The Prophecy Continues to be Fulfilled!
The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned. Matthew 4:16
One of the features of the Gospel of Matthew is his use of the Old Testament. Different events in Jesus life are recorded. Then Matthew comments that this happened “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet.” Here Isaiah 9:1,2 related the area where the Messiah was going to concentrate his ministry. Zebulun and Naphtali were two of the tribes of Israel. The land allotment they received was in the northern end of Israel. Northern Israel was furthest removed from Jerusalem and the Temple. They were always the first area of Isarel to be attacked because Israel’s enemies, other than Egypt, always came from the north.
Because of the distance from the Temple that represented God’s presence with his people, Isaiah referred to that distance as darkness. Since they were the first to be attacked they lived in the shadow of death. But the day would come when this would no longer be the case.
Jesus is the Light of the world! As Jesus caried out his ministry, he was fulfilling the Word of God. God had promised his salvation. He gave his people many promises of what the Messiah would do. By fulfilling them, Jesus was proving that he truly is the One that God had promised.
That means that to this day the prophecy continues to be fulfilled. Jesus is and remains the Light of the world. Wherever that Gospel is proclaimed and the message is believed, these words are fulfilled. Without Jesus we are a people dwelling in darkness. By nature we are in the shadow of death. But Jesus is the Light!
Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing that Light of your love and forgiveness. Keep me in that saving faith. Amen.