{"id":65181,"date":"2019-11-04T23:10:37","date_gmt":"2019-11-04T21:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=65181"},"modified":"2023-05-30T09:51:22","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T06:51:22","slug":"a-vision-of-a-brighter-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/a-vision-of-a-brighter-future\/","title":{"rendered":"A Vision Of A Brighter Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While Isaiah was immersed in his studies, cut off from the king who had filled the land with pagan ritual, his visions transported him to a brighter future:<\/p>\n

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a brilliant light; on those who dwelt in a land of gloom, light has dawned; You have magnified that nation, have given it great joy; they have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at reaping time, as they exult when dividing spoil” (Is. 9:1\u20132).<\/p>\n

In the Temple courtyard, an altar was built to the Assyrian gods of victory. Graven images were sold in the streets of Jerusalem. The Valley of Hinnom echoed with the screams of children being sacrificed in Moloch\u2019s fire. But in the haven of Isaiah\u2019s study house, a heavenly light burned: \u201cThe people that walked in darkness have seen a brilliant light.”<\/p>\n

The images of light and joy reminded the prophet of Gideon\u2019s miraculous victory on \u201cthe Day of Midian\u201d (Judges 6\u20138). At that time, Israel had been serving Baal for eighteen years. A man named Jehoash named his son Jerubaal, and an altar to Baal was established in Ofra. That same \u201cJerubaal\u201d became Gideon, who cut down (gada<\/em>; the root of the name Gideon) the terebinth and smashed the altar, reintroducing the worship of the true God and saving Israel from the hand of Midian. Darkness and desperation were transformed into the triumph of few over many.<\/p>\n

His gleaming vision of a wondrous savior-king hints at an imminent miracle, and at the shattering of the alien gods and their altars.<\/p>\n

Although the identity of the child that is born is not specified, the prophecy seems to imply that Hezekiah, Ahaz\u2019s son, will bear the messianic mantle upon his shoulders. Isaiah burst out in wondrous revelatory song, concluding the series of prophecies that began with his first appeal to Ahaz (in chapter 7):<\/p>\n

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority shall settle upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wondrous Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace \u2013 Bringing abundant authority, and endless peace, upon David\u2019s throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore” (Is. 9:5\u20136).<\/p>\n

This was a song about the resurrection of the House of David. Although Ahaz still sat upon the throne, the king of Assyria had control over the Kingdom of Judah (and most of the ancient world). Yet Isaiah could see what was to come. Hezekiah would grow and be deserving of the divine names that Isaiah had bestowed upon him: \u201cWondrous Counselor, Mighty God,\u201d and he would abolish the practices of his father. The names \u201cEverlasting Father, Prince of Peace\u201d anticipated his messianic qualities and the peace he would bring to Jerusalem in the future.<\/p>\n

For those who had heard them, the language of this prophecy evoked Isaiah\u2019s earliest prophecies, the otherworldly visions of the end of days.<\/p>\n

From: Lau and Bin Nun, Isaiah: Prophet of Righteousness and Justice<\/em> (Maggid Books, 2019), chapter 9.<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":65184,"id":65184,"title":"Isaiah-LauBinNun","filename":"Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/a-vision-of-a-brighter-future\/isaiah-laubinnun\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"isaiah-laubinnun","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":65181,"date":"2019-11-04 21:10:18","modified":"2019-12-16 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