[soc.religion.christian] E. Germany and Isaiah 9:2

MATH1H3%JANE@uhvax1.uh.edu (David H. Wagner) (11/14/89)

	The people walking in darkness
	have seen a great light;
	on those living in the land of the shadow of death
	a light has dawned.
------Isaiah 9:2
	These words were recalled to my mind by the recent events in East 
Germany.  The power of the oppressor is broken!  What good news!  I recall
that I also thought of these words when Ferdinand Marcos resigned.  There is
a natural connection between this prophecy of Isaiah and man's desire for 
freedom from oppression.
	Yet, if we think soberly on this, we realize that life in the 
Phillipines is only somewhat improved, and the people of East Germany certainly
face difficult challenges and more hard times before their lot is really 
improved.  So it might be worthwhile to look at the broader context of this
passage.
	Verse 1 of Isaiah 9 says: 
	"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in 
distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea,
along the Jordan--"

	Verse 6 and 7 are very well known to Handel fans:

	For to us a child is born,
	to us a son is given,
	and the government will be on this shoulders.
	And he will be called 
	Wonderful Counselor,
	Mighty God,
	Everlasting Father,
	Prince of Peace.
	Of the increase of his government and peace
	there will be no end.
	He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
	establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
	from that time on and forever.
	The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

	So even though verse two resonates with our feelings concerning 
political freedom, it is really a part of an important prophecy concerning
the Messiah, the Christ.  It says that the Messiah will come to Galilee.
It says, very clearly, that the Messiah will be born as a humon infant, but
will also be true God -- although most Jews will surely disagree.  It also 
says the Messiah will reign forever -- which we understand to be in heaven, over
God's kingdom in heaven and earth.  In short, it is a prophecy fulfilled
perfectly by Jesus, and only one of many.

	The oppression that Jesus freed us from is not the oppression of human
dictators, (although we will certainly and finally be freed of them at the
resurrection) but it is the oppression of Satan.  No amount of political 
freedom or material prosperity can make us truly happy, because we will 
always, while this world endures, have our own sins and the sin-full world 
around us to make us miserable.  But out of love and mercy Jesus freely gives 
us the freedom that is more precious than coutless jewels, freedom from Satan
and sin.  As Luther wrote in "A Mighty Fortress is Our God:"

	The old evil foe
	Now means deadly woe.
	Deep guile and great might
	Are his dread arms in fight
	On earth is not his equal.

	With might of ours can naught be done
	Soon were our loss effected.
	But for us fights the Valiant One
	Whom God Himself elected.
	Ask ye, who is this?
	Jesus Christ it is.
	Of Sabbaoth Lord
	And there's none other God.
	He holds the field forever!

David H. Wagner
My opinions and beliefs are completely seperated from my employer's
lack thereof.

eliot@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Eliot Smyrl) (11/17/89)

In article <Nov.13.11.56.21.1989.4984@athos.rutgers.edu> MATH1H3%JANE@uhvax1.uh.edu (David H. Wagner) writes:
>
>	The people walking in darkness
>	have seen a great light;
>	on those living in the land of the shadow of death
>	a light has dawned.
>------Isaiah 9:2
>	These words were recalled to my mind by the recent events in East 
>Germany.  The power of the oppressor is broken!  What good news!

In a somewhat ironic twist on this, and somewhat in line with the point
of David's article, I've heard news recently to the effect that the Church
in East Germany is much stronger than that in West Germany, where worship
services/masses are held with very light attendance.  The breaking of the wall
thus holds hope for those living on both sides.  Christians around the world
can pray that the strength of faith found in East Germany will "infect"
West Germany - and even all of Europe! - at the same time that political
reforms spread in Eastern Europe.

Eliot Smyrl
ucbvax!pixar!eliot