Shining Lights

Isaiah 9:2 KJV

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The picture represented in this passage speaks of Christ's dwelling in the northern part of Israel.

The history of that northern section was always "sketchy".

·         They were adherents to King Saul 's family even after it became clear God had replaced him with David.

·         They were never fully loyal to David even after he was crowned their king.

·         They finally separated from the David's family under Solomon's son, Rehoboam.

·         They never had a godly king in their entire history of independence from Jerusalem and

·         They were finally decimated by the Assyrians

In Jesus' day these were the backwards, uncultured of the Jews. Nathaniel expressed the mind of Jerusalem when he said "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" This would have been their thoughts not only of Nazareth but of all the Northern Kingdom area.

And yet it was to these

·         Often rebellious

·         Obviously uneducated

·         Offscouring of the Jews

that Jesus lived and preached and performed a large number of His miracles. These who walked in the darkest of their world saw the great light of Christ.

God will send us to walk in the dark places of the world that they two might see great light. Our neighborhoods, out places of employment, our nation may at times seem to be very dark. The elements of ungodliness may seem overwhelming. But God has us walking among them to be a light for Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.