NL 411: Isaiah: A Child is Born

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TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE RESOURCES

GLAAD - Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

Isaiah 9:1-7

November 21, 2021

Isaiah 9:1-7

Initial Thought

  • Christmas Eve text- what a great bridge leading us from ordinary time (in the RCL at least) into Advent

  • Look at the immediate context and the judgment of Zebulun and Nephtali

    • Zebulun and Naphtali were some of the first Northern Tribes to be assimilated and thus destroyed by the Assyrians in 733-730 BCE - a promise that what happened to them will not happen to you

BIBLE STUDY

  • Historical context is unknown:

    • Pre-Exilic: breaking the Assyrian rod and proclaiming the accession of Hezekiah

    • Post-Exilic: breaking the Syro-Ephraimite coalition and proclaiming the accession of Josiah

    • Either Way this message comes to an oppressed and occupied people

    • Either way: the oppressed or heard, the rod of the oppressor is broken, those who walked in darkness are not left there, but they will be led out of darkness by the birth of a new “king” (v.6)

      • The new king referred to was probably Hezekiah - obviously this passage is reinterpreted in light of Jesus

    • Brueggemann - “What we have is a glorious, celebrative affirmation that Yahweh, through a human Davidic king, will create a wondrous new possibility for Judah that is unqualified and unconditional. The theological point is Yahweh's capacity and resolve for a newness that is completely fresh and without extrapolation from anything that has gone before. (Isaiah 1-39, p.82)

    • Just as this text may have been interpreted first for Hezekiah, then Josiah, so now Jesus as the agent of God unconditional blessing and grace

  • Pastoral and prophetic - this passage is much more pastoral than prophetic. A message of hope and comfort that how things is not how they will be - hope in God.

    • Very different from the voice in Isaiah 1-2

  • What is the good news for:

    • Oppressive political or corporate system who have walked in great darkness?

    • People living in a land of darkness shouldering the yoke of racism, sexism, and inequality?

    • For those anxious about their legal status, rights, healthcare and employment in the coming months?

    • For those who see a new regime as the light leading them out of the darkness?

  • Ultimately, I think reading within the broadest narrative is the only way to interpret it.  Matthew sees this passage as prophetic about Jesus; therefore, even if Isaiah didn't have this fully in mind (a debatable point) we don't have to debate whether it ultimately referred to Jesus.  Matthew said so. [sic] The historical context us, reminds us that God, even in the midst of his wrath, still is a God of mercy, whose proper and ultimate aims are life and joy, not death and destruction.” (Rob Myalis Lectionary Greek)

    • “Walking in the Darkness” = deep death like darkness (Valley of the Shadow of death?)

    • Wonder: God does wonders, not just special things that are ‘neat.’

    • Counselor: as opposed to ‘strategist’ “A strategist figures out how we can achieve our aims; a counselor or adviser directs us.  Nothing in this section describes this baby as one who is part of our agenda and not the other way around.”

    • Peace: shalom is far more than absence of conflict. It is God’s intention for all of creation.

  • Is quoted in Matthew, but not until after the arrest of John (Matthew 4:14-16)

  • The geography does line up - Nazareth is in what was Zebulun and Capernaum is in what was Naphtali - but there is no evidence that Jesus ever “crossed the Jordan” (Isaiah 9:1)- however the lectionary conveniently omits this verse.

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS

  • The light of Yahweh is both for those who dwell in a land of great darkness (perhaps because they had no other option) AND those who (seemingly willingly) “walked in darkness”. The light is both for the oppressed and the oppressor. There is a vision of peaceful celebration and victory- not liberation that leads to domination.

  • Blue Monday (Jan. 20 in 2020) is supposedly the most depressing day of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. How might your church, your preaching or your presence shine a light into the darkness of depression and mental illness?

  • For those who are anxious and depressed this text opens an opportunity to point to what in which God’s light has shone in great darkness in scripture, in your community, your nation.

Year 4Eric FistlerIsaiahComment