Check out all the previous Christmas readings here.
Christmas Reading Plan | Week 1 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Open your hands before God and think about the things that are troubling you. Imagine they are in your hands and give them to God. Ask him to replace your anxiety or worry with His peace.
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7
Read these verses three times slowly.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Reflection & Questions
Today’s verses from Isaiah are perhaps one of the most famous prophecies of Jesus. A child will be born, a descendant of Israel’s King David. But this won’t be any ordinary child. He will have names unlike any other: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And this child-King’s reign will never end, and his reign will be marked by peace, righteousness and justice forever. There will be “no more gloom for those who were in distress” and they “rejoice before” this King. It is a picture of a perfect future that those in Christ have to look forward to.
The gloom is gone and joy is full because of the kind of King He is. His names tell us exactly what he will be like:
- Wonderful Counselor: A counselor is one who can make wise plans.The Wonderful Counselor is one who makes plans far above what any human wisdom could. Everyone will marvel at the wisdom of His plans!
- Mighty God: This child-king isn’t just another human king, he is called Mighty God, the very name of God Himself. Incredibly, this isn’t a messenger or a servant, but God Himself has come. We should sit up and listen to Him!
- Everlasting Father: A father is one who protects (among other things, but in Isaiah 9, protection is the emphasis). That this child-king is called Everlasting Father says that this King will forever look after His people. His people no longer need to fear any trouble; they are forever safe in their father’s watch.
- Prince of Peace: Finally, this child-king’s reign will be marked by peace. Not just peace between nations, but peace between God and man. A restoration of mankind’s dwelling with God Himself forever. That is why this child-king has come.
What Isaiah, and the Israelites didn’t know as they poured over texts like Isaiah 9 is that the child-King wouldn’t come on the scene once to establish His Kingdom. He’d actually come twice. The first time to deal with our spiritual problem, and bring peace with God. The second time to deal with our physical and political problems, and bring peace in the world forever. The king came as a child the first time to humbly offer peace; the next time He comes will be as a powerful ruler to reveal His eternal Kingdom of peace.
- Which name of Jesus in these verses sticks out to you today? Why?
- What distress or gloom are you facing today? Ask God to meet you in that distress and show you the hope that is in Him.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
