The previous chapter ended with an ominous threat of “distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish” (8:22).The Assyrian army was already invading. In fact, Zebulun and Naphtali, two of Israel’s northernmost tribes, had already suffered the onslaught. But a bright ray of hope shines at the start of Isaiah 9. It’s the promise of a new era which will dawn right there in Galilee, where the nations had often trampled God’s people. Seven centuries after this prophecy, the thick darkness was replaced with the joyful light of heavenly glory as Jesus began His ministry along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Far from being annihilated or erased from history, the nation of Israel was multiplied into a great multitude from every tribe and tongue. And as believers in Jesus, we are those rejoicing before Him, forever grateful for His goodness and grace (v 1-3). Though we were powerless to accomplish our own salvation, “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” And surprisingly, God’s grace will triumph through the gift of a Child. As a royal Son, Jesus’ counsel is wise, His power is divine, His love is fatherly, and His rule creates peace. Not only will His kingdom succeed, it will expand forever, with every moment better than the last (v 4-7). Through Jesus, God does give us an endless kingdom of peace. But when we sin, there are always consequences. In Isaiah’s day, the northern kingdom of Israel had already rejected God and His ways, choosing instead the path of human arrogance. For their stubbornness, God will send His firm wrath. Judgment was already falling upon them in stages, but there is no sorrow over sin, no sign of turning to God. Each national calamity produces only a superficial response. Self-confident and spiritually blind, their great need of repentance never even occurs to them (v 8-12). So what will God do with those who refuse to seek Him even when their society is collapsing and complete devastation is on the horizon? The answer is given in a repeated refrain: “For all this His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still” (v 12, 17, 21). As one translation puts it, “Even then the LORD’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike” (NLT). God was determined to act in judgment. His patience was at an end. This generation would not get another chance. Their day of grace was over. Ultimately the Assyrian army will obliterate the northern kingdom. The primary responsibility falls on unfaithful leaders (v 13-17), and God will display His wrath by the searing power of the people’s own sins. The nation will self-destruct as “wickedness burns like a fire” (v 18-21). For further meditation: