Justice, Law, History
God Requires Justice
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Isaiah 9:1-7 The Message
A Child Has Been Born—for Us!9 But there’ll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier, he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he’ll make that whole area glorious—the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee. 2-7 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and clubs and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
For Reflection
God's plan to introduce Jesus was unexpected by the Jews and even the angels. No one on Heaven or Earth would have predicted the birth of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, some of the Jewish Nation saw the revelation of God and were accepting. Others who had lived for generations under the law of the Torah were aghast.
The Gentiles were ecstatic. They had lived at the foot of the Hebrew wall that kept them at arm's length from God and longing to be included in the chosen. But, when God played the Jesus card, Jew and Gentile were no longer separate peoples. Pagans and Hebrews had an equal share in God's inheritance.
Before the Christ event, God was unseen and not knowable. In Jesus, all were looking face-to-face at God and did not die. The Mysterious God was knowable in Human form. Now The hearts of all people were enlightened when they heard the truth made flesh. All people who believed were included in the Kingdom of God and marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. PrayPraise God for the gift of Jesus. Sing songs of Joy. Celebrate with loud cymbals. Dance to the sweet music of justice and peace.
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