The Child: Given to us
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7
9 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reading Questions: Who would God honor? (1) What would the people walking in darkness see? (2) What would be shattered? (4) Who would be born? (6) What would be the names by which the child is called? (6) What would there be no end to? (7) How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy from Isaiah?
- Verse 1: What area of Judea did Jesus come from? (Matthew 4:12-13)
- Verse 2: What did Jesus refer to himself as being? (John 8:12)
- Verse 4: What did Jesus say would set the people free? (John 8:32) What is a yoke and what does it do? What did Jesus say about his yoke? (Matt. 11:28) How is everyone under a yoke? (Rom. 6:15-23
- Verse 6: How do the names by which the child would be called relate to Jesus?
- Wonderful Counselor (John 16:12-15), Mighty God (John 14:6-7), Everlasting Father (John 16:28), Prince of Peace (John 16:33)
- Verse 7: Why is there no end to Christ’s kingdom? (John 18:36, 2 Peter 1:11)
Journal Writing: What is an important truth from the Bible reading? Why do you need to know that truth?
Application Prayer: Write out a prayer for God’s insight and help into how you can apply the truth from the reading.
Week’s Memory Verse: John 3:19-20.
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.