Isaiah 9:1-7  Isaiah had described the darkest of times, filled with distress and "the gloom of anguish". (8:22)  And, once again the Lord gave him a glimpse of hope for the future.  This passage thrills our hearts for we know that it was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to be the "Prince of Peace.. " and "the Light of the world." 

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them."  v2 

Darkness -the Hebrew word here is 'choshek'  - darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.   The "dark land" is the shadow of death,  the grave.   It is a place without hope.  It was where  the people of Israel and Judah lived during Isaiah's day.  It was the place where the people in Israel lived during the days before Jesus came.  They were so far from what the Lord had promised for them, what He desired to give them... for they had turned away from Him, unwilling to serve the God who loved them.  It is a place that.. more and more.. describes the world in which we live. 

God is always associated with light.  From the beginning, when the earth was first created.. empty and dark, He sent light. "Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good;" (Gen. 1:3-4)  James wrote, "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down form the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." ( 1:17)  Paul wrote, "For God, who said 'Light shall shine out of darkness' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 

 John wrote, "In Him ( Jesus) was life and the life was the light of men. and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."  Light - shines.  It manifests itself. It overcomes darkness.  Darkness cannot overpower it. John was continually  focused on the Light.. "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. " (I John 2:5)

Jesus, Himself, proclaimed that the words of Isaiah were fulfilled in Him. ( Matthew 4:13-17)  And in John 8:12 we read, "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

John continued his message in I John 1.. "If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 

Father in heaven, God of all creation, You are perfect Light, and in You there is no darkness!  Hallelujah! We praise You. We give thanks to You.  We can confidently and continually trust in Your goodness and love. We thank You for sending Jesus, the light of the world, to come and bring life to us. We abide in Him, Who is the "radiance of [Your] glory".  Jesus, " Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace, "  King forever.  Help us to walk in Your Light.. every moment, every day.. forever and ever..  Lord, bless us and keep us, shine Your face on us, be gracious to us, lift up Your countenance on us and give us peace.  In the name of Jesus Christ, our eternal Light. Amen.