19–The Glory of the Lord

The text saying In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali is making reference to several major events which occurred in this region seven hundred years before the birth of the Lord Jesus. This region was dark and despised until the light of the Lord Jesus appeared. The area between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean north of the Jezreel Valley had become a melting pot, with Hebrews, Canaanites, Arameans, Hittites, and Mesopotamians all contributing to the mix. This led to the region being called Galilee of the nations or Gentiles. Assyrians had ravaged the people and conducted a mass deportation and repopulation of the region with peoples from other areas in Mesopotamia (II Kings 15:29). As this book of Isaiah demonstrates God never permits a humiliation for which there is not a corresponding blessing and promise given. In this case it was the promise of the most magnificent appearance of the Shekinah Glory. Although the Shechinah appeared many times and in many light manifestations in the Old Testament this is the first appearance of the Shechinah Glory in the New Testament which is found in the second chapter of the book of Luke.