In fact, many of us have described this year in those terms. We use these words and phrases because they describe what many of us have experienced. We don’t tend to think that way, although we still use phrases such as, “It’s a dark time,” “The dark night of the soul,” “The dark side,” “I’m wandering around in the dark,” “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” and “I’m beginning to see the light.” They believed in the powers of darkness and the powers of light. The people living during that time, and on up to the time of Jesus, believed good and evil were equated with light and darkness. But in the darkness of despair, words of hope came to them. Powerful enemies had been trying to destroy them for centuries, and they were on the verge of destruction. The people who heard those words of God from that preacher needed to hear them because there was darkness all around them. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”Īnd as they say the rest is Bible history. 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.Ģ 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.ģ 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.Ĥ 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.ĥ For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.Ħ 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.ħ 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. And here are the words he gave them:ġ “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. But in the midst of those years of darkness, even before the worst had come, the people were offered hope.Ĭall him a singer, call him a preacher, or call him a prophet whatever you choose, he gave the Israelites words of hope. Eventually, even Jerusalem was overrun – the walls torn down and the temple destroyed. Both kingdoms fell and the people suffered the worst kind of defeat and agony. During a period of 150 years, both the northern and southern kingdoms were threatened by their enemies.
Similar to Jeremiah, where we were last week, the Book of Isaiah was written during a dark and dangerous time. So, if you have your copy of God’s Word, then let me invite you to turn with me to the book of Isaiah. On these Sundays of Advent, leading up to the season of Christmas and beyond, I want to share with you how the light of Bethlehem still shines on us. And today, that light of Bethlehem still shines on us. Over 2,000 years there’s never been a time when that light has gone out. The light of Bethlehem is an everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.Īnd as they say the rest is church history. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie Ībove thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. He wrote a song which has in it these words: He saw the lights of a small town, walked along its streets, and in those lights, he found hope again. He traveled to a place where he had never been before. But, he took some time off and went away on a trip. He was greatly depressed and almost gave up in despair.
He was on the verge of a complete breakdown. His name was Bill Anderson.Ī few years earlier, an Episcopalian minister in Boston worked himself to near exhaustion. One night when he was up there, he wrote a song called “City Lights.” And as they say the rest is country music history. He would look out over that little town and ponder. Sometimes, at night, he would crawl out of his window and sit on the roof of the hotel. He also got a room at a hotel in town and commuted to school, which was not far away. A student at The University of Georgia got a job as a disc jockey at a little radio station in Commerce, Georgia.
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