The Domain of Immanuel (Is 9:1-7)

Introduction:

In this year’s advent series entitled, Immanuel: God With Us, we first looked at The Glory of Immanuel from Isaiah 6, where we saw the preincarnate Son of God, high and lifted up with the seraphim worshipping him for his display of glory as it filled the temple. Then last week, we caught a glimpse of how this same Son of God, in The Promise of Immanuel from Isaiah 7, would become a sign that would point to the absolute sovereignty of God over history, in spite of how wicked King Ahaz sought to deny and dismiss God’s sign for his own pragmatic solution. We were left last week with a rather dismal, dark picture of God’s judgment upon both Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. However, the hope was Immanuel which brings us into this morning’s message.

We will learn this morning that the land of Israel, which is presently covered in dismal darkness because of God’s judgment on their repeated sin of rebellion, will once again have light, and that light will shine as a result of The Domain of Immanuel, as is presented to us in Isaiah 9:1-7.

Text: Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV)

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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. 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.

Main Idea: Since the world system is the domain of darkness, it is only Immanuel that will extinguish that darkness with his domain of eternal light!

Domain - in this context, it is an area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government.

Background:

At the end of chapter 8, we are left with these disparaging words:

Isaiah 8:22 ESV

22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

However, this spiritual gloom will be dispelled forever by the light of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. How will this happen? First, we must understand that…

I. The Domain of the World System Will End (1-5)

This dark evil world which seems endless and all consuming will come to an end, for……

A. Out of Darkness Comes Light (1-3)

(1) But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish - Her who was in anguish refers to Israel as the people of God under his discipline.

In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, -

In the former time - Isaiah’s vision projects his thought out of the tragic present as if it were already past.

Brought into contempt - humiliated with national defeat.

the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali - These northern regions of the Promised Land were the first to come under attack by foreign invaders who approached by means of the Fertile Crescent (2 Kings 15:29), and they are the first to see a glorious new era.

but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

the latter time he has made glorious.- A past-tense verb, because the prophetic eye sees the future in a vision. The people of God will finally play the glorious role prophesied in Isaiah 2:3 “3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” , but, they will do this through the triumph of their Messiah.

Galilee of the nations -The Messiah launched his worldwide mission from Galilee (Matt. 4:12–15).

Matthew 4:12–15 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

As a result of the work of the Messiah in this Galilee of the Gentiles……

(2) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

deep darkness - The Assyrians cast their terrible shadow over the land and the people. Yet there is hope; the certainty of that hope is expressed in the “prophetic perfect” (“have seen”), speaking of the future light as if it has already happened.

Matthew 4:16 ESV

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

The work of Immanuel, Jesus the Messiah will be even broader then the remanent if Israel, for we see next that…

(3) You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

You have multiplied the nation - No longer are the faithful a small remnant of Israel, but would include the Gentiles also.

they rejoice before you as with joy - God opens up a new future for the humble (29:19) where gloom had previously existed (35:10; 51:3; 61:7). This new joy finds expression in the metaphors of harvest and of victory (cf. 5:10; 8:4).

the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil - The joys of both peaceful abundance and military victory, i.e., fullness of joy (cf. 29:19; 35:10; 61:7).

B. Out of Oppression Comes Freedom (4-5)

(4) For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

yoke ... staff ... rod - Figures of oppression (10:27; 14:25; 47:6; cf. Matt. 11:29, 30).

you have broken - You, referring to God, will bring this oppression to an end, very similar to…

as on the day of Midian - A reference to Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites, which was accomplished by God’s mighty power in spite of Gideon’s own weakness (10:26, 27; Judg. 6:7; 7:22–25).

This victory will be so great that…

(5) For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

The debris left from battle can be removed and burned when the fighting stops. God will bring an end to war (2:4; Ps. 46:9, 10; 2 Cor. 10:4).

Psalm 46:9–10 ESV

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

II. The Domain of Immanuel Will Never End (6-7)

This will happen as a result of Immanuel…the true reality of God with us…

A. Immanuel, God Incarnate (6)

(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.

child ... son - The good news is the birth of Jesus Christ. The four royal names express both His divine and human qualities, giving assurance that He is indeed “Immanuel” (7:14).

born ... given - The verbs are consistent with His humanity and deity respectively.

the government shall be upon his shoulder - He will carry the burden of rule and authority (cf. 22:22), and will reign as the one true king.

Wonderful Counselor - “Wonderful” might be more accurately translated “miraculous” because it typically describes God’s mighty works. The role of a counselor is to provide wisdom (Jer. 18:18). This coming King will possess divine wisdom.

Mighty God - As a warrior, God protects His people (10:21; Deut. 10:17; Jer. 32:18). This attribute of divine power is ascribed to the coming King.

Everlasting Father - The coming King possesses divine eternity: He is from ancient times, and He will not need a successor to follow in His footsteps (cf. 2 Sam. 7:13; Mic. 5:2). Ancient kings often referred to themselves as the fathers of their subjects. This name reveals the divine, eternal care that the coming King will have for His people.

Prince of Peace - His government brings divine peace to the earth (2:4; 11:6–9; Ps. 72:7; Zech. 9:10; Luke 2:14).

B. Immanuel, King Eternal (7)

(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.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end - his kingdom is eternal, and because his domain is universal, he will be able to implement eternal peace!

throne of David - He is a descendant of David (11:1 note), and he will establish the kingdom of God in “justice and with righteousness”; his reign will endure forever, in fulfillment of God’s covenant with David.

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

No earthly son of David, such as Hezekiah or Josiah, ever lived up to this grand description. How will this happen? What surety do we have that some evil human being or kingdom will not thwart this prophesy?

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this - God guarantees that He Himself will fulfill this promise; it will not depend on human power or decisions (Is 37:32;Is 42:13; Zech. 1:14).

Isaiah 42:13 ESV

13 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.

So What?

Do we understand that the past and present domain of darkness is always a result of sin?

Do we realize that this domain of darkness will not go on forever because the domain of Immanuel will extinguish it with his light?

Finally, do we understand that it is the eternal, sovereign unstoppable God that will bring eternal light and peace?