30 Nov. Isaiah prophesies a glorious future for Israel
“But suddenly there will be no more gloom for the land that suffered. In the past God made the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali hang their heads in shame, but in the future those lands will be made great. They will stretch from the road along the Mediterranean Sea to the land beyond the Jordan River and north to Galilee, the land of people who are not Israelites.”
“Before those people lived in darkness, but now they have seen a great light. They lived in a dark land, but a light has shone on them.”
“God, you have caused the nation to grow and made the people happy. And they have shown their happiness to you, like the joy during harvest time, like the joy of people taking what they have won in war.”
“Like the time you defeated Midian, you have taken away their heavy load and the heavy pole from their backs and the rod the enemy used to punish them. Every boot that marched in battle and every uniform stained with blood has been thrown into the fire.”
“A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counsellor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives For Ever, Prince of Peace.”
“Power and peace will be in his kingdom and will continue to grow for ever. He will rule as king on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom. He will make it strong by ruling with justice and goodness from now on and for ever.”
“The LORD All-powerful will do this because of his strong love for his people.”
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
During the siege of Jerusalem by Israel and Aram (Syria) in 731BC, Isaiah had a vision of the defeat of Israel by Assyria (which happened in 722BC), followed – after a time of exile – by a glorious new kingdom. This would be set up in Galilee (northern Israel) in the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali (between the Sea of Galilee and Dan) (see Joshua 19:10-16 and 32-39).
Isaiah went on to describe the awesome ruler of this glorious new kingdom:
“A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counsellor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives For Ever, Prince of Peace.”
“Power and peace will be in his kingdom and will continue to grow for ever. He will rule as king on David's throne and over David's kingdom. He will make it strong by ruling with justice and goodness from now on and for ever." (Isaiah 9: 2 & 5-7)
In the New Testament, Matthew states in his gospel that the coming of a ‘Mighty God’ who would rule in peace ‘until the end of time’ was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ to Galilee in 27AD (see Matthew 4:12-17).
The photo shows the waterfront at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, the area of Isaiah’s glorious new kingdom.
You can read more from Isaiah’s prophesy @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney2/39-isaiah-predicts-the-fall-of-israel-amp-judah/troubled-times-and-a-glorious-future-kingdom/