If you fancy astronomy, like I lie to myself that I do, then you should be aware of what a black hole is. For those who don’t know what it is, a black hole is a very dense object in space, millions to billions of times bigger than our sun’s mass. It has a gravitational pull so powerful that nothing within its vicinity can escape it. In short, a black hole eats anything and everything near it, including light. Praise God, we are nowhere close to one. A black hole is so dark that it can’t be seen. It is the epitome of darkness.
The setting of Isaiah 9 aptly captures this kind of darkness. An exceedingly deep darkness had engulfed the people of Judah. All hope had been lost. However, through Isaiah, God provides them with hope, and this hope, as we will see in this article, is a person—Jesus Christ. For them, this was a hope they looked forward to. However, for us, it is a realized hope as Christ has already come. However, we are still in a world full of black holes. Therefore, we must continually remind ourselves that the light of Christ will return for all eternity. A light so powerful that no black hole can exist under it.
Using Isaiah 9:2, I hope to remind you that no amount of darkness can swallow the light you have from Christ.
The Deep Darkness
The setting for Isaiah 9 is found in Isaiah 8. In Isaiah 8:1-10, a prophecy was foretold of a coming Assyrian invasion. If you read from Isaiah 7, you will see that there was also a looming threat from the allied forces of both Israel and Syria. Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, wanted to invade Judah (Isaiah 7:1-2). Because of these enemies and their own sinfulness (Isaiah 8:18-20), Isaiah 8 concludes with the statement that they were “thrust into thick darkness” (Isaiah 8:22). They were a people consumed by great anguish and despair.
Perhaps you’re in a similar circumstance, swallowed up by a black hole. As Isaiah 9:2 states, you may be walking in darkness and dwelling in it so deeply that it seems there is no way out. This may manifest as suffering or a sense of hopelessness. The suffering may be due to grief, an illness (whether yours or a loved one’s), or conflicts of various kinds. The hopelessness might leave you wondering what the point of anything you do is. From your warped perspective, nothing you do seems fruitful. The darkness might also present itself at your workplace, even as you do everything you can to steward your work in a way that honors God. Still, everything around seems to weigh you down, from your inconsiderate bosses to your unbelieving colleagues.
You may try to be at peace with all men. However, none of them wants to be at peace with you. There are many examples I could list. Whatever your circumstance, please know that there is hope.
The Shining Light
Isaiah emphasizes this message of hope to the people of Judah. Though it may have seemed like there was no room for escape from the black hole that had consumed them, God promised to shine a great light on them (Isaiah 9:2). At that point, however, enemies surrounded them and it was clear that God had hidden his face from them (Isaiah 8:17). Nevertheless, the same hope that Isaiah had is what God wanted the people of Judah to have. God, through Isaiah, wanted them to know that a light was coming—a light so bright that the darkness couldn’t consume it.
As Isaiah shows in Isaiah 9:6, this light is a person—Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world (John 8:12). Even as he began his ministry, it was acknowledged that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2 (Matthew 4:12-17). As John 1:4-5 shows, he is the light of men that darkness cannot overcome. Therefore, dear suffering saint, look to the light of the world. Look to the one whom darkness cannot overcome.
The Light will Come Again.
Isaiah builds on this hope even more in Isaiah 30:19-21. The light has come and will come again, and darkness will be no more. The veil of affliction will be lifted, and we will see the light for what it truly is. Until then, press on forward, saints. Look not to the right or the left, gaze upon the one who shifts not or wavers. If you’re wondering how to be a model worker while being unappreciated, then wonder no more. As Paul tells the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:5-9) and Colossians (Colossians 3:22-24), you are working for God. If you remain steadfast, you will receive your due reward.
Keep striving, dear saint, to be at peace with all men, even when everyone around seems to push your buttons. Continue stewarding your words in a way that edifies, reconciles, and restores. It will not end in vain.
Snatch Others from the Darkness
Finally, after you have been pulled from the black hole by the light of Christ, strive to care for others. Since you have been battle-tested and have experienced light amid darkness, you are now equipped to point others to that wonderful light. You can be the means God uses to snatch some from the fire (Jude 23). Even those lucky enough not to have experienced deep darkness can still serve the ones in the trenches. Being different body parts in the body of Christ, our varied gifts and experiences can help us navigate the ministry of those still in the dark.
Therefore, let us rejoice as we remind one another of the light within us and tell the watching world of the light that is in Christ. We cannot afford to keep silent. May we be filled with boldness to declare, wherever we go, that indeed this darkness will soon be overcome by light!