April 19, 2022: Day 84 – Isaiah 6-10 and Psalm 149

These chapters in Isaiah contains some of the most used Scriptures related to Christmas in the Old Testament that we have.  Before we get there, we have Isaiah’s commissioning in chapter 6 which kicks us off.  Notice that Isaiah was originally somewhat reticent to step forward as the one that God had chosen to give a message that was inherently not going to produce warm and fuzzy feelings.  If you look at vs.5 Isaiah objects to his status because he is a man of unclean lips, but nothing like a burning hot coal to remedy that situation.  He is made clean by God, that is our status as well.  On our own we can do nothing on God’s behalf, only by the grace and favor of God can we do anything.  It is also from here that we get one of our favorite hymns:  

Now to the Christmas references.  We find beginning in chapter 7 the sign of a young woman who is to give birth.  The NIV states “virgin” but in the Hebrew it is almah which means simply a young woman, who probably was a virgin.  Matthew’s story of the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary definitely defines her as a virgin.  But it is from here that the conception of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to the virgin Mary originates.  

Then in chapter 9 we have Handel’s Messiah spelled out, especially my favorite part of the Messiah which is seen in vs.6 of chapter 9.  I have to include it because it is my favorite part of the Messiah.  

That’s probably enough videos for today.  But what a great section of Scripture.  So many wonderful references to Christmas.