Sunday December 31, 2023
Theme: “A Savior is born to us”
Text: Isaiah 9:1-9
1. (8:23) But darkness will not always reign On the earth where there is now distress: If the times of old have covered with reproach The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, The times to come will cover with reproach glory The land by the sea, beyond the Jordan, the land of the Gentiles. 2. (9:1) The people who walked in darkness See a great light; On those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death A light shines. 3. (9:2) You make the people numerous, You grant them great joys; He rejoices before you, as one rejoices at the harvest, As one shouts for joy in dividing the spoil. 4. (9:3) For the yoke that weighed on him, the rod that struck his back, the rod of him that oppressed him, you break in pieces, as in the day of Midian. 5. (9:4) For every shoe that is worn in the fray, And every warrior's garment rolled in blood, Will be delivered to the flames, To be devoured by the fire. 6. (9:5) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the dominion shall be upon his shoulder; He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7. (9:6) Give to the empire an increase, And everlasting peace to the throne of David and to his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with righteousness and with righteousness, From now on and forever : This is what the zeal of the LORD of hosts will do. 8. (9:7) The Lord sends a word to Jacob: It falls on Israel. 9. (9:8) All the people will know of it, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say with pride and pride:
Let's remember:
This message sounds the death knell of slavery for a people long oppressed by their enemies. The oppressors of Israel and Judah ravaged all countries. They had total control of the country's economy and even politics. The people were waiting for deliverance but where would it come from as they were so rebellious against their God? In his love, the Lord turned a blind eye to all the evil of his people and decided to send his prophet to announce liberation. The king and many of the people were unbelieving, but many were convinced that God would act as the prophet Isaiah said. God left an honorable way out and great hope for those who were faithful to Him. Our God is very sensitive to our pain, he never likes to see us wander here and there without a solution. He also doesn't like to see us go astray. It is this life of servitude, life in sin, life without hope of tomorrow, without a savior; it is this life that we call darkness or the shadow of death. This is why the Lord God sent Jesus the light to enlighten the darkness. It was not an ordinary light but a great Christ-like light. This light which illuminates even the darkness of our hearts, of our thoughts and even the darkness of our projects, of our families why not the darkness of our nations and those of our communities? When Jesus, the light came, the yoke was broken, the rod that struck on the back was broken, so the people are definitively freed from oppression. The henceforth Savior is called admirable, counselor, mighty God and everlasting Father. Excellent Sunday. Amen
Alain Louz.-