EVERLASTING FATHER (2)

See Isaiah 63:16; Matthew 6:9

Isaiah 63:16 NASB 2020

16 For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us And Israel does not recognize us. You, Lord, are our Father, Our Redeemer from ancient times is Your name.

Matthew 6:9 NASB 2020

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Introduction:

The phrase “For My name’s sake” appears in the English print bible in several places to remind the reader that God’s Glory is inextricably tied to His Personal Name. In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet tells his audience that a child would be born who would quite literally be their Savior and so he will be called by the Messianic name “Everlasting Father.” The Lexham Survey of Theology states:

Scripture often employs metaphorical names for God in order to emphasize a certain aspect of his character or of his relationship with humanity. These names utilize imagery in a poetic fashion, relating God with something in the created world.

Perhaps it would be best to note that the metaphorical names used in Scripture for God are to be distinguished from other titles for God that are literal and not symbolic. God actually fights for his people and so is titled “Warrior” (Zeph 3:17); he actually judges and so is titled “Judge” (Gen 18:25); he actually rules and so is titled “King” (Ps 74:12). These titles are different from the following metaphorical names of God. They are also to be distinguished from the personal name of God, which is YHWH (Yahweh; Isa 42:8)

Context of the Text:

Opening Up Isaiah Isaiah 63:1–14

While the end of the previous chapter had a picture closely corresponding to Jesus’s triumphal entry ‘through the gates’ into Jerusalem (62:10–11; see Matt. 21:5; John 12:15), this chapter opens with a triumphal entry of a very different sort. Whoever it is coming from Edom, he is not ‘humble and mounted on a donkey’ (Zech. 9:9). He is wearing imposing robes and marching boldly back from the land belonging to one of Israel’s oldest enemies (63:1). Something about his appearance—the red staining of his clothes—provokes a question. It looks as if he may have been trampling grapes in a wine press, but the reality is that blood, not grape juice, has ‘spattered on [his] garments’ (63:2–3).1 This is the aftermath of ‘the day of vengeance’ (63:4). The suffering Servant is returning as the conquering Warrior.

Anger shown to their enemies is ‘goodness to the house of Israel’ (63:7). While their adversaries are on the receiving end of God’s wrath, the Lord’s people experience ‘the abundance of his steadfast love’ (63:7). Their rebellion has brought them stern discipline, but eventually the Lord acts for the sake of his name, in a way reminiscent of the Red Sea deliverance (63:8–14).

As we arrive at verse 15 of the text, we are arrested by the reality that things are not exactly as the remnant would like them to be. We deduce this because we hear them calling out in prayer…Look down from heaven and see, by seeing have compassion and be stirred as Our Father and help your children. Their plea to Him is “You are Our Father.”

Isaiah 40–66, Volume 2 God’s Relation to His People (63:16)

Though this relationship was revealed under the old covenant, it was practically realised only upon the rarest occasions. Amid their trials, this is now the ground of their appeal. As their Father He must love them, and be ready to listen to them, &c. Though their earthly fathers afforded them no assistance, and seem to have ceased to feel any interest in them, they have confidence in the constancy of their heavenly Father’s compassion (Jer. 31:20). This is the ever deepening conviction of God’s people everywhere. Gourds may grow and wither, but our heavenly Father’s love neither grows nor withers—it is un-changing; it holds on and holds out, needing no sustenance from without, except that supplied by our need of it; it endures through all our unfaithfulness, &c.

CENTRAL IDEA

I want to suggest that just as the name “Everlasting Father” was used to encourage the original audience, it still stands to encourage us today that we can always depend on Him to Honor His Name, Provide Compassion, and Respond to Our Cries.

Main Body - As Our Father

He is the Author of our Spiritual Life.

By His Spirit He quickens, &c., and imparts His own nature and image (2 Pet. 1:4; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:23, 24).

2 Peter 1:4 NASB 2020

4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.

Colossians 3:10 NASB 2020

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—

Ephesians 4:23 NASB 2020

23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Ephesians 4:24 NASB 2020

24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

He secures our instruction.

By His works, Word, Spirit

He supplies all our needs.

His supplies are suited, abundant, satisfying, inexhaustible

He protects us.

Exposed to innumerable perils and evils, He is our shield,

He gives us a glorious and everlasting portion

(see Romans 8:28-31)

Romans 8:28–31 NASB 2020

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

CONCLUSION:

How are we to relate to the Everlasting Father?

We are to honor him, that is to respect Him

obey him

Place the glory of his name above everything else.

Jesus’s life is the best example

See Phil 2:3-11

Philippians 2:3–11 NASB 2020

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We cannot claim the benefits of being his children if we are not willing to live our lives for His glory.