Isaiah 9:1-21 HCSB Nevertheless,
the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when
He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the
land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. 2 The people walking in darkness have
seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has
dawned. 3 You
have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced
before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they
rejoice when dividing spoils. 4
For You have shattered their burdensome yoke and the rod on their
shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian. 5
For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war
will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and
the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its
prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his
kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on
and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. 8 The Lord sent a message against Jacob;
it came against Israel. 9
All the people--Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria--will know
it. They will say with pride and arrogance:
10 "The bricks have fallen, but we
will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will
replace them with cedars." 11
The LORD has raised up Rezin's
adversaries against him and stirred up his enemies. 12 Aram from the east and Philistia from
the west have consumed Israel with open mouths. In all this, His anger is not
removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. 13 The people did not turn to Him who
struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts. 14 So the LORD cut off Israel's head and
tail, palm branch and reed in a single day.
15 The head is the elder, the honored
one; the tail is the prophet, the lying teacher. 16 The leaders of the people mislead them,
and those they mislead are swallowed up.
17 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice
over Israel's young men and has no compassion on its fatherless and widows, for
everyone is a godless evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. In all this, His
anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. 18 For wickedness burns like a fire that
consumes thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets so that they go up
in a column of smoke. 19 The
land is scorched by the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, and the people are like
fuel for the fire. No one has compassion on his brother. 20 They carve meat on the right,
but they are still hungry; they have eaten on the left, but they are still
not satisfied. Each one eats the flesh of his own
arm. 21 Manasseh
is with Ephraim, and Ephraim with Manasseh; together, both are against Judah.
In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to
strike.
Devotionals: Isaiah
9:9b-11 Ugly but Serviceable
Isaiah 9:9b-11 Laughing Off the Facts
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