Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!
We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!
The Passage
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
The Questions
1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?
2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?
3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?
The Findings for Intention
1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?
Isaiah was writing to Jews who were under the constant threat of being invaded by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were their enemies and they were a fierce and cruel enemy who showed little mercy to those they conquered. The fear of the Assyrians had them walking in darkness, but they were also walking in deep spiritual darkness. Most of Judah and Israel at that time were practicing some form of idolatry or personal or political immorality.
2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?
The whole goal of Isaiah’s book was to turn the Israelites back to Jehovah. At that time, a handful of people were starting to realize that their only hope was in God. Isaiah was warning his listeners and encouraging them to follow God in the midst of the Assyrian invasions, to hold fast to Truth. God was the only Light in that dark world, and He is the only Light in ours! Isaiah was prophesying that Jesus was coming from Heaven to enter into this dark world.
3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?
The word Wonderful is a word used to represent something unusual or extraordinary. A Counselor is someone who advises someone else, so Wonderful Counselor is an extraordinary advice giver. Mighty means strong, fearless, brave. This Light that would come into the world was no wimpy God. God was, is, and always will be, our Father. Prince of Peace means captain of tranquility. This particular name would have meant so much to the Jews who were in constant worry and despair of being overcome by their enemies.
The Everyday Application
1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?
Today, many walk in darkness. There are the lost, those who have no hope of eternal life. There are people who are living in sin who haven’t seen the Light yet. However, Jesus didn’t just come for them. He also came to bring Light into the life of Christians. As Christians living in the world, it can feel very dark. We, too, have an enemy that comes to kill, steal, and destroy us. Our land feels very dark as we watch the news or listen to what’s going on around us. Our hope lies in the Light that has already come.
2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?
Jesus came into the world to bring Light into the darkness. He came into each of our lives to shine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control into the darkest parts of our souls. When we feel like the enemy is oppressing us, remember the truth that God’s powerful Spirit lives within us; “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4) His Light shines from within us to a dark world. In a sense, we have become the Light of Christ. We are His body, and He deeply desires to use us in our dark world today!!
3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?
When the world seems dark, the best place to run is into the Light of God’s Word. The extraordinary advice that God gives through the pages of Scripture makes Him a Wonderful Counselor. His Holy Spirit residing in us, His mere presence, is enough to sustain us through anything we’re going through. He is strong and He will fight our battles for us. He is not powerless or lazy, but mighty and fierce! Before God was anything, He was a Father. He has eternally been a father, and a good one at that. Whenever I’m weary, I like to climb up into my Daddy’s lap and let Him sing over me. There’s something so soothing about His voice as He tells me everything will be okay because He already has it all worked out through His Son. And last, but not least, He is Prince of Peace. In the middle of the darkest storms of my life, my Prince rides in on a white horse bringing peace to the deepest parts of my soul. When the darkness surrounds me and I feel like I will drown, His peace floods my soul because He is near, and He came into this dark world to be the Light in the middle of any dark situation I might be in. He truly is the Prince of Peace! Peace that surpasses all understanding!!
Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join the friends at the GT Facebook Community!
I Can Do That!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!
The Community!
Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into
Worship II Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion.
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
The Tools!
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources. Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
The Why!
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.
Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Worship II!
I love what you said about God being mighty, not wimpy. I’m so thankful for His strength that sustains me!
I love how you pose the questions and then use the answers for two different questions. That’s great for application for other scripture, too!
Yes! This is a great study tool for all of Scripture – understanding the original context is key to understanding how we can apply and live it out!
Thank you for showing the original meaning and the modern connections! It makes things so much clearer!
It truly does! When we remember that the Bible was written originally to its first audience and work to see things through their eyes and ears, Scripture becomes much more clear!
I find so much comfort in all of these names! I often refer to God as Father during prayer and journaling but I experience His peace and counsel on a daily basis. Thank you for the depth of your articles.
I reference Him as Father as well, Melissa. I’ve found it a good tool to expand my journal time to include other names. I love that He offers all of Himself to us!
I find it so good for my soul to rehearse the names of God!!
Wonderful counselor! One of my favorite names of God. We tend to forget that we have a God who wants to intercede and meet with us. Love these Devo’s, very well done.
One of my favorites as well, Hannah! Such a very personal Savior who loves us so tenderly
I love that Jesus is the Wonderful Counsellor. Running to Him is so important. Great application!
What a precious grace gift of true access straight to Him!
Such an organized well thought out explication of those passages. Thank you for the in depth look. Isaiah is one of my favorite books.
There is such beauty and richness there! What a gift to dig for treasure!
I can’t wait until God’s timing for when my current horrific trial is over. I’m so exhausted. Some day God will come through. I must be patient through suffering.
Oh Susan! My heart aches for you. We all certainly walk through such dark times. Praying for renewal of your soul and comfort for your heart.
The names of God are so comforting because He embodies so much for us. He’s able to help us and care for us in any situation!
I love that His ability to fulfill goes far beyond my need!