Wonderful Counselor

INTRODUCTION

Brand names? Abercrombie & Fitch. Tommy Hilfiger. American Eagle. Lululemon. Names convey something. They convey status. They convey acceptance.

Isaiah 9:6 “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.”

This morning, we want to look closely at the name “Wonderful Counselor.” What does that name mean of Jesus mean for us this Christmas season (and beyond)?

MAIN POINT

Jesus is our King who rules in power and wisdom.

CONTEXT

Now, as you know, we don’t believe in just cherry picking verses and running with them without understanding how that verse fits in the context of the passage it’s in and how the passage fits within the larger context of the book it’s in.

So, in order for us to understand what Isaiah is prophesying, here, and why the name of this future King is so important, we need to imagine that we’ve got a camera and we’ve zoomed in really tight on verse 6…but, now, we need to back out a little and see a little bit more of the whole scene.

Isaiah was an 8th century (BC) prophet of God whose ministry was primarily directed toward the southern kingdom of Judah. In the book of Isaiah, we see that God called him to the prophetic ministry during a very tumultuous and uncertain time in Judah. Now, remember, after the death of Solomon, the Kingdom split into two kingdoms—Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom. As you read 1 & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, what you’ll find is that there were ZERO…that’s right…ZERO/NONE…righteous or godly kings of Israel.

There were, however, a few godly and righteous kings who reigned in Judah. One of those kings was named Uzziah. Now, it’s important for us to know about Uzziah because it is after his death that God called Isaiah to prophesy (Isaiah 6).

So, who was King Uzziah? Well, Uzziah reigned over Judah for 52 years. Up to that point, that was the longest that any king had ruled. And, again, Uzziah was one who did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He led the people of Judah to follow the law of God. In 2 Chronicles 26, the author says that Uzziah set himself to seek the Lord by having the prophet Zechariah teach him the fear of God. His reign brought stability to Judah. His reign brought prosperity to Judah. In fact, the first thing he did as king was rebuilt the port city of Eloth which made Judah a prominent player in the trade industry again. Uzziah basically made Judah great again. He led the nation in great military victories—he defeated the Philistines and built cities in their territories. Other nations were paying tribute to him. There was peace in Judah. He even made significant agricultural innovations. Life was good for 52 years under Uzziah.

But all of that changed over time as Uzziah continued to experience success. The Bible says that he grew proud and, one day, decided to burn incense on the altar of incense in the temple—something that only a priest was allowed to do. The Lord punished him by giving him leprosy and he died.

And, it’s then, during this time of political and national uncertainty, that God calls Isaiah to be His spokesperson to the people. That’s how Isaiah 6 opens (verse 1)…“in the year that King Uzziah died…”

In chapter 7, Isaiah picks up with the reign of King Ahaz—a wicked king. A king who was weak. The powerful nation of Assyria has strengthened and, in chapters 7 and 8, God gives Isaiah a message of warning for King Ahaz and the people of Judah—that the Assyrian invasion is imminent and it’s His judgment on the people because of their unfaithfulness.

Isaiah writes…Isaiah 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.”

And, it’s right here in the middle of this pronouncement of God’s judgment and the Assyrian invasion looming that God sends this first word of hope through Isaiah:

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

And, as chapter 7 and 8 continue (go read them later today), the pronouncement of God’s judgment on His people gets darker and darker, but, it’s in chapter 9 that God, again, speaks hope and promise. There will be judgment but there will be deliverance. Their earthly kings have failed them but God is going to send them a child, a son, a king who will carry the weight of ruling and reigning on his shoulders.

“Wonderful” —

1. He is unique in His nature.

Child/Son—human

government on His shoulder—the weight of rule—human

But, “wonderful” … more than just “awesome” or “great.” Wonderful denotes “supernatural.”

He will be unlike any other king/person before or after him. All other “sons” that had been given as rulers were human. They were sinful. They were imperfect.

We need a king/a ruler who is greater than us. We need God among us.

Remember—the people of Israel rejected YHWH and demanded an earthly king. Remember who was their first king? Saul. See how that worked out?

The miracle of Christmas is that this is no ordinary baby/no ordinary child. This is the eternal God assuming human flesh/becoming man.

The incarnation…

SPURGEON: “Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.” “The birth of Jesus is the grandest light of history, the sun in the heavens of all time.”

LUTHER: “For if the manger had been gold-plated and the swaddling clothes of silk, it would still be an unfathomable miracle that God should be born a man.”

WHY IT MATTERS // APPLICATION

He was born to be our substitute.

2. He is unrivaled in His power.

“Wonderful”—supernatural/miraculous

His very existence as God-in-the-flesh would be miraculous. His conception and birth would be miraculous. God has already said, through Isaiah, in chapter 7 verse 14, that it would be a VIRGIN who would conceive and give birth to a son.

The incarnation—miraculous—eternally existing Son of God taking on human flesh and becoming man.

His ministry would be marked by the miraculous (EXAMPLES).

His resurrection was miraculous.

WHY IT MATTERS // APPLICATION

A) Jesus’s miraculous power demonstrates His DIVINITY.

B) Jesus’s miraculous power declares His AUTHORITY.

C) Jesus’s miraculous power displays the NEW CREATION.

I never have any difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

3. He is unmatched in His wisdom.

Not only does this son/this king have a supernatural nature and power…he has supernatural wisdom.

In ancient times, kings would have “counselors” who would advise him with insight and wisdom. This coming king will not need a counselor. He is the very personification of wisdom.

What do we mean by “wisdom?”

John Calvin—“God’s wisdom is His perpetual governance of the world, ordering all things with perfect reason, even when His ways seem hidden from us.”

God’s wisdom is His flawless ability to plan, order, and accomplish all things in the best way possible, according to His holy purpose, in Christ, for His glory.

Isaiah 28:29 “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”

Jesus declared that He was greater than Solomon—the wisest man who ever lived. He is not just “wise.” He is the wisdom of God. He is the wisdom by which the heavens and the earth were created. He is the wisdom by which all things created…seen and unseen are held together. He is the wisdom by which God rules the nations. He is the wisdom of God in His plan of redemption. Everything Jesus taught, everything Jesus did, everything Jesus DOES is the wisdom of God. He is infinite and perfect in His knowledge and works all things for His glory.

Colossians 2:3 “in (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Nothing in your life escapes that wisdom. Nothing surprises Him, confuses Him, or forces Him to improvise. He works all things according to the counsel of His will. And because His wisdom is bound to His goodness, you can trust Him even when you cannot trace Him.

Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 1, that Jesus is the POWER and the WISDOM of God…that, through Him, the wisdom of God to be both just in pouring his wrath out on sin and justifier in pardoning sinners was displayed on the cross in Jesus.

This son, this king, this WONDERFUL COUNSELOR—the God-Man who would live in our place, die in our place, and then be raised from the dead for our justification…who has all power—power to raise us from death to life—who is the wisdom of God…the plan of God for our salvation.

TRANSITION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER

GOSPEL CALL TO REPENTANCE