C.I.T.—Isaiah encouraged Israel by promising God’s salvation.

C.I.S.—We must live on the promise of God’s salvation.

Purpose—I want us to find our confidence in life in God’s promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Introduction—Bon Jovi “Living on a Prayer”

The Promise of Salvation—vs 1
1. Isaiah preached during the 700s BC.
  1. Isaiah 1:1—During the reigns of Judah’s kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah
  2. During this time Israel was experiencing an invasion from the Assyrian Empire from the North.

Judah, under King Ahaz, was pro-Assyria and had entered into a pact with Assyria against Israel and Syria.

Those two nations attacked Judah, and from that attack came the prophecy of Immanuel and the virgin born child of Isaiah 7.
Assyrian invaded the north of Israel in 733 BC—2 Kings 15:29 describes this invasion.
From this relief, King Ahaz and Judah had a false sense of security, and brought further preaching from Isaiah.

Isaiah 8:5-8; 21-22
1. Assyria will not stop with the northern nation of Israel, but will invade Judah.
2. When that happens the people will look to wordly solutions, but all they will get will be darkness and gloom.
The promise of salvation.
1. Their light will not flicker
  1. Gloom refers to the darkening or dimming of light.
  2. It refers to their hope and wellbeing being snuffed out.
  3. As with Nephtali and Zebulun—these were the lands that Assyria conquered from Israel and are known collectively as Galilee.
  4. This flickering took place because He humbled them—the Lord brought destruction as a result of their sinful rebellion.
2. Instead of humility, they will be elevated.
  1. He will bring honor/pride to this same area.
  2. Assyria divided this land into three parts.
  3. In the same way that these lands were destroyed and salvation was promised, so would Judah be saved after destruction.

The destruction of Assyria served as a type of the destruction that people will face because of their sin, and this promise of salvation serves as a type or example of God’s gracious gift of salvation.
—Nazareth is the center of this land
Application
1. The gift of Jesus is a gift that was needed, not deserved.
2. Because we are in rebellion against God, we deserved to stay in darkness and gloom, yet He chose to send Jesus.

Is a Promise of Hope.—vs. 2
1. They were walking in darkness and the shadow.
  1. Darkness figuratively refers to lack of hope in the midst of disaster
  2. Second “darkness” translates shadow of darkness; deep inpenetrable darkness, Psalm 23—“Valley of the Shadow of Death”

A light will dawn
1. Use of the word light stems from the Sun rising in the dawn.
2. This light causes all darkness to fade away.

—Psalm 30:5
Application
1. Luke 1:78-79—Jesus is this light that brings hope.
2. We are in darkness because of our sin, and yet with the dawning of the Sun, we have hope.

Is a Promise of Joy.—vs. 3
1. Enlarged the nation
  1. The decimation of the population would result in great discouragement.
  2. However, the increase of the population would result in joy.

This was growing and exceeding joy, which would be the result of this salvation.

This joy exceeded all others.
1. Joy of the Harvest
2. Joy of the Spoil
—When Simeon encounters Jesus.--Pic
Application
1. The realization of this promise will bring great joy.
2. This type of joy can only be produced by Jesus Christ.
Is A Promise of Peace.--vs. 4-5
1. The Assyrians were oppressing Galilee because of Galilee’s rebellion against God.
  1. This oppression will be destroyed by this salvation
  2. Yok of his burden/rod of shoulder/rod of oppressor

Judges 6-8—Midian invades this area of Israel and God raises up Gideon to defeat them
In the same way that God brought deliverance through Gideon, He will do so again.

This brings peace.--Weapons for war are no longer needed, and are now used for firewood.
—Romans 5:1
Application
1. Our sin has brought a yoke of burden into our lives.
2. The wages of sin is death and the state of being lost without Jesus enslaves us to sin.

His salvation brings freedom from that slavery, reconciles us to God, and brings peace into our lives.

Conclusion

A promise made is great.
A promise kept is better.
God kept His promise at Christmas.
For those who have accepted Christ, this is a realized promise.
For those who haven’t, this is still a promise that is fulfilled when they give their lives to Jesus.