“Seen a Great Light”

Symbolic analysis: “[Isaiah] does not establish, however, whether the ”darkness“ and ”light" refer to physical, social, or spiritual conditions. At least three explanations are possible:

1. The darkness represents Assyria; the light is the king who protects his people from Assyria. Since Hezekiah is victorious over the Assyrians, he is the natural candidate for this rescuing role. (Isa. 38-39). This viewpoint is favored among Jewish scholars.
2. The darkness represents wickedness and the Lord’s judgments; the light is the Israelites’ recognition of earlier sins and their attempt at religious reforms. Both Hezekiah and Isaiah were very much involved in these reforms, especially after the Assyrian attack and captivity of Israel humbled the remaining Israelites, and the death of Ahaz gave Hezekiah full political power. This figurative interpretation is advocated by some Jewish and Christian commentators.
3. The darkness represents a period of wickedness and apostasy; the light is Jesus Christ, who comes to the earth to personally teach his gospel. This identification is, of course, preferred by many Christian scholars. (Matt. 4:12-16.)" (Ludlow, p. 153.)

Literary analysis: The previous verse picked up the theme of darkness and brought it into a new context. In this verse the theme becomes the contrast between light and dark. This contrast occurs twice in the verse. In Isaiah’s poetic style, this serves to highlight the symbolic contrast, and to underline the importance of the hopeful theme of the light that serves as a redemption from the darkness.

The first image is of those who “walked in darkness.” This can be seen as a multivocal symbol, simultaneously evoking multiple meanings. The first meaning returns to those who are in the physical darkness created by the invasion. This ties this verse directly to the section in the previous chapter.

It may still be understood, however, in a more general sense as the image of “walking” a path often serves for the way in which people may follow the Lord. In this reading the darkness is symbolic of their removal from the way of the Lord, no longer being in his light.

The second phrase also has dual meaning. The more literal meaning referred to the death and destruction of the invasion of the Assyrians. That clearly qualified as the valley of death. Just as the first phrase had a more general reading, so does this one. The valley of death is just as important as a metaphor for spiritual death as it is a marker for physical death.

Thus Isaiah intentionally creates a prophecy that may be read in multiple ways. Returning to the types of fulfillment Ludlow listed, each would be equally accurate from the poetic construction. It is most probable that the multivocality of the symbol is precisely what was intended for these are verses that are not only helpful to the people to whom they were given, but verses whose truth rings through the ages and can still speak with eloquence to modern people.