2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
3 You shall multiply the nation,
You shall increase their gladness;
They will be glad in Your presence
As with the gladness of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:2-7 NASB
I have included the entire section of this prophecy so we could begin to understand the setting of these beautiful words. The Israelites in Judah would have thought these words meant that they would be delivered from what they were afraid would happen. They saw a much more immediate “child king” rescue. While that was true in a very limited way – much more victory was envisioned by the Holy Spirit.
My mind goes to Hebrews 11:39-40, “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” The total prophetic utterance was about what our Lord Jesus Christ would be in the hearts of His own and deliver into their hands. So these folk received the blessing of the promise, but not the reality of its total fulfillment – until in Jesus Christ.
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” There are believers all over the world being and bringing light to dark places and dark lands because they are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
“You shall multiply the nation, you shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” The word used here in Hebrew for “nation” literally means all nations – the Gentiles. The prophecy was saying that all would receive this increase and gladness of great joy – as when it is harvest time, or time to divide the great riches of a conquest. This happens every time a human opens their heart and allows the love of Jesus to flood them. It also happens in all believers as they worship and allow the focus of the Lord Jesus to become their dwelling place.
“For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor as at the battle of Midian.” Oh yes! He breaks every yoke, eliminates the stress of every burden and puts our enemy under our feet. My, what a beautiful present day fulfillment of this prophecy and it continues to unfold until the day of His return to receive us unto Himself in the resurrection.
“For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.” As we embrace the overabundant work of Jesus delivered into our beings, then we begin to understand we have the victory purchased in His blood, and that has supplied us with the fire of burning of the Holy Spirit, for unto us a Child is born.
Mannaword 