BCC 12.7.25 The Child is A Prince of Peace Isaiah 9.6, 7

The God/ Man Enters into World Affairs Is.9:6, 7

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.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 9:6–7.

Isaiah has some critical announcements or Scripture passages for us that are essential to the early childhood of the Redeemer. The Redeemer is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. It is one of His proper names listed here in verse 6. They are: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. How does Isaiah come to this conclusion when the times of Israel did not point to a spiritual Savior, even thought the time was ripe to do something. The coming of the Savior certainly was not on man’s radar, so the Lord God Himself put the coming in place but it was not to happen for several generations.

I believe it is important for us to get a little background into what was happening as Isaiah prophesied to the land of Israel about their coming Messiah. Israel was a divided kingdom with separate kings. The northern kingdom went off the deep end of idolatry and sin long before the southern Kingdom. The southern kingdom was guilty of the same sins eventually and that is why Isaiah is going to minister in God’s power to an ungodly nation. Deep in unbelief and sin God starts to unveil even more of the redeemer through Isaiah’s ministry. Let’s go back a few chapters to Isaiah 6, verse one;

Isaiah’s Vision of the Lord Is.6:1- 7

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Isaiah’s Vision of the Lord

King Uzziah was undoubtedly am important part of Isaiah’s life. It was right after the king’s death that he receives a vision of the Lord Most High and lifted up and seated on a throne. It’s a marvelous vision far different from what most of us who only experience visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads. The idea is that it was a God thing. Not many get to see this far into the heavenly realm or into the timeless future as this turns out to be in prophecy. God’s seraphim takes tongs and cleanses Isaiah lips for the mighty presence of the Lord.

Isaiah was troubled by what he saw and God speaks to Him in Chapter 7 saying, “whom shall I send and who will go for us and Isaiah says , “Here I am, send me!” The assignment is to preach to the land of Israel which had deep spiritual problems. The Northern kingdom was the first to break away and serve the Gods of the heathen nations. Both kingdoms were not ready for the message that is coming. And, the country’s leadership was just as spiritually inept and God forsaken. Israel had fallen away and the death of Uzziah was a key turning point. At this juncture Isaiah is sent to Ahaz, the son of Jotham, who was the son of Uzziah. They were the royals. Isaiah no doubt a close personal friend of the family of King Uzziah( King, son, and grandson.) But Ahaz was in cahoots with the enemy because his heart was not right. As Isaiah preaches to Ahaz God speaks to him and said, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God.” But Ahaz says no. But God gives him a prophetic sign anyway of the coming messiah: Isaiah 7

King James Version Chapter 7

14  Therefore the Lord himself (and Himself only) shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

God laments that both of the kings, the north and the south, had forsaken Him and His worship. They have brought trouble upon the entire house of Israel and he will send a baby because the adults cannot get their act together. Chapter 8 continues with Isaiah having a child with the longest name in the Bible: Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Which means before they can call out that name the riches and spoils in the land will be taken away by the Assyrians, the captivity is coming. Chapter 8 is complete with how the Assyrians will overflow across the land of Israel and decimate it. The preaching for Israel to come home falls on deaf ears

King James Version Chapter 8

Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

13  Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15  And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken,

And be snared, and be taken.

Nevertheless, Chapter 9

King James Version Chapter 9

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, When at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea,

Beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

Things in Israel looked bleak but they had been given great light in the prophesy of the their coming redeemer, the child, conceived by a virgin, who would someday rule this world as the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace. They really needed a Savior!This is not just a peace of laying down of arms and escaping Babylonian captivity, it is a peace that passes all understanding. It is a peace that gives us the boldness to stand before a holy God because of the baby that was prophesied in the days of Ahaz and Uzziah.

Romans 5:1- 8

King James Version Chapter 5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Being justified by faith we have peace “with” God. That simple preposition “with” carries a lot of truth for us and anyone who kneels and the manger or the foot of the cross. “With” is a relational term as well as a connector, as this is a peace, “facing God” Face to face! No more hiding behind veils. No more hesitancy to approach the throne, but you freely able to approach the throne of grace upon the merits of the Prince of peace. Jesus is truly all of what Isaiah says and more. Nations would prosper, families could thrive, there would be not need of political greed and the violence of war. We who are here by faith can have no fear to step forth and say like Isaiah, I saw the Lord High and lifted up on His cross and now on His throne. It is here I can stake my claim for all eternity as a child of the kingdom that knows no end. Be at peace with Jesus Christ today, because He is truly the only Prince of Peace that has ever lived. And He is, Jesus, why we are here today. Lord cover us with your peace in Jesus name.

Ephesians 3:20–21 “Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”