Isaiah 9

Verses 1-5

1. “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.”

The word ‘Nevertheless’ (a conjunction) shows that what is said next is part of the earlier statements. It follows on from saying that the people had turned to witchcraft and the occult, punished by Jehovah. Those whose senses are numbed against truth and what is right, will live in darkness, whilst the few who are righteous will see light (of God). This is true in every part of modern life, when true believers live in hope and truth, seeing God’s hand of help, whilst, in the very same circumstances, unbelievers only see what they think is bad and of no help. It is because unbelievers have no hope and no faith in the Lord, and so succumb to the black night of Satan. It is a suitable way to lead up to the prophecy of Christ in later verses.

Isaiah at first reveals that the nation has been under pressure and sin, but that God’s light will soon dispel it. Zebulun and Naphtali, because they were closest to enemy nations, even from the sea, suffered more than other places (by their ‘coasts’ is meant every border, whether by sea or inward land). As today, when God’s light affliction is ignored, He will bring upon us heavier and more profoundly injurious means of judgment – much as we see it today. Yet, though undeserved, God continued to show light for those who believed… and was given to all who repented and turned from their darkness. This great light shone on the nation, but the people were so locked into their sin, they took little notice and shielded their eyes from divine help, thus making their situation even worse. The remnant, however, responded and looked to Jehovah for their strength. No matter how bad a circumstance is, it is not beyond God’s power, and He shines before all who believe and are obedient.

The nation had grown in numbers, but did not look to the Lord, and therefore had no joy. They were joyous when there was a good harvest, or when they took spoil from enemies, but not when their nation grew. Is this not typical of our own day, when those who claim salvation refuse to live as saved people and instead adhere to their earthly lot? Their joy is superficial and not found in their very souls. Again, just like today, as occultism, false religions and hatred, vie with each other to destroy us.

Yet, God in His mercy broke the yoke and the rod of the enemy against us, just as He did against Midian (remember the evils of Israel, causing God to attack Midian?). In every battle there is excessive noise all mixed together, whether of foe or friend. The clothes of warriors are splashed in blood… but not now – God’s judgments will be silent and more powerful, dealing harm to the enemy and help to the chosen people.

Today, with the land being filled with hateful and wicked false religionists, God will allow His people to be subjected to evil. But, those who are true and faithful will be given solace and help to live. Sometimes this help from God is slow coming, and this is portrayed in the very next verses.

Verses 6-10

6. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9. And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10. The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.”

Verse 6 is linked to the previous statement concerning Imanuel. A male child ‘is’ born – quoted in the present because God is always in the eternal-present. All rule is on His shoulder, His Name being “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. We are thus told that a future child would BE the Father and the chief Peace keeper. Everything about Him will be miraculous (‘Wonderful’), and He will be the wondrous Counsellor (the divine adviser and resolver). He is the mighty God (the word ‘The’ is 'ēl, as is the word ‘God’. The word ‘mighty’, gibôr, is correct, meaning that ‘El has holy strength, showing Himself to be a champion, trusted to bring victory too those who believe and are faithful. As such He lives eternally as Prince of Peace – šālôm (a Name badly misused by Christians who think they are somehow clever to use Judaic terms). Here it means the Messiah is complete, sound, and has the welfare and peace of His people always in mind. He also gives tranquillity and contentment to His own, health and prosperity (insofar as human beings can attain to these in a fallen world).

As the ‘everlasting Father’ He will rule eternally on the ‘throne of David’, His dominion and power (śārâ, root of ‘dominion’, miśrâ) growing and not diminishing. That is, His rule is eternal, according to His power, which is established with proper judgment… whether or not enemies think they have the upper hand. The Lord Jehovah will do all this effortlessly with divine jealousy (desire and passion), for His own people. This promise was sent to Israel but they now fail. In this way arrogant Ephraim and Samaria will look for victory against their own brethren (Judah), but will not find it. Their failure will cause them to crumble, whereas, after conflict, God’s faithful will rebuild with the finest cut stones and stout cedars. At their height, enemies will be cut down in God’s time and will fall to the dust. Thereby the reason to be faithful.

(Note that this section begins with the word ‘for’, a conjunction, which tells us that the prophecy about the child – Christ – was a result of, or follows on from, what was said previously. Christ would replace wars and horrors with His peace and spiritual power. But, not for a long while. In the case of Israelites, they brought harm upon their own selves and so needed judgment against them. They would not see the Messiah for about 700-800 years! But, it came about. We must live in the light of God’s promises as if they come straight away, but not being downcast when it happens later).

Verses 11-16

11. “Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12. The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
14. Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

Because of this prophecy of the Messiah, the people of God would suffer temporarily under attacks from the enemies, whom God would join together as one… Syrians, Philistines and some within Israel. This happens today, as mighty enemies join forces to drive out good, peace and truth; the result of our complacency, lawlessness and spiteful enemies within. Though enemies come from all sides, it was God Who brought them, so even when the physical enemies have brought destruction, God will still be angry. This is because His people refused to call on either the enemy or God for peace. Today, amidst mighty upheavals, the West has not learned its lesson, and place in power people whose lives are anti-God. Therefore, said God, He would ruin His people in one day! All strata of society would suffer – they sought support and help from those who were godless, so now they must suffer more. “The leaders do err” – very much so in our own day, too, yet people, including Christians, continue to follow! Not only that, but they actually vote for erring leaders, leaving God’s plan in the dust.

Verses 17-21

17. “Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18. For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19. Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21. Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”

The state of Israel and Judah was so bad, God had no happiness in the young, and had no mercy for those normally first to gain help – the widows and orphans. The fact that God stood back from those whom He normally helps is a sign of just how bad Israel and Judah were at that time. As we are told, “every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer”. How do we do ourselves in our own day? As virtuous, kind, loving, true? Are we wearing blinkers, or denying our own sins? How GOD sees us is very different. What we call holiness may be as filthy rags in His eyes. We must check ourselves every day, that we do not bring about His disfavour.

Isaiah speaks of a people burning with an active fire, that spreads everywhere with destruction because of their sin. The people themselves are the things burning; each is willing to throw his brethren into the smoke and flames. Many brethren today hate or spurn each other. Such will not be satisfied with what they have, and will take from others what does not belong to them (v20). And they will not understand that what they do is harmful to their own selves, even as they tear off and eat their own arms!

And so the tribe of Manasseh will try to devour Ephraim, and vice versa. And at the same time they will want to attack Judah. It is often true that enemies of different kinds will align to attack their common foe… but, after that, they will go back to attacking each other. And, because of such evil, God will continue to be angry, sending enemies to punish His own people. Can you see how this is happening today?

© 08 June 2026

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