Hope in the Darkness

Caleb Suko

Looking at our world today, the situation saddens us. In 2021, military conflicts were fought in 55 countries in our world — that’s 28% of all countries!

The number of deaths in conflicts in 2021

• Afghanistan -more than 40,000
• Yemen -more than 20,000
• Ethiopia/Sudan 18,000
• Mexico -more than 7,000

These figures do not speak of routine murders, unborn child abortions, sexual violence, and other violence that occurs every day and every minute in all countries of our world!

The number of victims is incalculable. Even when we try to understand the amount of pain in our world, we realize that this is impossible for us, we do not want to dwell on these thoughts for a long time, because they are unpleasant and uncomfortable, and causes deep sadness and a feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness in us!

Although, in order to understand the problem in our world, one does not have to go far beyond the framework of our personal life. Our family personally lost one member to the Iraq War in 2006 — It was my sister’s husband. I am sure that the sorrow and grief of war and violence once touched you and your family.

But my sermon today is about hope, so why talk about grief? In order to understand the hope that Yeshua gives us, we must first try to understand the hopelessness in our world and how serious this issue is for us.

Some people try to hide this grief. They live their lives in isolation from the troubles of others. They don’t watch the news or think about the distress around them. As long as they have money and health, everything seems more or less normal and even optimistic. And so a person will not be able to live long, sooner or later grief will find him.

Others live constantly in despair and sadness. Their life is not easy and they are familiar with trouble and violence. They do not see a way out, and they are disillusioned with life. But there is also a third type of person, a person who may have gone through trouble in life and nevertheless did not lose hope. He holds this hope tightly in the depths of his heart and it gives him the strength to continue, to go forward and not to fall into despair.

Today we will talk about this hope.

Introduction to the Text

Isaiah was a prophet who lived around 700 BC. For 50 years, he preached God’s Word to people warning them about the imminent war in their country and exhorting them to repent before God.

He wrote one of the richest books in the Bible.

• His prophetic prose and poetry have a high level of literary value.
• Of all the Bible books, his book has the largest vocabulary.
• His speech is rich, deep, and touching.
• He doesn’t talk around the bush but shoots right in the heart of the person.
• He calls things by their names:
• Adultery -adultery
• murder-murder,
• lying-lying
• sin-sin.

See how he describes the moral condition of Israel at that time.

Isaiah 1:21–23 NIV — 21 See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers! 22 Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. 23 Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

Unfortunately, not much has changed in the last 2,700 years!

But if we think that this only concerns princes and governments, this is not the case! Often in his book Isaiah draws our attention to the fact that every person living on earth has one deep and serious problem!

Isaiah 53:6 NIV — 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 64:6–7 NIV — 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.

This is the real reason for all wars. Behind every war there is a man with an unclean and stained heart. The cause of wars is people — it is sin that has defiled our hearts.

But this sin not only creates wars and conflicts, it also…

• destroys marriages and families
• separates friends
• shatters our world in many ways

Let’s talk about hope already. If the whole problem is in the heart of a person, then the solution to our problem must come from another source. Those. two soiled rags can’t clean each other! Also, if there is hope for humanity, it should have the power to change the hearts of a person and make these changes last forever!

The prophet Isaiah not only writes about the problem with people, but also gives us hope.

Isaiah 9:2–3 NIV — 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 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.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV — 6 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. 7 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.

This prophecy about the Messiah gives hope.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given

The birth of a child and especially a son always gives some hope, but there is a unique son here. further we will see that he has not ordinary characteristics, which cannot be in a common person.

This is a royal speech that speaks of the birth of a king. All hope is concentrated in one person The “Son.” Here it is the Lord God speaking, so we can say that this is his Son!

Luke 1:35 NIV — 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

John 3:16 NIV — 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The government will be on his shoulders

Today everyone is chasing power. People fight for power, they lie, deceive and kill for the sake of power. Because of the race for power, many innocent people are tormented. The struggle for power is scary.

Here we have hope — this person will not fight in order to take power, but the power will already be with him.

The topic of power was a hot topic in the ministry of Jesus Christ

Matthew 7:28–29 NIV — 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 21:23 NIV — 23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Why could Jesus calmly react to the accusation against him when he went to the cross? He knew that his power was higher, they were all under his power!

What hope does this power give us?

1. Hope that power is in the hands of a kind and meek Shepherd who loves us!
2. Hope that his power and no one can steal this power from him
3. Hope that he will not give this power to another

This power is the reason why we can tell others about the Good News.

Matthew 28:18–19 NIV — 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• It is not limited
• not only in heaven
• not only on earth
• not only now

This power strengthens our faith and destroys fear in us, knowing that our savior is over all …

Ephesians 1:21 NIV — 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

He will be called

The name is important, especially the name of a ruler, it should characterize him. Earlier we read that his will be Immanuel, which means “God is with us”

Isaiah 7:14 NIV — 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Often the king had several names to give a complete picture of not only his character, but his abilities and capabilities. Here we see 5 names, each giving us hope. Some Hebrew language specialists believe that this list should sound like one long name

פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ, אֵל גִּבּוֹר, אֲבִי-עַד, שַׂר-שָׁלוֹם

Wonderful פֶּלֶא

Wonderful is not just unusual as we often say about a cute child.

This is a frequently used word in relation to God.

Exodus 15:11 NIV — 11 Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Wonderful is the ability to work miracles!

We Need Miracles

Our salvation is the greatest miracle!

Counselor יוֹעֵץ

This speaks of his knowledge and his wisdom. In any war, the one with more information about the enemy usually wins. Advice is more than information — it is the ability to convey this information to another in a way that will be useful to him.

James 1:5 NIV — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

God Almighty אֵל גִּבּוֹר

Means strong, mighty, champion

Mary sang about El Gibor

Luke 1:49–51 NIV — 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

It is not enough that God only loves us, He must have the power to save us. To destroy the enemy, keep us and protect us from everything that is against us.

Everlasting Father אֲבִי-עַד

A prince or king has power only when he is alive! The best king can reign for a maximum of 60 years. Our God is eternal. His power never disappears.

Hebrews 13:8 NIV — 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Prince of Peace שַׂר-שָׁלוֹם

Shalom is much deeper than the concept of “peace”

• completeness, perfection, well-being
• security and health
• well-being, prosperity,
• strong relationships
• our relationship with God
• peace (from war)
• Peace in people
• peace of mind

There are 3 types of shalom

1. peace with the neighboring countries
2. peace with my personal neighbors
3. peace with my God

Jesus’ ability to bring light to a dark world because of his ability to bring peace to our hearts by giving us the greatest of all peaces, peace with God Himself.

Eph 2: 12–14

12 that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the society of Israel , were alien to the covenants of promise, had no hope and were atheists in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For He is our peace, who made both of them one and destroyed the barrier that stood in the middle,

We may still live in a dark world of wars, crimes, and pain. But we have hope, we have a light that brings peace from the inside out. May we this Christmas season be reminded of the hope we have in the Prince of Peace!