From darkness to light.

It's traditional for many, during the Christmas and New Year period, to listen to a performance of Georg Friedrich Handel's "Messiah". The complete libretto is taken directly from the Word of God, and the music is at times gentle; at times moving; at times, positively heavenly.

One well-known chorus is based on Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called 'Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'." 

This chorus is preceded by an aria based on Isaiah 9:2: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined."

The question may well be asked: "Who are these people?" This is why the previous verse should not be overlooked! It prophesies what will happen to those who are in the shadows. "But there will be no gloom for her that 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 will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations."

The tribal lands of Zebulun and Naphtali were in the fertile agricultural lands of northern Israel, a multi-ethnic area where many pagans had settled. The description here extends it west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the other side of the Jordan River. But its location put it on the immediate path of the Assyrians when they swept north to conquer Israel in 722 BC. These tribes were the first to experience the overwhelming cruelty of their conquerors. They certainly knew darkness, and gloom!

About seven hundred and fifty years later, Jesus began his teaching in Galilee, in the same part of Israel, a region despised by the religious élite of Jerusalem. Matthew points out that Jesus began here deliberately, to fulfil this prophecy (Matthew 4:13-16). In this "land of darkness", His message was heard by many Gentiles. He visited the pagan territory of the Gadarenes where He healed people possessed by demons (Matthew 8:28) and went to Tyre, on the Mediterranean coast, where He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28). His kingdom was not only available to the Jews, but to everyone, and that includes you and me! We may all be drawn into His glorious light.

Unlike the Assyrian warriors, the Messiah didn't sweep down with military force, but was born in humility as a child, bringing a kingdom where the poor, the meek, the hungry and the suffering would be the blessed. Unlike the Assyrian empire, His kingdom would have no end. As the Christmas season approaches, let us thank God the Father for "His inestimable gift" (II Cor. 9:15), Who has become the Saviour of all those who trust in Him.

  https://youtu.be/VmX52fHLFC4

  https://youtu.be/MS3vpAWW2Zc

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Letter from Israel.

It is no secret that I am a supporter of Israel.  I may not agree with every decision made by the various governments of the modern State of Israel , but, then again, I don't agree with every decision made by successive British governments - yet still consider myself to be as patriotic as the next man (and more patriotic than some of those in government!).

I am happy, therefore, to share part of an e-mail that I received from a Jewish friend, in response to one that I had sent to him.  In the light of the increasing isolation of Israel, by the international community, it makes very interesting reading.  Remember, the following is not written by a politician; it is not written by a journalist; it is not even written by a rabbi.  It is written by a retired gentleman who is enjoying a winter holiday in the land of his ancestors.  It is written by a contemporary eye-witness.  It is written as thoughts to a friend.  I believe that all of that gives it a credibility that many of the media reports seem to lack!

"I have received your e-mail whilst I am enjoying the sunshine and blue sky of Netanya, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, only 8 or so miles from the West Bank.... Now here's a thought ...  From a high floor of a multi-storey building I can see Tulkarm  in the West Bank!!  Hence Israel's preoccupation with security and the future of the West Bank.  Who wants Hamas on its doorstep ?  Even Egypt fears them because of their radical extreme Sharia regime record of judicial murder and intimidation. In fact Egypt has blocked all clandestine tunnels it can find allowing "free" movement between Gaza and Egypt.....in effect Egypt has blockaded Gaza but you don't hear anything of that in the Western Media, yet the opponents of Israel ignore the fact that humanitarian supplies are still reaching Gaza from Israel on a daily basis and  truckloads are getting through from Israel but not from Egypt.  Nor do you hear any outcry that Spanish checkpoints are now delaying movement of traffic for as long as three hours across the border to Gibraltar .... and just for political, not for security, reasons, whereas when Israel does it for security reasons and in doing so still apprehends persons with malicious intent, yet there is a wild outcry against Israel from people who ideologically oppose Israel's very existence." (emphases added).