DrMikeBagwell.org

  • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Standing With the Bagwells
  • Bible Study Pages Archive
  • Recent Revival Meetings

ISAIAH, CHAPTER 9 … “GALILEE OF THE NATIONS”

December 17, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

There are “hints” in Isaiah 9:1-5 of a coming, brighter age for Israel. Even though, at the time Isaiah was writing, that nation had rebelled against God! And was facing Assyrian aggression, captivity!

A Nation often called “extinct” by many a commentator … is to be revived and blessed by God!

Hard reading, in a  way, so get ready …

“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” Isaiah 9:1-5

Read “dimness” (a Hebrew word used only here in all the Bible, thus called a “hapax legomenon”) as a synonym for “darkness.” Spiritually so indeed!

Oh, how far the Northern Kingdom (meaning Israel, the 10 Tribes, but also called Samaria or Ephraim) had drifted from God!

God had chastened her too, sending her “vexation” and “affliction.” Words used in our Passage above.

Isaiah here singles out two geographical identities, for illustration purposes I think. As egregious examples of the Land’s sinning against God … “Zebulun” and “Naphtali.”

Territories way up north in Israel.

Cities and towns lying along the Highway that led from Syria (and points north) down to Egypt (and points south) … a major ancient Eastern trade route, saturated with evil influence from non-Jewish nations!

But … even to these two wayward peoples … God is some day going to do something absolutely great, something restorative!

Our Text today continues: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great LIGHT: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the LIGHT shined.” All I know to tell you about this Line is that it sure is “good news!” 

This Verse is framed in what looks like the “past tense,” but it is actually predicting “future” events! (In this sense, these future happenings are so definite … that Isaiah describes them as “having already occurred!” Something like we would call a “done deal!” Or a “sure thing!”)

Light!

Light is coming!

As in John 8:12 … “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the LIGHT of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the LIGHT of life.”

Wow!

Or again, John 12:46 … “I (Jesus) am come a LIGHT into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

Amen!

But there is yet more (good news) in our Text! “Thou (God) hast multiplied the nation (Israel), and not increased the joy: (then later) they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” Verse 3 of Isaiah chapter 9, giving the “before” and after” situation! (Joy not increased at first, when Israel was still under judgment … then joy greatly increased, after God’s Blessings fall!) Like the exuberant joy farmers experience when record-setting (“bumper”) crops are being harvested!

God will so bless Israel! 

Look at verse 4 … where God will defeat all Israel’s enemies, particularly some “chief” enemy! “For Thou (Lord) hast broken the yoke of his (Israel’s) burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.” As in the day of Gideon’s great victory over the Midianites!

Here’s a pretty good stab at describing “total defeat” for those aggressors, attackers of Israel … “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” 

God sends those vicious Jew-hating armies “confusion!”

And massive bloodshed … their own blood!

With both soldier and equipment ultimately being burned with fire!

Wow!

An event yet to occur, I suspect at the Battle of Armageddon … when Jesus comes again to establish the Kingdom of God here on this earth!

First … sin.

Then … clearly after repentance … growth and  joy and LIGHT and victory promised to God’s people. To the little Nation of Israel!

Tomorrow, the Lord willing, we shall look at the Specific MEANS of this victory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Our Text today is not necessarily a PRIME MILLENNIAL TEXT, not yet. But Isaiah is rapidly getting there! I’ll show you later this week, Lord willing.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Search

Let's study God's Word together! Each day you will find a new, freshly written lesson. You can see a long list of all the Daily Posts by clicking on our SITE MAP.

The "Standing with the Bagwells" Page continues each morning with a bit of personal news.

And don't forget that the Bible Study Archives page can point you to any one of dozens of Bible Expositions here on the Website.

Recent Posts

  • ON THE PSALMS …
  • PSALM 11 … “FLEE AS A BIRD?”
  • INTERCESSORY PRAYER?
  • “LORD, IS IT I?”
  • HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK?

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
Visit the links below to navigate around our website:

Links

  • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Standing With the Bagwells
  • Bible Study Pages Archive
  • Recent Revival Meetings

Copyright © 2025 · eleven40 Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in