Dig Deeper
The prophet Isaiah lived seven hundred years before
the birth of Christ and wrote the book of Isaiah
sometime between 740-698 B.C. Isaiah served as God’s prophet during the reigns
of four kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. The message of Isaiah is one
of warning and judgment for their rebellion against God and call to repentance,
“Listen heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: ‘I have
raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me… O
sinful nation, people weighted down with iniquity, brood of evildoers…” (Isaiah
1:2,4a HCSB).
Ultimately however, the book of Isaiah is a message
of hope and good news! God would one day redeem His people through the One who “bore
the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12b). Isaiah’s prophesies about Jesus are amazingly
accurate. Luke 1:26-38 records the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that
she is the woman of whom Isaiah prophesied, “a virgin shall conceive, and bear
a son…” (Isaiah 7:14). Gabriel’s announcement to Mary identifies four specific
prophesies from Isaiah. Identify these prophecies by comparing Luke 1:26-38
with the following Scriptures from Isaiah.
Isaiah 7:14--
Isaiah 9:7--
Isaiah 14:1--
Isaiah 9:6--
Much of what we know about the first Christmas comes
from the announcing of the first Advent (adventus,
Latin meaning arrival). What does Isaiah 52:6-10 and Romans 10:15 reveal
about the necessity of announcing good news for it to truly be good news?
Application
Romans 10:14 asks, “But how can they call on Him
they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him?
And how can they hear without a preacher?” (HCSB) With whom do you sense the
Holy Spirit leading you to announce Good News this Christmas?
Memorize This
Isaiah 9:6-7 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
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 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.
The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will do this. ESV
