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Love
Teaching Text: Isaiah 9:1–7
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
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.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Watching for the Light
PEACE: See a light—God's unchanging Character Across the Ages
Series Intro:
God is near
God is saving and rescuing
God is filling and healing.
But that can be confusing or disillusioning because life has quite a lot of waiting, some real season is difficultly, loss, grief. Life has what feels like delays. It has uncertainty, pain, and longing.
And so we need the darkness of Advent also. We need the wilderness and waste places of Lent, we need the confused grief of Holy Saturday when Christ has died but we see no sign of resurrection.
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
A poem of shalom
This poem says – The character of God is reliable
King Ahaz was looking for assurance and hope. Isaiah brings him a poem.
This seems very unhelpful in the trenches of every day real life tragedy and challenge.
Ahaz wants to be helped but also wants to remain in control.
Surrender wasn't an option for him.
He ultimately asks Assyria for help and they end up overcoming Judah.
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.
– Isaiah 9: 6–7.
Wonderful Counselor - the One wise enough to give wisdom that may not look like the world
Mighty God - the One strong enough to effect change for real
Everlasting Father - the One ready to call us family forever
Prince of Peace - the One who inherits and distributes shalom
The character of God is revealed.
Counselor, Strength, Father, Peace
This poem is what God is passionate about….
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
– Isaiah 9: 7
In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity; down further still, if embryologists are right, to recapitulate in the womb ancient and pre-human phases of life; down to the very roots and seabed of the Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him. One has a picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders.
– C.S. Lewis
Advent is about learning to trust in the promises of God when circumstances seem to contradict hope.
When we are faced with evidence of dark broken realities in life, we have the character of God to trust in.
Name your needs and dark moments.
Then think about the character of God and pray for Him to help you trust in His Nature instead of looking at the darkness.
Look for ways this week where God is inviting you to trust and hope.
We look to other things so we can control our circumstances without any relational obligation.
Maybe I find myself in a spot where I want God’s power but not God, I am in a troubling spot.
God says “you cannot control Me, but I have shown you My love for you.”
Learning in love to trust the promise…
…those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
– Isaiah 40: 31
