December 4th

Daily Reading

Isaiah 11:1

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

Matthew 2:23

So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Isaiah 9:1-2

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.

Matthew 4:13-16

 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
    a light has shined.”

(Readings taken from Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/ New Living Translation)

The flicker of Hope

The imagery of a light in darkness is captivating.

When I was little, my Mum would tell me :

“nothing changes in the dark, everything is just as it was when the lights were on.”

It’s true. But something about darkness haunts us. Casts a shadow of doubt. Causes us to forget what exists in the light.

Darkness is oppressive.

The Israelite people had long lived through darkness. We have read of the brokenness and depravity casting its dark shadow on the world through the introduction of sin. The weight of bitterness. The destruction of anger. The pain of the atrocities experienced by God’s people.

Yet in the midst of the darkness, these prophecies act as a flickering light. A promise that the darkness will not consume them.

The prophet Isaiah passionately declares, “that time of darkness will not go on forever.”

The disciple John in his beautifully poetic introduction to his own eye witness account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah wrote:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

I am encouraged as I remember this truth. Nothing changed in the darkness – God was still present. Watching, speaking, orchestrating His plan. Sparking hope in the hearts of many.

At times, it continues to feel as though the darkness might overwhelm us – but we can take great courage this Advent season as we anchor our hope in the truth.

The Light has shined! It continues to shine. And the darkness shall not overcome it.