Isaiah 9:1–7 (NIV)
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
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. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
CONSIDER THIS
This is one of the signature passages of Advent. It’s vintage Isaiah, a poetic vision of the hope realized in the arrival of Jesus. We return to it year after year. We read and sing and preach the familiar themes about Galilee and the great light and the government on his shoulders. And Handel’s Messiah starts to play in our heads on loop. It just happened to you right now, didn’t it?
But in the midst of this passage is a reference in verse 4 to a person we don’t often associate with the season. He gets no shout-out in our carols, no mention in our Christmas cards, no bathrobe cameo in our Nativity plays. But Isaiah says that the arrival of our rescue will be like another Gideon moment. He compares the coming of our Savior to what he calls “the day of Midian’s defeat.”
This line refers back to Judges 6 and 7 when Israel was being oppressed by their enemy Midian. Though their sin and rebellion invited this judgment, God in his unrelenting mercy raised up yet another rescue for his people. Once again, he selects an unlikely leader armed with an unexpected instrument to carry out his unconventional strategy.
Gideon reduces his army to a mere three hundred men and camps outside of the Midian stronghold. At the Lord’s direction, they enact a ridiculous battle plan, consisting of smashing clay pots, blowing trumpets, and holding up torches. Against all odds, the inspired plan actually works. The mighty army of Midian is thrown into confusion and fear, turning on each other in the chaos and destroying itself before Gideon’s army raises a sword or draws an arrow.
Isaiah tells us that Advent is like that. The arrival of our rescue in Jesus is an echo of what God did for Israel through Gideon. But as in the day of Midian’s defeat, we are shocked when we consider the strategy he employs to break our oppression and overthrow the threat against us. We lean in to hear the battle plan, the tactical genius of our Mighty Warrior. And equipped with the strength of angel armies, he goes with this: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”
We rejoice as Israel did because, like them, we have known the night. We have felt the weight of the yoke, splintered by the bar, broken by the rod. We rejoice because the strong one has come to shatter them. We have been crushed by the warrior’s boot. That is our blood on their garments. So we rejoice when we see them go up in flames.
But our rejoicing is only matched by our wonder. We’ve been watching for our rescue. But we never saw this coming. Wilder than clay pots and torches, we get a virgin singing a lullaby over a manger. A baby cries in the night and hell trembles at the sound. For as in the days of Midian’s defeat . . . it’s a story only he could write.
THE PRAYER
God of angel armies, give me eyes to see you moving in ways I could never expect.
THE QUESTION
What unconventional strategy is Jesus employing in your life right now? What Gideon moment do you need? Where are you overmatched and underequipped and in desperate need of his help? Have you asked him for it? Bonus question: Who is going to write the first Advent hymn featuring Gideon?
For the Awakening,
Matt LeRoy
P. S. WAKE-UP CALL CHRISTMAS PARTY
On Monday night, December 18, 7–8 p.m. (CST) join J. D. Walt, friends, and special guests for Advent awakening encouragement, Christmas carol singing, testimony, and prayer. Bring your own hot chocolate! Here’s the link.
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5 Responses
Many kings were first babies.
Only one baby was first a King!
Staying 💪’n Christ
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, stay strong in the Lord and in His mighty power
This view about how Jesus would gain victory over Satan, the unbelieving world, and our own sinful flesh by coming to us as an infant clothed in frailty is a reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus gained victory for our redemption not through raw power and violence, but rather through divine love portrayed by death on a cross. In the same way, I believe that the current stripping away of the power, prestige and influence of the Institutional Church, is a Gideon moment in preparation of a mighty work of God. When His victory is accomplished, it will be God who receives the glory and not a human institution.
Beautifully spoken, Bob!
God’s “unconventional strategy” is hidden by our use of the word church and our neglect of the meaning of the New Testament Greek word that church replaced. Church means: A building where people gather for sermons and ceremonies, a religious organization, or the organization’s members that gather in the building.
The Greek word ekklesia, however, has a completely different meaning. It is the proper name of the participatory town hall meeting in ancient Greek cities where any citizen could share what was on his heart. That’s the “unconventional strategy” that Jesus revealed when He, referring to the rock of direct, personal revelation from God, said: “I will build My ekklesia.” Christ’s unconventional strategy is to invite people to gather in His presence and to say and do whatever He prompts them to as they are led by His Spirit (See Matthew 16, Romans 8:14 and 1 Corinthians 14:26.)
Watching the Light of Christ shinning in and through ordinary people will produce awe and wonder. It will transform even the gloom and doom of deep darkness into joy and delight. Gather with some Christ-followers as each person present listens to the living Jesus and then shares and does what Jesus tells them to. Let the risen Jesus reveal His passionate and caring zeal for you by opening your heart and blasting away the burdens that bar you from receiving His Light and rejoicing in His love.
Let’s trumpet this thought!
Spirit-prompted child-like innocence will break the hardened clay pots that surround our hearts. Gather with a few Christ-followers and give it a try.