Friday, September 18, 2026

Opening Scripture

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:12-17

Opening Prayer

Most Merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me, that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Reflection  

In Chapter 8, the prophet continues his prediction of the impending destruction of Aram and Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. “The wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” It will be a terrible time for those nations. “Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God” (Isaiah 8:22).

Suddenly, in Chapter 9, Isaiah looks beyond the divine punishment to the divine restoration. In another Messianic prophecy about Jesus of Nazareth, he declares, “In the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.” The Northern Kingdom, which was the first to fall and then be repopulated with foreigners, was also the first to receive the Messiah, as Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Which brings us to today’s passage. Gloom and darkness are a thing of the past as the prophet looks ahead to the coming of the Great Light. It is natural to hear Handel’s Messiah playing in your head as you read these verses.

Isaiah makes several predictions about this Perfect Ruler whom Yahweh will send. He will be born as a child of God’s covenant people. He will be a king and “the government will be on his shoulders.” In contrast to the incompetent and unfaithful leaders of Judah, the Messiah will be a Wonderful Counselor. More than that, He will be Mighty God – the Everlasting Father – in the flesh!

After centuries of war, death, and destruction, the Messiah will be the Prince of Peace. Eventually, He will usher in a kingdom of eternal peace, justice, and righteousness. All of this depends on God alone, not humanity. “The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

Seven hundred years later, the angel Gabriel confirmed the prophecy with Mary as he told her, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33). Jesus. Immanuel. God with us.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Yahweh promised not to forsake His people. Over and over, He encouraged them to trust Him regardless of the circumstances. Things are often not as they appear.

God encouraged Isaiah with this same promise. “This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: ‘Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread’” (Isaiah 8:11-13).

Isaiah says that God “grabbed him with strong hands” and warned him not to adopt the mindset of the masses. The prophet was to resist getting caught up in the “social media hype” all around him. He was to ignore the political speculation and all the conspiracy theories that the “influencers” were promoting.

Instead, the prophet is told (and we are told) to trust God with holy reverence and fear. Almighty God is in control, and He will determine the outcome of things.

Isaiah lived during a time of immense political and military crisis as foreign armies threatened Jerusalem. Weak rulers panicked and sought to make desperate alliances. The people worried and speculated about possible outcomes, depending on their own strength and intellect to sort it all out.

Things are not so different today. We have the same choice. Listen to the popular influencers. Get caught up in the “social media hype.” Worry about what everyone else is worried about. Or choose to trust in Almighty God, delighting in His will, and walking in His ways, to the glory of His name.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

This week’s collective prayer: Lord, You have placed a lost person on my heart. Please make them aware of how much You love them. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!