Westhill Church - Auburn & Federal Way, WA

The WEekly Word

A Blog of Encouragement from our Pastors

weekly word – 11/27/2025

Isaiah 9:1-5 - Glad In His Presence

Isaiah 8 showed us Israel in Isaiah’s day, a sad, worldly place filled with sorcery and godlessness. But Isaiah 9 reveals Israel when God will restore it to faith in Him. It's a hopeful picture meant to encourage believers in Isaiah's time and in our own time. If you're ever disappointed with current events in the world today, this chapter can redirect you to find joy in God's wonderful world to come.

First, in verses 1-2, we see God’s restoration will begin with a spiritual reversal. He won’t start in the southern kingdom of Judah, but the rebellious northern kingdom which Assyria had already begun to conquer:

1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in the land of the shadow of death, the light will shine on them.

Why would God bring light to the northern kingdom first? Perhaps to give light beyond Israel to those Gentiles who lived there. Perhaps to shame the proud elites of Jerusalem and make certain all the glory goes to God. We know that when God fulfilled this in Jesus’ first coming, both goals were certainly accomplished.

Next, in verses 3-5, the light of God spreads through all twelve tribes to cultivate national revival. Isaiah describes four factors in this revival: population explosion, personal elation, political emancipation, and a peaceful environment:

3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great 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 shatter the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their taskmaster, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the rumbling of battle, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

Notice a shift in pronouns at this point. Verses 1-2 spoke of God as “He”, while verses 3-5 address Him as “You”. Isaiah is signaling some kind of change, but what is it?

There are other shifts as well. Verses 1-2 focus on Galilee while 3-5 focus on all of Israel. Also, verses 1-2 describe spiritual enlightenment while verses 3-5 show the political liberation of the entire nation. Isaiah seems to be indicating a timeline of progressive transformation.

Corresponding to this, in the gospels, Matthew 4:15-16 teaches that this enlightenment began during Jesus’ first coming. But the political liberation of Israel, as described in 3-5, clearly hasn’t yet happened. At the end of His ministry in Matthew 23:37, Jesus cries over the nation, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Since Israel didn’t accept Him, this redemptive plan has not yet been completed.

First, verse 3a shows God fulfilling His promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants into a populous nation (Gen 12, 13, 15, 17, 22). He will do that because the nation at this time won’t merely be genealogical descendants of Abraham, but will be spiritual descendants as well.

Second, verse 3b describes the joy pervading the nation at this time. A faithful nation enjoying the presence of their true King will be exceedingly glad. The LSB translation uses the English root “glad”/“gladness” three times to reflect Isaiah’s threefold repetition of the original Hebrew root. There will be abundant joy in the nation at this time.

Third, verse 4 makes it clear the nation won’t be subject to any other empire at this time in the future. God is foretold to personally accomplish this deliverance in a manner like “the battle of Midian”, which took place in Judges 7:19-25, as Gideon led Israel to decisive victory with only 300 soldiers, releasing his people from their heavy subjugation by their neighbors.

Fourth and finally, verse 5 tells us this deliverance won’t be temporary. After the defeat of Israel’s foes, all their boots and cloaks will be burned up, never to be used again. A new era of peace will have begun.

These are the national effects of the return of God to rule personally over Israel. Next time, in verses 6-7, Isaiah describes what this divine ruler will be like.

Gentile Christians can rejoice in the same way Isaiah would have. As adopted members of the family of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2:12–13 reminds us we are not outsiders to these joyful promises, but heirs of them who will enjoy Jesus’ earthly reign over an era of everlasting peace and joy.

Pastor David

11/20/2025 – God's Attributes: The Power of God – Bryan

11/13/2025 – The Broken Carpenter – Ed

11/06/2025 – Isaiah 8:19-22 – David

10/30/2025 – God's Attributes: The Holiness of God – Bryan

10/23/2025 – "A Light on Maple Street" – Ed

10/16/2025 – Isaiah 8:9-18 – David

10/09/2025 – God's Attributes: The Immutability of God – Bryan

10/02/2025 – "A Porch Conversation" – Ed

9/25/2025 – Isaiah 8:5-8 – David

9/18/2025 – God's Attributes: The Sovereignty of God – Bryan

9/11/2025 – Are You a Follower of Christ? – Ed