Isaiah 9- Christmas Eve- When You Can Really Be Home

Hope In Tigard

There is a lot in Isaiah 9:2-8 that just comforts me to my core. There’s the light that shines in a dark place- it gets me that I don’t have to be the light. That gets me right in the heart because as a pastor, I have the privilege of talking to so many people who are despairing in so many ways, and so this gets me- that when I read this text, I don’t have to be the light for anyone- I just get to see it and experience it.
And there’s the part in this text with the rod, and the bar, and the yoke- that part gets me right in the heart too because those things promise that God is going to take the things that hurt you and he’s going to shatter them. He’s going to take the things that oppress your mind and hurt you- he’s going to destroy them. That gets me.
And the four names for Jesus, they get me- that there are four. You know how usually, you have the law of three to express something so that it’s complete. Isaiah uses four because there is something about Jesus that is so majestic and so huge and unfathomable about what he means for your life that even four names fail to communicate who he is. And the fact that Jesus’ reign is going to go on and on forever, that gets me because I know that I am going to be with Jesus forever.
But of all the things in this text that get me- it’s the burning shoes in verse 5 that get me the most. The burning boots through which Isaiah is telling the people- you're not going to have to fight anymore. There's going to be a perfect peace.
It's the same for you and for me. We're going to be able to burn our boots. We're going to have perfect peace. And here's why:

6 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.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.

Come home in your heart this Christmas. All the way home.