Advent Day 1: Isaiah 9:1-7

Week 1: The Light of Hope

In the words of the prophets, spoken centuries before the incarnation of Christ, a glimmer of hope began to shimmer. This week, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we’ll read some of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and begin to ponder how they were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Light of the world.

Read & Journal

Read Isaiah 9:1-7, then reread verse 2, aloud if you’d like. Dig deeper:

• Take note of every reference to darkness and light. What does this imagery help you to understand about Isaiah’s prophecy? About Jesus?

• What do these verses reveal to you about Jesus’ character and purpose? Jot down a list of characteristics as you read.

• Dwell on verse 2. How has Jesus brought light into your darkness?

• Isaiah spoke these words to a people living under oppression. How would the news of the Messiah have brought hope to them?

Ponder

“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever,” reads Isaiah 9:1 in the New Living Translation. The Christian Standard Bible renders the phrase, “the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times.” Read the verse in your favorite translation, then use Bible Gateway to compare several different translations.

Dwell on that phrase today. In your life, it is easy to believe that the despair, the darkness, the gloom, the oppression will never end. That the darkness cannot be overcome. But Advent is a time to recognize that “the people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”

As you focus your mind and heart on the coming of Christ, let that overwhelming truth envelop you. Your light has come.

To overcome the darkness of your sin that you cannot deal with on your own.

To overcome the darkness of living in a fallen world. To overcome the darkness of despair, gloom and anguish.

He has come to walk into those places with you, and darkness cannot overcome the light.