Exegesis Of Isaiah 9: 2-7

Isaiah 9:2-7 is a messianic prophecy and a song of thanksgiving. This passage tells of a child that is to be born and that will save the kingdom of Judah. He will be the savior. Although the prophecy will be fulfilled it will not be in the timing of the people. God’s timing will reign, and the prophecy will be fulfilled in a peculiar way, to human standards. Despite the fact that the prophecy has already been fulfilled there are still lessons that the modern church can take from this passage. The backdrop of Isaiah 9:2-7 is that Ahaz, king of Judah, and the kingdom itself is facing potential, impending doom from Israel and Syria. Due to the threat Israel and Syria hold king Ahaz is considering enlisting the aid of Assyria to ensure the protection of the kingdom. The reason why the king of Judah is considering this is because he fears for his own safety and the safety of his kingdom. Despite the oncoming danger, Isaiah calls for king Ahaz to stand firm in his faith and to refuse to collaborate with Assyria

2-5 depict the significance of the predicted birth of the promised child (Christ). The child is not an ordinary child; instead the child holds the key to the salvation of all. He is the coming Messiah; he will be their saving grace, their freedom. Verses 2-3 talks about the joy that they will receive with the coming birth of the child saying that, “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”. The people are hopeful now, but no human knew the timing of this child’s birth or that around seven hundred years would have to pass before he was born. Little to their knowledge their salvation that rests in the birth of Christ would not save them from the fall of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel