for the people who persist in sin.
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