Please read the passage before the commentary.
In the mid-eighth century before Christ, the Assyrians came down from the north and overran the northern most parts of the kingdom of Israel, the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. These areas were annexed to the Assyrian empire. To my knowledge there were never recovered by the people of Israel, but they were remembered for what they had been.
Isaiah was part of this collective memory of Zebulun and Naphtali. In the midst of the darkness of losing part of Israel, he hoped for a recovery of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. How he thought this would happen, we do not know. He did however give voice to his concern and hope. Despite the darkness of defeat and confusion, Isaiah could see a shining light and abundant joy.
Midian was the occasion of a great victory of the Israelites at the time of the Judges. Isaiah may have seen ultimate victory through the sign of Immanuel. Matthew sees its fulfilment in the preaching of Jesús in Galilee. How do we see it?
The prophet Isaiah spoke to his generation. His followers carried on his work for several generations after Isaiah. His memory continued in the book of his prophecies. The Gospel writers used his words to explain the person of Jesús Christ. The Gospel writers have passed the prophet Isaiah over to our generation for us to hear his words and for us to see how God gives light to our darkness and victory in our confusion.
Jesús called his first disciples to help bring the promise of Isaiah to fulfilment in his day. He is calling each one of us into that same work. He is not calling only priests to this work; he is calling all disciples into this work. It works something like the military. There are officers and enlisted people. There are gradations of ranks and positions so that there is adequate leadership and adequate work done. The leaders need followers and the followers need leaders, and together the tasks are done.
Today we are reclaiming Zebulun and Naphtali. Today we are celebrating victory at Midian. Today we are at our Sea of Galilee. Today we are called to give light to someone’s darkness, life to someone’s death, and joy to someone’s sorrow.January 25, 2026; Isaiah 8:33 9:3