Christmas in Isaiah, Part 2

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our study that is looking at Christmas in the Old Testament. Last week we looked at a well known passage in Isaiah chapter 7. This morning we want to look at another very well known passage in Isaiah.

So if you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9.

Isaiah has so much to say about the Messiah. And his big focus is on what scholars call the “Millennial Reign of the Messiah.” Now, that’s a fancy term that refers to the thousand year reign of Jesus here on this earth! And what a reign it will be!

If you’ve been here recently on Wednesday nights we have had several discussions about this reign. During our discussions, I presented the reign of Jesus as “life goes on as normal.” But as I’ve been studying our passage for today, I have begun to realize that I did not take into account three things about the Millennial Reign of Jesus.

I did not take into account the magnificent glory of Jesus. His presence changes EVERYTHING!

I also did not take into account that Jesus will restore much of what was damaged by the curse!

And finally, I did not take into account what it will be to have no satanic influence. Satan and all of his demons will be bound, unable to play any role in tempting our old sin nature!

All three of these factors are seen in our passage today.

If you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9 and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.

Isaiah 9:1 NIV

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

Doom and Gloom is Gone

There was a time of gloom, but now it has passed.

There was a time of distressed, but it too has passed.

These times of distress and gloom were in the lands of Zebulun and Nephtali, and God used them to humble these two lands.

This area had become an Assyrian stronghold around 732 B.C.

Now, there is a future promise that Galilee will be honored.

Jesus fulfilled this during his Galilee ministry where He was strongly received.

Now we have a parallelism to reinforce Isaiah’s point!

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

The people who used to walk in darkness have seen a great light.

Those who lived in the land of deep darkness (shadow of death) are seeing the beginning light shine.

We know that this is a passage about the Messiah because it was quoted in Matthew 4:15-16.

Matthew 4:15–16 NIV

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

This reference to walking in darkness and Isaiah’s reference to living in the land of the shadow of death all refer to the great despair that will be present when Jesus comes again!

They, the people living in the world, have seen a great light! Because a light has dawned—this phrase has the idea that the light now shines bright! And the brightness is undeniable.

But this time gets even better!

Isaiah 9:3 NIV

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

As the presence of Jesus is revealed the nation of Israel will grow in size.

But not only will they grown in size, but they will also grow other ways.

— They rejoiced before the Lord.

— They rejoiced like they did during a great harvest.

— Or they rejoiced like warriors rejoice after winning a great battle! One of the best parts of winning the war was dividing the plunder.

Isaiah continues to help his readers gain a glimpse into what it will be like to rejoice at this level.

Isaiah 9:4 NIV

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Isaiah compares the victory that will be experience to the victory of Gideon in Judges chapter 7, when God defeated the Midianites.

— It was a complete victory.

— God shattered the yoke that tied them to their burdens.

— God freed them from the beatings of those who oppressed them.

With Satan and his forces bound, the evils of oppression will disappear! This idea is repeated and reinforced in verse 5.

Isaiah 9:5 NIV

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

There is no need for armies! Because God’s Messiah is ruling.

— So the boots and clothing that had been used and would be used for battle are now burned as fuel for fires!

Compare Psalm 46:9-10.

Psalm 46:9–10 NIV

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

This is the power that comes from the presence of Jesus!

This brings us to our memory verse for this week, and perhaps one of the most quoted Old Testament verses about the Messiah!

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

God’s Deliverer

There will be a child born.

The key it will be a son—a male child.

He will be the ruler (cf. Is 22:22, Matt 28:18)!

Isaiah 22:22 NIV

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Matthew 28:18 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

This Messiah will have some amazing names:

Wonderful Counselor. Some split this into two does names. Specifically, the KJV does this. However, in the context “wonderful” seems to be a descriptive term and could be translated “exceptional, distinguished” counselor. The NET “extraordinary Strategist.”

Mighty God. Could be translated “Hero God,” or “Warrior God.” The Messiah is God! And Jesus is a God who is our Hero.

Everlasting Father. This addresses the eternality of the Messiah. This includes times past (cf. Jn 1:1), and times in the future (cf. Dan 6:26, Lk 1:33).

Prince of Peace. The word prince can mean head of, chief official of, captain of. The word peace is the Hebrew word shalom, and has the meaning of, peace, tranquility, completeness, safety, welfare, prosperity, or health.

The Deliverer’s Reign

Isaiah 9:7 NIV

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

His government will be great

His government will be filled with peace—shalom, with the meaning of, peace, tranquility, completeness, safety, welfare, prosperity, or health.

And His government will not end. Look at Daniel 4:3 “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.”

The Messiah will reign from David’s throne.

And the Messiah will rule over David’s kingdom.

His rule will establish David’s kingdom and keep it going.

His rule will be:

— with justice.

— with righteousness

And it will last forever (2 Sam 7:13).

The zeal (passion) of the Yahweh Almighty. This term has the idea of the Lord of warfare, the Lord of army, the military side of Yahweh. It is this side of Yahweh that will accomplish all that has been described! That means that it will be a supernatural reign!

What an amazing time it will be when Jesus is on His throne! If I’m honest, I don’t think I can even imagine what this will be like!

I am so used to all the bad news. I’m so used to hearing about murders, wars, natural disasters, hurt, and heartache; not to mention the numerous moral failures and evil that seems to popup all the time, that it is very hard for me to imagine a time without these kinds of events.

But when Jesus is King of the world, these kinds of events will be unheard of!

So What

During the Christmas Season, we sing “Joy to the World” and, if you are like me, you think of it as a Christmas Song. But it isn’t. “Joy to the World” was written to celebrate the magnificent return of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of all lords!

We all know the first verse of Isaac Watts’ famous “Christmas” hymn.

1. Joy to the world; the Lord is come; Let Earth receive her King; Let ev'ry Heart prepare him room, And Heav'n and nature sing.

Some will know the second verse, but I would dare say many of us have never thought of the meaning behind the words.

2. Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns, Let men their Songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.

Now that sounds more like a song that is talking about the millennial reign of Jesus. But if you’re not convinced look at the third verse—one that I’ll bet some of you have never heard.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found.

And then there is the climax to the song found in verse four, and there is no doubt that this song is talking about Jesus reigning here on Earth.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.

So this when you hear the wonderful hymn, Joy to the World, remember to look forward to the earthly rule of Jesus!

And we you look at the first part of Isaiah 9, we should also look forward to and long for Jesus to restore the earth to its former glory!

And we should say, “Even So, Lord Jesus Come Quickly.”