A Great Light in Deep Dark

Isaiah 9:1-7 November 28, 2021 preached by Pastor Doug Cooper Download Time of Reflection Quotations “Advent is a time of waiting, of expectation, of silence.” ~ Dorothy Day (1897-1980), American writer and social activist “None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can’t teach people […]

Isaiah 9:1-7

November 28, 2021

preached by Pastor Doug Cooper

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“Advent is a time of waiting, of expectation, of silence.”

~ Dorothy Day (1897-1980), American writer and social activist

“None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can’t teach people that – they have to learn by experience.”

“If men will not understand the meaning of judgement, they will never come to understand the meaning of grace.”

~ Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957), English writer and poet

“When I get into His presence, the whole world looks different. When I draw close to His heart, I find mercy when I know I deserve judgment; I find forgiveness for all my petty, selfish ways; I find grace for all my inadequacies; I find peace for my troubled heart; I find perspective for my distorted views. In Him, I find an eye in the midst of the storm.”

~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss (1958-present), American author & speaker

“If there does exist an absolute goodness it must hate most of what we do. This is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again… God is the only comfort; he is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again. They are still only playing with religion. Goodness is either the great safety or the great danger—according to the way you react to it. And we have reacted the wrong way.”

~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and Christian apologist

“A thrill of hope… the weary world… rejoices…

For yonder breaks… a new and glorious morn.”

~ Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), French poet and author, excerpt from “O Holy Night”

Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.