To Us a Child Is Given

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Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

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.

Opening Prayer

What’s Going On Here?

I want to give you some context about the Kingdom...

2 Chronicles 25:2 (ESV)

2 And he [Amaziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

2 Chronicles 26:4 (ESV)

4 And he [Uzziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

2 Chronicles 27:2 (ESV)

2 And [Jotham] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.

2 Chronicles 28:1–2 (ESV)

1 Ahaz...did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals,

King Ahaz is reigning in the passages of Isaiah that we’re looking at this morning.

It’s a time of great idolatry.

A time where not only the King...

But the majority of the nation had turned away from the Lord.

It was a time of many armies warring against Judah.

Assyria, Syria, Egypt, the Philistines, the Edomites...

Even the nothern kingdom of Israel with Syria was against Judah...

It was a horrific time of war & suffering...

And, a time of feeling the wrath of their enemies upon them.

In Chapter 6, Isaiah volunteers to be a mouthpiece for God...

And God tells Isaiah, you will speak for me, but:

The people won’t listen to Truth.

The people won’t care about Truth.

The people won’t see the blessing of Truth.

The people won’t seek to understand the Truth.

And, Isaiah’s response was like...

How long do I have to do that?

And, God responds with...

Until the land is desolate and without inhabitants.

And yet still, in spite of all of this...

God is Gracious

We come to Isaiah 9 and God gives this promise...

A promise that God will deliver His people.

There is a time coming that there will be peace for God’s people.

A time in which God will save His people...

And there will be a new government...

A government that is sustained by a child.

It’s interesting to note that what God is promising, will be done similar to the day of Midian.

You’ll remember that Gideon defeated a huge coalition of armies with just 300 men because God intervened.

A huge victory at the hands of such a small package.

Here in Isaiah 9, we are told that there will be an even bigger victory...

A much more significant victory for the people of God...

In a much smaller package…a child.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

This points us back to Isaiah 7:14 and elaborates on what is foretold there...

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This Son that will come from a virgin...

He will be God in the midst of us.

This God-Son, God-Man will bring deliverance to the people of the Lord.

And, a sign of his arrival will be his virgin birth from a good, moral woman.

Now, look back at...

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

Not only is a child born from a virgin...

He is given to us through the virgin.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God the Father sent His son to take upon flesh and take on the nature of those whom He represents at the judgment seat of God.

And, God the Son takes the mission & completes the mission…

Perfectly in righteousness...

Because of the joy it brings Him and the Godhead.

Now, I want us to look at some of the descriptions of the Deliverer–King–Son.

Attributes of the King–Son

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

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.

We’re told the government will be upon His shoulder.

Governmental Officers used to wear insignia on their shoulder to show that they were in charge of sustaining the government.

It is in stark contrast with the yoke and staff of the oppressors that were, at this time, on the shoulders of Israel.

The yoke of the Son–King will be easy.

He will deliver His people from the domain of darkness where rulers are corrupt...

And, use their power for personal gain at the expense of all others.

But, in this Deliver’s use of power and authority...

We shall say of Him...

his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,

He is a Wonderful Counselor

This is literally...

A Wonder of a Counselor

This word translated wonderful...

Is used in the majority to speak of the Lord and His works.

It is the nearest word in the Hebrew language to signify the supernatural.

He is a Counselor, but One we stand in awe of...

Like we stand in awe of God...

He is a wonder...

A supernatural Counselor...

From which wisdom and blessings flow.

his name shall be called Mighty God,

Mighty God

This can mean nothing else but this child that is born is God.

He is as Isaiah 7 tells us Immanuel...

God with us.

We have been told he will be born...

Which points to His humanity...

And, here we are told by the hebrew word “el”...

That this child born is not only human but he is God.

He is God our hero because He has come to rescue.

his name shall be called Everlasting Father,

Everlasting Father

Father of Eternity.

The word “Father” designates a quality of the Messiah with respect to His people.

He acts toward His people like a father.

He is One who eternally is a Father to His people.

Now and forever He guards His people and supplies their needs.

his name shall be called Prince of Peace.

Prince of Peace

War and oppression is at the forefront of the experience of the people of Isaiah’s day...

How beautiful is this name to those who believe?!

He seeks the greatness of His kingdom and of Himself...

Not in war, as do ordinary rulers...

But in peace.

He establishes peace.

How can there be eternal peace?

Well, the cause of war must be removed.

The cause of death must be removed.

The cause of all trouble is sin.

And, in Christ’s kingdom, sin is removed forevermore.

Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)

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.

Let’s Jump Forward

Isaiah 9:6-7 pointed us back to Isaiah 7:14...

Both of those passages point us forward to Luke 2...

Where we are given the scenario in which an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds...

Luke 2:10–11 (ESV)

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

There’s good news for everyone...

The word gospel means good news.

And the good news is this...

A child is born…He is born for the Nations...

He was foretold by the prophet Isaiah...

And, He is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2 this wording, Christ the Lord.

Christ means anointed one.

He is the Royally Anointed Lord of All.

He is the Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.

The true Son–King of Psalm 2 who will reign in perfect righteousness...

Whose Kingdom will never end...

And whose Kingdom will have nothing but blessings dispersed to its citizens.

The angels finished by saying...

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

This is an important statement.

One that is constantly misunderstood.

Tragically so.

So, let us ask this very important question in closing...

How is God pleased with us?

What is the only way for us to please God?

John 6:28–29 (ESV)

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

What pleases God is that you believe in His Son...

Whom He gave to us through a virgin.

And, in His Son–King is deliverance and salvation.

In Him is redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In Christ, the Lord, is a righteousness given to us that is immutable, unchanging.

Where Are You w/Regards to the Son-King?

Where do you stand today?

What does Christmas mean to you?

Do you acknowledge that you are bankrupt of righteousness?

Do you acknowledge that by your sin you have offended God and brought condemnation upon your self?

Do you confess that you need a Savior?

Do you rejoice in the Son–King and His Kingdom and desire to be His citizen?

He calls us to Him.

His yoke is easy.

His government is righteous.

His kingdom is one of only blessings.

His call is to put your faith, exclusively in Him.

Have a Merry Christmas...

Because we have an omnipotent King who gives nothing but blessings to His people.

Closing Prayer