Narrative Lectionary 643 (NL411): Isaiah: A Child is Born - November 16, 2025

Working Preacher's Narrative Lectionary

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore Isaiah 9 in this week's Narrative Lectionary podcast. Moving from the northern prophets to the southern kingdom, the hosts examine Isaiah's vision of hope and justice centered in Jerusalem.

This familiar passage—"For unto us a child is born"—is often associated with Advent and Handel's Messiah, but what did it mean in its original context? The conversation unpacks Isaiah's prophecy during a time of Assyrian invasion, the connection to King Hezekiah's reign, and the enduring themes of justice (mishpat) and righteousness (tzedekah) that echo through the prophetic tradition.

The hosts wrestle with the tension between Isaiah's vision of endless peace and our present reality of ongoing conflict. How do we hold both the promise of Christ's birth and the "not yet" fulfillment of complete peace? Discover how prophetic hope functions not as self-generated optimism, but as a shaft of light piercing the darkness—God's future breaking into our present and pulling us forward.

This episode offers fresh perspective on a well-known text, connecting it to David's covenant, the broader prophetic witness, and the already-but-not-yet reality of God's kingdom.

TIMECODES: 00:00 Introduction to Isaiah and Prophetic Themes 03:05 The Context of Isaiah's Message 05:58 The Dissonance of Promise and Reality 09:01 Hope Amidst Darkness

🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers.

🔗 Find more episodes and resources here: https://www.workingpreacher.org/.

Follow along with the commentary on Isaiah 9:1-7 written by Mark Hamilton at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/isaiah-a-child-is-born/commentary-on-isaiah-91-7-5.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/NtEa6nfk0gE.

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