Many in our country struggle with trusting our governmental leaders. In October of this year, a Gallup poll noted that the approval rating of Congress is 21%, the lowest it’s been all year (Forbes, 10/26/2021). Over the past 15 years, our country has grown more polarized politically. Every political figure is elected based on certain values people and political bases represent. Some want the government to provide every service and to tell them what the next steps should be, while others are on the other end and want the government to stay out of their lives (except for defense) and do not want the government telling them anything at all. Both sides are unhappy, both sides feel as if they are walking in darkness.

So did God’s people in Isaiah. In Isaiah 8, Assyria had employed a scorched-earth policy on the northern tribes of Israel (around 734-732 BC). The Northern Kingdom had failed to seek the things of God and, as God promised, He would bring about consequences for their rebellion and chase after false gods to bring them to repentance and to put the watching nations on notice. Read with me Isaiah 8:22-9:1:

And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. 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 (Isaiah 8:22-9:1).

On this 3rd week of Advent, we approach a passage ripe with the fruit of Christ’s coming–a bringing of his people from gloom to glory through this Light which was to come. And we have a choice of how we will walk and what leaders we will trust. J.A. Motyer, who wrote the commentary on Isaiah, noted:

As always, the people of God must decide what reading of their experiences they will live by. Are they to look at the darkness, the hopelessness, the dreams shattered and believe that God has forgotten them? Or  are they to recall his past mercies, to remember his present promises and make great affirmations of faith?

Because there is a governmental structure we can trust, Christ the Light of the World allows us to walk in peace, a peace that will increase as we walk to and walk in the light. Unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given! This government is all on His shoulders.