Call to Worship December 7, 2025
“A great light shines (9:2–7)
This oracle of salvation is clearly the climax of the whole movement from darkness to light in 8:1–9:7. At the same time it represents the final reversal of the situation in chapter 7 where the Davidic house, represented by Ahaz, was rejected.
The logical structure is signalled by the threefold ‘for’ of verses 4, 5 and 6 (rsv). The rejoicing of verse 3 is occasioned by release from oppression (4), cessation of war (5), and the birth of an ideal ruler (6). The alternation of past and future tenses expresses the bold confidence with which the oracle is delivered. That which is plainly future is spoken of as already accomplished, for the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (7c).
In retrospect, the people walking in darkness (2a) must include both northerners and southerners (9:1; 8:19–21), but in verse 3 they are simply the nation. Thus the oracle subtly anticipates the reunification of Israel and Judah under a single, ideal, Davidic ruler of the future (7).
But who is he? Some have suggested that it is the crown prince, Hezekiah, who is in view, and that the titles of verse 6b are simply grandiose throne-names expressing the high expectations that people like Isaiah had of him. But this can hardly be so. At the very most, Davidic kings were regarded as the adopted ‘sons’ of God. Furthermore, Hezekiah was born in 737 bc, three years before the events of chapter 7, whereas the birth of the ideal ruler in this chapter is regarded as a future event. In fact the anticipation of a time when there will be ‘no more gloom’ (1) strongly suggests that this announcement of salvation refers to the same future situation as the visions of 2:2–4 and 4:2–6. In the final analysis the language of verse 6 can apply only to one who is God incarnate. There can be little doubt, then, that this oracle points directly to the coming of the Messiah, the great Son of David and the true light.128
Finally, it is fascinating to reflect on the fact that the outworking of God’s purposes in history through the whole of chapters 7–9 is associated (either figuratively or literally) with the birth of children. Truly his strength is made perfect in weakness!”[1]
[1] Barry Webb, The Message of Isaiah: On Eagles’ Wings, ed. J. A. Motyer and Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996), 68–69.