The Promise and the Way He Kept It

 

Yongsung Kim

The Promise and the Way He Kept It

Isaiah 9:2-7

 

The people that walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

upon them a light has shined.

 

You have multiplied the nation,

and increased it's joy;

they rejoice before you according to the joy of harvest,

as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

 

For You have broken the yoke of his burden

and the staff of his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle,

and garments rolled in blood

will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a Son is given;

and the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful,

Counselor,

the Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

the Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,

upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

to order it and establish it with judgement and justice 

from that time forward, even forever.

the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.

 

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Isaiah as a poet, well, if there ever were a Poet of Hope, he's It. No one stirs the heart and raises the courage like him. Every single line, one after the other, is as strong and true as it ever was - look how these words have weathered Time. 

If I was feeling worn down and discouraged by the state of the world, and someone were to say this poem aloud, it would stop me cold. Everything true and enduring and worthwhile would flood back into me in a transfusion of hope.

As the light breaks into the darkness, so the poem breaks into the despair.

The people living in oppression and suffering, the people battling and bleeding, the people struggling against insurmountable odds - are given a promise of freedom, and a kingdom of continuing and increasing justice. 

They will rejoice before God like people bringing in an overflowing harvest, like people dividing the spoil after winning a battle. And all the devastation of war, all the spilled blood and the implements of violence, will be used as fuel for fire. 

A new age will come. With the birth of a child. 

The Prince of Peace.

Emmanuel, God with us.

Jesus.

 

No poem more beautiful.