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. 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. (Isaiah 9:1-2, ESV)
According to John MacArthur, Zebulun and Naphtali on the northern border in northeast Galilee, west of the Jordan River, were the first to suffer from the invasion by the Assyrian king marking the beginning of dark days for Israel.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.—2 Kings 15:29
In earlier times, God treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make them honored by the presence of the Messiah. He would give them the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness...the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles would be made glorious. God would turn their dishonor to honor. Read Matthew 4:12-16 which quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 directly.
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(Matthew 4:12-17,ESV)
The coming of the Messiah brought the light of life into a very dark world. Today (9/11/20) meditate on the One in whom there is no darkness at all. The One who came to set us free from the power of darkness and convey us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them.—Isaiah 42:16
Indeed He says,
'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"—Isaiah 49:6
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.—Isaiah 58:8
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.—Isaiah 60:1-3
“The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the LORD will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.—Isaiah 60:19-20
In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].—John 1:4-5 AMP
