Stroll through Scripture for Sunday, November 16, 2025

Based on Isaiah 9:1-7

This passage should sound familiar.  It shows up in the Revised Common Lectionary sometimes in Advent and sometimes in the Christmas season, depending on your tradition.  

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  Christianity of course has used this passage as a preview predicting Jesus’ birth.  

It is important though to dive into the context.  According to some scholars, Isaiah 9 was written around 732BC, in the context of conflict between the northern kingdom of Israel and Assyrian empire.  Assyria began its conquest of Isreal in 733BC.  The towns mentioned in the passage – Zebulun and Nephtali would have been the first areas to be conquered since they were in the northern sections of Israel, adjacent to the Assyrian empire.  

So, what does this mean?  Isaiah is warning the people of Judah, the southern kingdom, not to rely on foreign powers like Assyria or Egypt for peace, but rather to be faithful to God.  Israel’s unfaithfulness and subsequent conquering by Assyria would be a stark warning and lesson for Judah.  Yet, Judah will not learn this lesson.  

Isaiah is offering a word of hope during this conflict and rearrangement of the geopolitical situation of Israel. Isaiah is promising future deliverance and restoration.  But it would be a couple hundred years until that restoration would take place – after Babylon, yet another empire, conquers Judah and lives in exile for 70 years.   

One of the key elements of Isaiah’s message is that God is promising to act.  None of this passage is about what the people will do.  It is all on God to act.  In other words, grace.  

Questions for Reflection:

• What does it mean to be a people who walk in darkness? 
• How would people see a great light?  What would seeing the light do?   
• Isaiah is one of the major prophets.  Jesus quotes Isaiah more than any other Hebrew scripture.  Why do you think that is?