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For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Isaiah 'Twas Foretold It

Dec 23, 2018


by: Jack Lash Series: Isaiah 'Twas Foretold It | Category: Advent | Scripture: Isaiah 9:6–7
I. Introduction
 A. Isaiah 9:6–7 is one of the most familiar passages from the OT prophets. Along with its partner in Isaiah 7:14, which is in the same context (“A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”), they are probably the two most talked about OT prophecies at Christmas time, because they alone speak of the coming Messiah as a child and as being born.
  1. So, not only is Jesus in the OT, but Christmas is in the OT — at least twice!
 B. Is.9:1-5, the verses right before our passage, speak of a golden day to come, a time when there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish, when those who walk in darkness will see a great light, a day when God would make the region of Galilee glorious, a day of great joy, when God will break the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their oppressor.
  1. These verses tell us of a coming time when the gloom of human existence will be over, when the anguish will cease.
  2. You see, sadness and brokenness are not the end of God’s story. As in any great drama – the bleak part, the scary part builds toward the glorious finale of joy.
 C. Isaiah 9:6–7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
 D. This a very familiar passage, so I’m not going to systematically explain it all. I’m just going to point out a few highlights, all but one of them from v.6.
II. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 A. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
  1. He’s not only born, He’s given.
   a. Strangely, this Messiah is both given by God and born as a man.
   b. Here Isaiah 7:14 is helpful: “A virgin will conceive and bear a son, and call his name Immanuel.” which means God with us (Matt.1:23). He’s God, but He’s with us: on our planet but also in our humanity.
  2. To US! The gospel message is not just that Jesus came into the world, but that He came to us!
   a. This is very personal. He knows who we are, He knows what we’re like. And yet He comes.
   b. The one who knows us best, has loved us most!
 B. and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  1. For Him, one name is not good enough.
   a. Here are four new ones Isaiah gives us.
   b. Posters full of his names
   c. Renaissance man: can do lots of things and knows about lots of things. Is He not that times a million? And on top of all that, He is with us and for us!
  2. Wonderful Counselor
   a. Our propensity to not listen
    (1) Prov.12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. (See also 3:7, 12:15, 19:20, 26:12, 28: 26.)
    (2) Prov.3:5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
   b. Jesus had the words of eternal life falling from His lips. He was the Wonderful Counselor.
   c. He is still speaking, in His word. But sadly, many won’t listen.
   d. You have a wonderful counselor. Do you listen to “the whole counsel of God.” – Acts 20:17
  3. Everlasting Father
   a. This is not referring so much to His deity. Don’t let your knowledge of the Trinity trip you up here. “He was like a father to me.”
   b. This shows the manner of His reign as king – He is fatherly. He gives us life. He is relational. He has history with us. He provides for us. He watches over us.
   c. He is this forever – this is not merely past but future oriented 
  4. Prince of Peace
   a. This tells us what kind of ruler He will be. He will be One who brings SHALOM. He will come into the dog-eat-dog and king-eat-king world, into a world of turmoil and warfare as the Prince of Peace.
   b. Peace means personal fulfilment (2Kgs 22:20), well-being (Gen. 29:6), harmony (Exod. 4:18), peace with God (Num. 6:26; 25:12; Isa. 53:5). The verb means to be whole or complete.
   c. Why all of a sudden is He a prince instead of a king? Because here He is the intermediary between God the king and mankind. This Prince is one with God the king and one with his people, and therefore can administer peace/wholeness.
 C. If you are a believer, do you realize what a well-qualified king you have? And if you’re not a believer, do you realize what a well-qualified king is inviting you into His kingdom?
  1. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace: These are His unparalleled qualifications to rule over our lives:
   a. Wonderful Counselor, His wisdom
   b. Mighty God, His power
   c. Everlasting Father, His relationship with, history with and affection for His people
   d. Prince of Peace, His agenda for our lives
  2. How can we turn Him away? How can we think we can run our lives better than He can?
   a. Is He not vastly wiser, vastly more powerful, vastly better at guiding us and making us prosper than we are?
  3. Do you realize how much happiness lies in store for those who put their trust in Him?
   a. And this isn’t just something we wait for, this is something we have!
   b. His kingdom is coming, sure. But He kingdom is already here too. And He is our king now.
III. Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
 A. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  1. How does all this come to pass? The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  2. Did you know that God has zeal about certain things?
  3. If you’ve ever watched football, you’ve seen players do something like this. It’s a little scary.
  4. But women can be like this too, can’t they? Even the gentlest, quietest woman gets like this when she’s in labor and zealous to push that baby out, no? I won’t attempt to imitate. That’s scary too.
  5. Well, the Bible says that sometimes God is like that: when He is really zealous about something.
  6. Listen to this: “The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. ‘For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant.’ ” – Isaiah 42:13–14
  7. Some things God does which aren’t as important to Him as other things, e.g. ordaining sparrows to fall to the ground (Matt.10:29-31).
  8. Some things God allows to happen, things which He doesn’t enjoy in and of themselves, but which are necessary for accomplishing His purposes, e.g. the suffering of His children (Lam.3:33).
  9. But some things are extremely important to God, things God ordains because He is zealous for them to happen. And that’s what this expression is all about: The zeal of the LORD will do this.
  10. Whenever there is an expression like this: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." you know that something very near to the heart of the Lord is in mind.
  11. There are not many references to God’s zeal in the Bible. The ones that are there refer to times when God acts to protect or rescue His precious people.
   a. Isaiah 37:32 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Also in 2Kings 19:31.)
   b. Isaiah 59:16–17 [The Lord] saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
  12. It reminds us of when Jesus cleansed the temple: "Zeal for Your house will consume Me." -John 2:17
  13. The same Hebrew word is translated jealousy, and that gives us an idea of its meaning.
  14. Read lyrics of “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce
  15. When that zeal comes over a person, he/she can do things not normally possible.
   a. A few years ago there was an article by Jeff Wise in Psychology Today about this. It was entitled, “Stealth Superpowers: The Science Behind Seemingly Impossible Feats of Strength.” It talked about a man who lifted a car off of a biker who had been run over — and cracked eight teeth doing it.
  16. If a man as big and bad as Leroy Brown can be overpowered by a jealous husband, think about what can happen by the jealous zeal of the Lord of hosts, the almighty One!
  17. That’s what it took for God to secure the salvation of His beloved ones. That’s what it took for God to bring us to life. It wasn’t easy. The obstacles were enormous. It looked impossible – even to the angels of heaven. But the zeal of the Lord took over. He was not going to let His precious bride be lost. And the zeal of the Lord accomplished it.
IV. Conclusion
 A. The glorious salvation of God comes by means of a Person, the Messiah, the Christ, the one they called Jesus of Nazareth. He is the answer to the world’s pain, oppression, bondage, cruelty, misery, twistedness, and hopeless despair.
 B. Isaiah 9:6–7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.