To Us A Child Is Born

Hello! and happy holy and family day to all of us, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS  (17 January 2016)

"The people who walk in darkness

have seen a great light.

A light has dawned

on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.

For a child is born to us,

a son is given us;

the royal ornament is laid upon his shoulder,

and his name is proclaimed:

'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'."

- Isaiah 9:1, 5

(The poem may have been composed in 732 when the king of Assyria destroyed Israel, kindred and enemies at the same time.  According to their custom, the Assyrians took many of the people to the other end of their empire.  They resided in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali which, centuries later, would become Galilee.  Dispersed among the pagans, they were coming out of sacred history to enter into darkness.

Israel Falls To The Assyrians

The liberation promised to them is presented as a crushing victory of the LORD, inaugurating a reign of peace, related to EMMANUEL.

The people who walk in darkness...  The Gospel [Matthew 4:16] sees in that people the crowds whom JESUS addresses: 

     - a people dominated by every kind of oppressors;

     - a people seeking light and without hope.

A child is born:  in growing up HE will lose nothing of HIS child-like qualities, but will do away with the pride of nations.

Without doubt this child is the one named EMMANUEL in 7:15.  Here again, HIS name signifies what GOD will do through HIM.  Through HIM GOD will be revealed as "Wonderful Counselor which means HE whose "counsel," whose plans are marvelously wise.  GOD "Father" as he was for David.  "Strong GOD" as he was for Jacob.  The "Prince of Peace," HE is still GOD but HE will be so in giving the victory to HIS king, HIS "messiah," as HE did for David.

As was already the case for EMMANUEL, GOD-with-us, these appellations which seem at first said for GOD could be equally applied to the future king who will be "HIS" king, which usually expressed with the word MESSIAH.  In any case it prophetically announces what in fact would happen.  GOD HIMSELF will come in the person of JESUS.

In the Bible, many promises appear as if they would happen immediately.

Abraham is promised a son and Isaac is born; but the true heir is CHRIST.  Abraham is promised a land for his children who will, in fact, occupy Canaan; but the true land is the kingdom of GOD.  David is promised an heir and a lasting kingdom, but CHRIST is the definitive king, not Solomon.)