God is With Us- Christmas in Isaiah

Where is God? Is He there? Does He care?

Anytime we try and contemplate the INFINITE in our limited finite ability, it can create confusion, a vacuum, or even distance or darkness.

This seems especially true in times of crisis. Ahaz was walking around the water supply to Jerusalem in Isaiah 7, burdened by the reality that not only were the Assyrians on the move- but even Syria and the Northern kingdom were planning an attack.

Isaiah was sent to speak to the King and encourage him to stand firm and trust the Lord...which the king continually refused to do. Ahaz had a fearful and hard heart- refusing to even accept the sign from God that things were in His hands.

The Sign of Immanuel

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.”Matthew 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means God with us).

As we approach this famous passage, we actually get into one of the most intriguing parts of Biblical prophecy. And we also get to a theological controversy at the same time. In spite of these issues, if we are not careful we will miss the biggest message and our best comfort during this season..... GOD IS WITH US.

Do you believe that? Do you really comprehend what that means?

May years ago, Bette Midler sand a song with a very catching melody:

God is watching us.....

God is watching us.....

God is watching us.....

but her ending line is such a disappointment

From a distance.

As appealing it was to actually hear God in a popular song, this ultimately was not helpful. Fortunately, it is not correct. God is NOT sitting way up in the cosmos, wringing His hands and wondering what will happen. He is not like Lucille Ball overrun by the assembly line or Jim Carrey inundated with e-mails- He is present, living, active, and sovereign over the minute details of your very life. AND HE IS FOR YOU!

REMEMBER ROMANS 8:

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What an awesome message! What a Christmas message!

Now a little Bible teaching here.....

The toughest one is the translation of the word 'virgin' in Isaiah. It may be a little bit of a force here by translators. Please don't tag me as liberal, just wanting to give you all the evidence.

Jesus was born of the virgin Mary as recorded in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38. But the emphasis of this verse and in Matthew is "IMMANUEL" not the woman. The word in Isaiah is more likely 'young woman' here in Isaiah. But the virgin birth of Jesus stands on the account in the gospels where Matthew and Luke testify to this. And then Matthew gives a legitimate rendering of 'virgin' to the Isaiah reference.

The greek work in Matthew is parthenos (a virgin, chaste woman).

Now why is this even important? We have to be careful to understand that there is often in Biblical prophecy DUAL fulfillment of the text. In other words, there will be a literal fulfillment in a soon time, but also a larger more expansive fulfillment in the future.

An example of this is prophecy regarding Babylon- the literal fulfillment of its destruction, but also the larger prediction of the world's system which will be destroyed in the second coming of Christ.

This passage in Isaiah is an excellent example of this. It was literally fulfilled in Isaiah 8:1-10 but it also points to Christ 700 years later. The Old Testament contains types and shadows of the King. Again, we use Scripture to establish these ideas... that is why I included Matthew 1 where he points back to this verse.

Now it points out an interesting part of 'Immanuel', which is this: God's presence - His being with us- is not loved or wanted by everyone. The reference in Isaiah is again judgment for God's enemies and comfort for God's people.

It is never easy... Christ is always a battle ground. That is why you see even today, conflict over nativity scenes and over the name of Jesus Christ.

But do not lose heart. Embrace Immanuel. He is with you. Yes that frightens me too. He is so with me that He knows how I think. He knows how poorly I obey. He knows how weak and sinful I am. And He still loves me- WOW!

AND He is FOR me. He is WITH me. When others run, He stands and supports. When Satan accuses, He defends.

This Christmas.... meditate on this truth. God is with us. He is not distant. God is with us, He has not tucked tail and run. God is with us. Allow Him to draw even closer still.

The Only Government and The Only Hope: Christmas in Isaiah

Isaiah spoke these words almost 700 years before the Nativity.
And the hope and light shines even brighter today!

Ancient Israel had no clue what the Messianic passages meant.

But we see it in brilliant clarity today!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

The hope and joy of Christmas can often be lost in a world of turmoil and anxiousness. 

And it doesn't take but 2 minutes of cable news to be thrown headfirst into turmoil, disillusionment, and the dramatic conflict of factions.

The America I grew up in is divided and struggling.... growing distrust between races, political persuasions, broken families, and a stagnant economy have even our children projecting a future full of gloom and doom forecasting.

The right longs for another Reagan while the left seems unabated in a desire to reshape the landscape on multiple levels.

Is there a route out? In a culture full of division, gun violence, flat wages, and global insecurity- how can we avoid what seems to be a perilous path of extinction?

Well, if I might offer a historical perspective.... things have been much worse in global history, and may get much worse in American history, but in the end we can always celebrate the Christ-child.

Jesus is NOT an American... He is the King of the Universe.

When Isaiah was inspired to communicate God's message, he was watching the decay and ruins of the once grand and unified Davidic Kingdom.

But after the death of Solomon, the nation of Israel divided... and in division, destruction soon followed. The Northern tribes fell first and the South (including Jerusalem) was seeing and hearing the advancing threat of the Assyrians and eventually the Babylonians.

It was a gradual ruin.... but in the midst of the fear, violence, decadence, and idolatry.... God was never shaken off of His throne!

See how the promise of God's solution is our only true hope:

(Isaiah 9:2-7 ESV)

[2] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

The world has not changed..... darkness and light. As long as we live under the oppression of sin and the lure of idols... we are in the dark.

But there is a light... and when we see Him, we are liberated. Death becomes life, night becomes day, hunger and thirsts are quenched, despair breaks into joy, ....

700 years ago, as David's light seemed to be a distant memory of glory days gone by...Isaiah promised on God's behalf, on the stake of His name... a return to prosperity.

THE KINGDOM OF JESUS..........

[3] You have multiplied the nation; 

(because it was dwindling- yet Abraham was told of increase)

you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

(prosperity that is a shared prosperity..not under compulsion, but of love and compassion)

[4] For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. [5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

(the overcoming of all enemies- an end of war)

[6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful - too wonderful for words

Counselor- wisdom, not political slogans

Mighty God- Who CAN&WILL accomplish the impossible

Everlasting Father- The Perfect Father Who Never Leaves! 

Prince of Peace- Cast all your anxieties on Him!

[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

AND FINALLY- look at the ending phrase here- why and how and by what means....

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

The word literally means-' a red-faced intensity'.

God is the type A, energized, never resting architect of a new world!

Wow- what a promise! Dr N. T. Wright, preached a homily at the Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve 2008 in the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert, Durham on this very passage. 

I find a few of his comments 'prophetic'.

 The whole world was hungry for hope, and now Obama, who is indeed brilliant, charming, shrewd and very capable, is being told that the government of the world is upon his shoulders, and we expect him to solve its problems.

Poor man: no ordinary mortal can bear that burden. 

Nor should we ask it of him. The irrational joy and hope at his election only shows the extent to which other hopes have failed, making us snatch too eagerly at sudden fresh signs. And that can only be because we have forgotten the Christmas message, or have neutered it, have rendered it toothless, as though the shoulder of the child born this night was simply a shoulder for individuals to lean on rather than the shoulder to take the weight of the world’s government.

We place too much trust in our politicians because we place too little trust in God, and in the self-revelation of the living God in the child who is born to us. And when our politicians let us down, all we can think of is . . .how to find another politician, who will get it right this time.

 I came here tonight to hear about the baby Jesus, not to have a political rant. Well, all right, let’s talk about the baby Jesus.

Why was he born in Bethlehem? Luke tells us: because the then global superpower wanted to raise taxes, so told everyone to sign up and pay up. That’s how the Middle East worked then, and, with minor adjustments, that’s how it works today. 

Luke’s story digs underneath this typical story of everyday empire and undermines it with the explosive news of a different empire, a different emperor, a different kind of emperor.

Jesus isn’t simply another politician on whom everyone can pin their hopes and who will then let them down. His way of establishing God’s justice and peace on the earth was different to Caesar’s, different to the usual power games and money games, different in source, different in method, different in effect.

We are today hungry for exactly that difference, and Christmas night is the time to ponder it.

And Isaiah cries out, and Luke in his spectacular Christmas story cries out too, that it’s time for a different kind of world, a different kind of empire. What we need is a new economic system, a new way of doing global politics, a new style of leadership. That’s what the Christmas message is all about.

Christmas is all about the coming of the world’s true king, the one who stops wars, who forgives debts, who establishes true justice and judgment in the earth.

I told you Isaiah is pretty neat at Christmas time!

Christmas in Isaiah- The Lifetime Perspective

The prophet, Isaiah, was married with children. His name means- "The Lord Saves". The backdrop of his life is found in II Kings 15-20.

His book is a compilation of his God given messages from 740-700 BC. Most scholars believe he was a resident of Jerusalem and a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah. He was in the royal family, proclaimed a faithful message, and (according to many sources) was martyred by being sawn in two!

 The 66 chapters encapsulate 40 years of hard and faithful service to God.

'Christmas' is a compilation of years of memories- they are milestones.

  I find it interesting that prisoners often think of their incarceration in terms of 'Christmases missed'.

We all tend to mark this season as special.

Oh the memories of Christmas! My mom and dad and brothers and family. The excitement of trees and gifts, pajamas and hot chocolate!

But there are hard memories too. 

My first sad memory of Christmas involved the story of 'The Little Match Girl'- I remember my mom thinking it was important for me to know that story. 

And the sadness around Christmas is always the loss of loved ones- growing old… past the magic- the knowledge of people who are poor, hungry, lonely, and cold- and watching your kids grow up way too fast. Oh I miss the magic of the 'little years' with them.

There was a sadness to Isaiah's life and his message had dark truth in it.

God gave the prophet a very hard task:

Is 6: 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.

13 And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.

Can you imagine?

So what in the world does this have to do with Christmas?

Well, throughout the book... there is hope in the midst of judgment- light in the midst of darkness- and life in the midst of death.

This Book has awesome promises of the Christmas story.

But even the Christmas story is not all candy canes and coca.

The backdrop of Christmas is darkness and human depravity. It is 400 years of silence in a world that seems to have been abandoned by God. But in the midst of despair…behold, a great light!

The Book of Revelation portrays the Christmas story as a cosmic battle! The red dragon waiting to devour the Child in Rev. 12 is stark and violent!

Isaiah had a hard life and hard message. And we know that life can be difficult. But faithful service over time brings great glory to God!

Over the years, we keep marking the hope of a baby… new life and the promise of a great gift.

A baby in a manger… humble and seemingly insignificant… but this is no ordinary child!

Isaiah saw this day, 700 years earlier and held true to his faith.

And now, 2000 years later- we also hold on!

The Christmas story never loses its power to heal, comfort, and offer hope! And you can experience this year after year after year!

Christmas in Isaiah: The Comfort of Christmas

Isaiah 40:

 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,


The peace of Christmas is an end of war.

Wait a minute... am I in a war? Yes, you are... you have massive enemies fighting you and the wounds and scars from those battles make all of us feel weary- especially this time of the year. Satan and sin rips at us in ways we don't even comprehend. 

From time to time, we even go to war with God...which is insane...but if you are fighting Him- understand that He often wraps us in a big bear hug and squeezes until we run out of all ability to resist Him. But the process is exhausting and full of pain and peril.

All of our relationships are strained..... and the reality is, without the grace of God, it would ALL fall apart in microseconds..... do you believe this? Are you aware of this?

That is why the Scriptures proclaim the magnificence of the power and grace of Jesus:

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.(Colossians 1:17 ESV)

The peace pointed to in Scripture is a 'laying down of arms' - 'a surrender"- Stop fighting the Lord, end the madness of this frantic fraud of a world. 

There are military words and applications in Romans 5....

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 ESV)

As we begin December together.... evaluate where you are with Christ. Are you the rebel? Shaking your fist and pushing Him back at every turn? Aren't you TIRED and  ready to lay down your arms and surrender?

Are you beaten down and worn out by a world of sinners?

Isaiah 40 is an amazing place in the Bible. 

Isaiah is kind of like a mini-Bible. The Bible has 66 books and Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Old Testament is comprised of 39 books and the New Testament has 27. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah has a tone of the OT... the promise of judgment (just like the OT grace is there..but the dark passages tend to grab us).

Beginning in Chapter 40...Isaiah has a tonal change. (Such a change that some liberal scholars teach that this part of the Bible is a 2nd Isaiah- some say there was even a 3rd Isaiah..but this is plain ole human conjecture...that starts with a presupposition to deny the supernatural revelation of God.)

Isaiah 40 is the beginning of a part of Isaiah that projects what it will be like for God's children AFTER the punishment has come..... no one likes consequences...but there is a 'strange release' we receive when we finally come to terms with sin and after we experience punishment... it is a freedom... a comfort.

Yes, God is a Father who disciplines His children (see Hebrews 12). But after the discipline, we see the root and foundation of WHY He does so...it is LOVE. He loves us too much to sit back and watch sin ravage us. And He proves His love in that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)

My friend.. please, listen to me... let Christmas always be a time to retreat from the war... stop fighting God, make peace with your family...don't resist Christmas in a jaded spirit of "Bah Humbug"- don't grow old and bitter......

May you find comfort and peace in the Son! We were once enemies, but we are now adopted children. Experience the magic of a child - you are God's child- if you submit to Him!

See the 'magic' of Christmas in Isaiah 40.......

3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

This is referenced as John the Baptist. He is a wonderful character in the Christmas story!

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

This is one of my favorite verses- more true than ever. This Nativity story is timeless and eternal! I am more convinced that God's Word is a must to make it as we get swept up in a fragmented culture that runs on microwave moments. We need to read it- meditate on it- memorize it- study it. We live in a land that reasons by sight and makes decisions by urges- only God's Word can provide a compass for survival.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”

Christmas is about good news! That is what 'gospel' means......... remember the angels in the Nativity?   "Do not fear...I bring good news!"

10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Christmas is about the tenderness of a babe and the steady care of a POWERFUL shepherd....

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Christmas is about renewal and rest...... 

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BEGIN THAT REST AND RENEWAL...the beauty of a babe... the tenderness of a lamb.... we wait all year for it.... may the Lord renew our strength!


Lord I pray that your children will experience the beauty and power of Christmas.... even TODAY!