Untitled Sermon
The perfection of this King is seen in his qualification for ruling (Wonderful Counsellor), his person and power (Mighty God), his relationship to his subjects (Everlasting Father) and the society his rule creates (Prince of Peace). Wonderful: literally ‘a Wonder of a Counsellor’. The vast majority of the eighty times the pālā’, its noun (as here, pele’) and adjective (pilĕ’î) occur, they refer to the Lord, himself and his works. It is the nearest word Hebrew has to the idea of ‘supernatural’, here bringing a wisdom far above the human:
The King to come is the ultimate fulfilment of this longing. Father: used of the Lord, ‘father’ speaks of his concern (Ps. 65:5), care and discipline (Ps. 103:13; Prov. 3:12; Isa. 63:16; 64:8); cf. Ps. 72:4, 12–14; Isa. 11:4. Peace is personal fulfilment (2 Kgs 22:20), well-being (Gen. 29:6), harmony (Exod. 4:18), peace with God (Num. 6:26; 25:12; Isa. 53:5). The verb, šālēm, means ‘to be whole, complete’. Prince corresponds to our idea of ‘administrator’. This Prince, then, himself a whole personality, at one with God and with his people, administers the benefits of peace/wholeness in his benign rule.