Wonderful Counselor / Isaiah 9:1-7

Whether you realize it or not, God has put promises into the fabric of the human experience - those who trust in God will not be put to shame. The meek shall inherit the earth. All things work together for good for those who love God.

These promises are beautiful. But what are you supposed to do when your present reality doesn’t match the promises of God? Rather than victory over sin, you feel overcome. Rather than his return being soon, current events seem hopeless. It feels like the wicked are prospering and the righteous are losing.

When this happens, a go-to temptation is to take matters into your own hands. To trust in yourself instead of trusting the counsel of God. That is exactly what Ahaz, the King of Judah did.

And his…

Unstable leadership results in darkness.

7:2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands,

As the King of Judah, Ahaz was in the lineage of David. This family tree came with a unique promise. From this line a savior will come who’s leadership would be established forever. Instead of being comforted by this promise, a threat from northern enemies exposed the shakiness of his faith.

This leader didn’t go to the upper pool for a cool glass of water. He was checking the supplies to see if they had enough water just in case God didn’t come through.

His actions showed a lack of trust. So God comforted him with a reminder that his enemies are all smoke and no fire.

You may claim to trust in God, but your actions will prove what you actually believe. Does your wallet prove generosity our stinginess? Do your friendships show partiality or love for enemies? Does your marriage reflect an image of gospel grace?

“Living emotionally as if God were not really our savior is practical atheism.” - PTW

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” What an awesome opportunity! Think of all that he could’ve asked for: victory for his nation or a sign in the sky, instead… 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?

At first, Ahaz’s response seems humble. He directly quotes scripture. But to understand his motive, you need to understand his record. Under his leadership, idol worship is restored, he practiced child sacrifice, he sold the temple items to appease Judah’s enemies, and his people began to seek counsel from mediums. God’s invitiation for a sign was an invitation to reconnect. This was Ahaz’s pious way of rejecting God.

If we’re not careful, we can reject God in ways that sound really spiritual. “I would go to church, but I feel to dirty.” Jesus came to seek and to save the lost! “I would follow Jesus, but I don’t like the church.” The church is the bride of Christ. “I like the God of the New Testament, but not the God of the Old.” Jesus taught, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.

If you find yourself doubting, ask yourself - is this a lie from Satan or an excuse of unbelief?

Ahaz might have assumed that his rejection of a sign got him off the hook, but God didn’t need his permission. Whether the king wanted a sign or not, God gave a sign to his people.

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.

How is that for a sign?

He split seas. He sent fire from heaven. He created the rainbow. But the ultimate sign was a son. A baby who’s name would mean, God with us.

This name would be vital for believers in Judah during the days of Ahaz. It sure did not seem like God was with them. Their nation was under constant threat. The people rejected God for other counselors. And as a result of their rejection, God predicted their downfall.

8:7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

The people of Judah would soon be up to their neck in military conflict. And though they deserve to be totally abandoned by God. The land is called, Immanuel’s land. God still claims this broken people facing the consequences of their sins.

Sometimes, like Job, you live for God and for unknown reasons you experience loss and trials. But often, our loss and trials are the just discipline of a loving Father. If you live in perpetual sin expect hardship - not blessing. Do not expect a joyful marriage if you both are living selfish lives. Do not expect restful sleep if you trust in the teachings of self-help and false spirituality instead of God. If you are in this season, God has not abandoned you. But you need to be careful that you do not abandon God.

19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 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.

The only way to describe the rejection of God’s voice is darkness. If you ignore the teaching of God’s word, if you despise his testimony - you have no dawn. Hunger and great distress will be your story.

As a meet with members and ask for prayer needs, there is a common story that is so similar - it almost sounds like parents and grandparents from different families are describing the same person. The story goes something like this:

They grew up learning about God.

They appeared to be interested.

Along the way, they became jaded, hurt, or distracted.

Now they want nothing to do with God. Beyond apathy, they feel contempt.

Despite prayers and Christmas invites, they will not return to God.

I feel compassion, not only for you grandparents and parents, but also for the person who feels contempt toward God. Perhaps they heard the promises of God, but like Ahaz, their present experience didn’t match their expectations. Where did it all go wrong?

It isn’t a lack of access - the people of Judah had the prophet Isaiah.

It isn’t a lack of knowledge - God gave them predictions and evidence.

It is a lack of faith.

You spend your whole life in church, hear the promises each Sunday, and they will never change your life until you take hold of them by faith. Have you taken the risk of faith? Until you do, your experience will be darkness and distress.

As Isaiah said to Ahaz,

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

They trusted in trendy religion, human wisdom, and unstable leadership. They were not firm at all. But the wonderful counselor had a plan. Against the backdrop of darkness…

Unstoppable light results in joy.

9: 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.

As the northern area, Zebulun and Naphtali were the first to experience the brutal consequences of war and exile. In God’s great reversal, this region would be the first to experience a glorious new wave of God’s light. God’s glorious mission to save the world would launch from the most unexpected place. A place of previous contempt and shame. This prophecy was so sure, that the prediction is written as though it already happened.

Are there areas in your life that are dark? Areas of shame, contempt, and regret? God’s wants to bring healing to exact area. He doesn’t wait for you to discover light from within yourself. The light is external. They were walking in darkness, but light came searching for them. Light is searching for you.

Light wants to flood your marriage.

Light wants to flood your hidden sin.

Light wants to cover your past.

And the beautiful thing about God’s light, the darkness cannot overcome. Darkness must flee.

Psalm 139:11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

12  even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.”

How would your life change if you allowed God’s light to shine in the darkest parts of your life?

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.

The people who were previously hungry are now dancing like they won the championship game. They are growing. Their fields are full of fruit. Their banks are in the black.

If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you know what this season is like. It’s the smile of someone walking out of the baptism waters. It’s the blessing of new believers coming to faith. It’s the surprise of seeing enemies reconciled.

And it gets even better.

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.

What burdens you? What feels like oppression? Imagine that hardship completely removed from your life. That is what these people experience. “signify a victory in holy war where spoils were dedicated to God and military equipment was set on fire.” CSB Study Bible

Who accomplished this victory? Not the people! Who is the “you” in this passage?

If this prediction is truth and not an inspiring fairytale, there is no question more important. What was God’s plan to save the world?

The kings of Israel failed to match the description.

The Ancient Greek Philosophers couldn’t solve the riddle of sin.

The reigns of Alexander and Julius came to a bloody end.

Who could achieve these results? What was God’s plan?

God’s plan was a person - The wonderful Counselor.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

God’s plan didn’t look like a wealthy monastery.

God’s plan didn’t sound like a mighty army.

The piercing cry in a forgotten manger was the announcement of a kings arrival. The King of Kings.

God didn’t send a letter.

God didn’t send a strategy.

God didn’t send advice.

God sent a son.

God gave a son.

This verse is not wasted repetition. A child was born. Bloody and slimy like all humans must humbly enter. And yet, a son was given. Miraculously, through the birth a virgin. God came to us. Immanuel.

As Mary was holding that fragile, squirmy, baby boy - she was holding the hope of the world.

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.

This is no ordinary government. For he is no ordinary King.

As Mighty God, no one can stop the expansion of his kingdom. Herod sought to sniff out this boy, but came to an embarrassing ruin. Rome sought to stop his movement by force, now their buildings are in ruin, but the church is alive and well.

As everlasting Father, this child establishes justice and protection for his family.

As Prince of Peace, he promises rest forever to all who follow his lead.

How was this accomplished? Our God is the wonderful counselor. When you hear this title, you may imagine God in a red cardigan with a notebook out. That is not the counsel this passage has in mind. It would be more accurate to picture a king planning victory in his war room.

He is the God you pray to in the morning. He is the God who we sing to on Sundays. The God who will fulfill every promise. Even when his methods don’t make sense. Will you trust him with your life? Especially when your present circumstances don’t match the glory of his promises?

To the remnant of believers in Isaiah’s day, I trust that they were comforted by the final words of this prophecy.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

What is God zealous about? What wakes him up in the morning? What stirs him like a warrior preparing for battle? Shining light upon those dwelling in darkness. Sending his son to save sinners.

And nearly 600 years after this prophecy, Jesus steps onto the scene…

Matthew 4:13 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—

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.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The exact location of failure, darkness, and suffering was the ground Jesus was standing upon as he and his rag-tag group of disciples launched the kingdom of heaven on earth. Today we gather as evidence that his kingdom continues to expand. Shining light into the darkness of our lives. Bringing harvest instead of spiritual hunger. And setting us free from our bondage to sin and death.

This Christmas season, you have a choice. Will you follow the way of Ahaz? Or will you allow God’s unstoppable light to flood your life with his grace?

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

Trust the wonderful counselor.