"Who Is On The Throne?"

Who Is On The Throne?

(Is. 9:1-7)

Introduction:

A.  It all happened outside the town of Bethlehem.  It was probably a night like many others for these shepherds.  There is nothing great about taking care of sheep.  The biggest job is to watch them because the dumb things have a habit of wandering away from the fold while they eat.  It probably was a silent night, but it most definitely was a holy night.

B.  How much light does it take to conquer darkness?  I could only imagine how terrified the men were when light broke out from darkness.  The Bible says that an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.  What that glory looks like or how brightly it shines, I don’t know. These men were scared.

C.  This angel tried to calm them.  You see in the midst of this light of the glory of God came a voice of good news.  A child king was born.  “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

D.  Isaiah had tried to get the kings of Israel and Judah and the people to repent, but his words fell on deaf ears.  The call to faithful remnant was to put their faith in God.  Hope was near.  There would come one who would change everything.

E.  Hope was coming.  Isaiah would tell the people to hang on, even in the hard times.  He would tell them that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  It was the coming of the King.  A new King for a new Kingdom.  This new government would be one of peace.  This new king would sit on the throne of David and though Him justice and righteousness would be established forever.

F.  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.  To those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.  That light meant hope.  That light would change the world.

I.  Darkness versus Light

A.  Sin destroys everything you think is good.  It ruins like nothing else, but so few understand until the fullness of the destruction is upon us and we find ourselves in gloom, darkness and death.  Some questions are asked at the end of chapter 8.  (vs. 19-22)

B.  Understand that darkness is brought upon us by our own sinfulness.  In Romans 1, Paul says that “God gave them over” to their own sinful desires.  Darkness claims the person living in sin.  Sin has the mastery over them.  They may not know it, but they are enslaved to their own evil desires.

C.  This darkness has overtaken the northern kingdom of Israel and was also taking the southern kingdom of Judah.  God’s punishment and wrath was about to be poured out it is would be great.  It was be living in the shadow of death.

D.  Isaiah paints that picture, but for seven verses let’s the people know that dawn is coming, hope is available, that a new king and a new kingdom would be here.  John makes a simple, yet bold statement, “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.”  When John writes about Jesus in his gospel, he says “in him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

E.  What is it that people in darkness need more than anything else?  Light.  What is that people living in despair need more than anything else?  Hope.  We don’t need to live with only mental pictures of Jesus dying on the cross, we need also with mental picture of an empty tomb.  There is no doubt in my mind that disciples of Jesus felt hopeless, lonely, and like their world was dark as the body of Jesus laid in the tomb, but Sunday morning came and that darkness was dispelled, that despair found hope and that their loneliness saw life.  And that same light, hope and life is for us for we are living in the kingdom that Isaiah could only write about.

II.  The New King

A.  Isaiah wanted the righteous to know that a new king was coming.  Look with me at verse 6.  That night in the city of Bethlehem a light shone in the fields.  That night in the city of Bethlehem a child was born, a son was given by God to man.  Immanuel, God with us.  Jesus was light of the world, not just to the Jews but all men for all time.  Jesus is the king of a new kingdom.

B.  Look at the description of Jesus as king:  wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.  Can you think of better titles you would have for your king?  Here is the one who has come for us.  Here is the living king of King and lord of Lord.  We are living in that kingdom and we have seen the light.

C.  We need to talk more kingdom talk.  We have forgotten what it means to live in a kingdom with a monarchy.  We have a king who is a wonderful counselor.  Someone who can guide us and lead us beside the still waters and into the green pastures of our life.  We have a king who our hero, our mighty God.  He is the one who can defeat any enemy that comes to us and destroy them.  We have a king who is relational as an everlasting father.  He wants us to know that he will never leave us or forsake us.  We have a king who is the prince of peace, whose kingdom is not filled with conflict but a one filled with peace where justice and righteousness reign from that time on and forever!  If that doesn’t make you excited about being in the kingdom what would?

D.  Isaiah, in the middle of a prophecy of doom and gloom, says to the faithful, light has dawned and a king is coming.

III.  Application To Us

A.  So where does all of this fit into your life and mine?  First, we have hope not just for the future, but right now.  While the Jews had to wait for the Messiah to come, Jesus has come and we live in his kingdom with all the glory that comes from him.

B.  Second, as Jesus is the light of the world shining in the darkness, we too need to be lights in this world shining so that people will see him and not us.  It is more than just being good people, it is being kingdom people.  It is being people who point others to Jesus in every aspect of life.  I don’t just do good works, I do good works so that He may be glorified.  If God is not glorified then my works are nothing more than a clanging cymbal.

C.  Third, we live in a kingdom and under the authority of a great king.  That means we are subjects, we are men and women under authority.  It is a difficult thought for us in our western lives, but unless Jesus reigns in your life, then you are not a part of his kingdom.  Without him as ruler over you, then you still live in darkness, gloom and despair.

Conclusion:

A.  Isaiah tells you about the child that has been born and the kingdom of peace that belongs to him.  If we can help you grow in that relationship with him, come as we stand and sing.