Worship the Child Who is Given
Isaiah 9:1-7
Worship the Son who is Given
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.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
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.
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.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.
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.[1]
| T |
he words of verse six are well-known to all who have attended a performance of Handle’s Messiah. The haunting lyrics seem to seep into our consciousness where they reside throughout the remainder of the year. Of course, those words recite the Names by which the Messiah shall be called. Hearing those beautiful words sung, or even read, we find ourselves silently exclaiming, “No wonder we worship this child.”
Christmas is about Christ, about God with us. God, the Triune God, loves His fallen creation. When our first parents fell from their privileged position in the Garden, God pronounced a curse, just as He had said He would do. However, even as God cursed the serpent who had deceived our first mother, He made a glorious promise of a coming Redeemer. That promise is referred to as the protoevangelium by theologians.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.
[Genesis 3:15]
The millennia passed, and the lineage of the promised Redeemer narrowed and narrowed, until it reached a point as sharp as the tip of a spear—a young Jewish girl longing for the Messiah who would deliver mankind from sin. Long before the Messiah came—seven hundred fifty years before His arrival—Isaiah prophesied of His coming. One of the greatest of all Old Testament prophecies is that which is recorded in our text.
Though our world celebrates Christmas, after a fashion, it is greatly to be regretted that few give evidence of understanding what is celebrated. Christmas is variously described as a holy season, a family celebration, a mid-winter festival or a children’s holiday. Perhaps it is a holy season, but for Christians, it is no more holy than any other season, since we are in any case to live as a holy people. Certainly, we think of families gathering at Christmas, but that is more a cultural phenomenon than it is a religious matter. Only because of the date fixed for the event is this a mid-winter festival. Though children indeed look forward to Christmas Day, I suspect that they do so with no more enthusiasm than does any adult.
What, then, is Christmas about? That is the subject of the message as we explore Isaiah’s message—a message which actually calls us to worship the Child who is given. Open your Bible to the text, Isaiah 9:1-7, and discover some of the riches surrounding Christ’s birth as we explore the Word together.
Light and Joy — The text begins by focusing our attention on joy and light, two facets marking the Faith of Christ the Lord as practised in those who have received His grace. Those who are the redeemed of the Lord are said to have been delivered from darkness into light, and those who have been saved experience joy. These aspects of life for the faithful are contrasted to the conditions which mark the lost—darkness and gloom.
Christians are identified as the light of the world [Matthew 5:14]. This is in no small measure because the prophecies made concerning the Christ at His First Advent focused on the fact that He was to be a light for revelation to the Gentiles [Luke 2:32]. Recall that John begins His Gospel account with a marvellous declaration concerning the Messiah, in Him was life, and the life was the light of men [John 1:4].
In a similar vein, note that the judgement pronounced upon those outside the Faith is because they have failed to receive the light. Listen to the dark words of John 3:19. This is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. Those who live in darkness love the darkness. Those who are of the light seek the light.
Light characterises those who are God’s people. At one time [each of us was] darkness, but now [we] are light in the Lord [Ephesians 5:8]. The teaching of the Apostle was designed so that Christians may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world [Philippians 2:15]. In his earliest letter, Paul spoke of the light which characterises the saints. You are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness [1 Thessalonians 5:5]. Indeed, we who are Christians have been called out of darkness into his glorious light [1 Peter 2:9].
Christians walk in the light because they live in the light. They are children of the light, and therefore they shed the light of life abroad as they go through their daily lives. What light can be shone through the lives of those living only for this world? They are separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world [see Ephesians 2:12]. Should I appeal to false religions, I discover that they have no light, but instead they bind the souls of men to mortal deeds which are destined to die with those who perform such acts.
I note that the Canadian forces proudly announced that they have just appointed the first Muslim chaplain. Can this man comfort soldiers facing death? Perhaps he can tell them to commit suicide because they will have seventy-two virgins waiting for them? I have no doubt that he is well-schooled in sociology and perhaps he is even versed in psychology, so he should be capable of a measure of psychological counselling, but what light has he to offer to those facing the prospect of death?
Any Christian would admonish men and women facing such terror to first ensure that they had seized true life which is offered only in the person of Christ the Lord. Then, having cared for the eternal well being of those facing death, Christians would counsel the warriors to act manly—courageously, wisely and with compassion when once they have defeated an enemy. What is obvious is that the Muslim, as is true of the pretenders of the Christian Faith who wear the livery of righteousness though possessing none of the character of the righteous, has no light. They have no hope beyond this moment and therefore they cannot speak with certainty of what lies beyond death, which must come to all alike. However, even the most humble saint has a message of light.
Similarly, joy is characteristic for those who are redeemed. Perhaps you noted the article which was printed in the Washington Times this past Thursday. It reported that “religious people are happier than those without spirituality in their life.” Here are some other comments from that news article. “Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier… [I]t seems those who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas are, on the whole, likely to be happier… [P]eople who foster a sense of community through charitable donations and helping others also proved happier than those just looking to fatten up their own pocketbooks.”[2]
Of course, the writer of this piece was focused on the concept of “happiness,” whereas the Word of God presents joy resulting from faith in the True and Living God. One great result of joy is contentment, and contentment is frequently mistaken for happiness by an unfocused and ignorant world. Perhaps we should think about what we have in the joy that is ours in Christ the Lord.
Joy is that quality which makes the child of God confident in the midst of an uncertain world. Joy is that quality which creates contentment in the life of the saint. Joy is nothing less than the unconquerable spirit of the redeemed of God. Joy permits the people of God to stand resolute in the face of all opposition and persecution. Joy ensures that the saved will not waver as they advance the cause of the Saviour. Joy is the secret of power in the life of the child of God.
The text speaks of joy which characterises all who willingly receive the Messiah. The Yoke of burden which previously bound people to this earth, the staff which once pressed down on the shoulder of those who lived for this world alone, the rod of the oppressor which beat down those who look to Messiah, have all been broken. The yoke which is now broken says that life need not any longer be marked by toilsome labour. The staff on the shoulder speaks of suffering arising from identification with this dying world. The rod of the oppressor speaks of suffering from comes from personal hostility.[3]
This is an evil world, marked by exaltation of self even at the expense of pressing down others. Those who refuse to play by the rules of this world are despised and detested by those identified with this perishing world. The prince of this world opposes the children of the True and Living God, seeking to do them harm as he accuses them before the throne of God and exerts every effort to cause them distress. However, he no longer has power over those who have been freed from fear.
One of those passages of the Word which has often comforted me is that which is found in Hebrews 2:14, 15. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. My Master has destroyed both the power of the devil and the devil himself. By God’s grace and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have been delivered from the fear of death which once held me in thraldom. This is the testimony of all Christians.
How glorious are the prophecies concerning this freedom which is ours in Christ. You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father” [Romans 8:15]!
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [1 Corinthians 15:54-57].
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:8b].
Hey, I read the end of the book and we are on the winning team. The devil is put away forever and all who practise wickedness are judged and all sin is removed. Then, at last, with all the redeemed of God I shall sing with great joy the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”
There remains a precious promise that we Christians will walk with Him in white. God is quite specific in stating that the one who conquers will be clothed … in white garments [Revelation 3:5]. That must surely be a glorious sight which we who are saved shall see. It is a great multitude that no one [can] number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” [Revelation 7:9, 10].
The reason we shall be clothed in white is that our own garments are marred as result of the stain of battle here on this earth. This is what the text is speaking of when it speaks of the boot of the tramping warrior and of the garment rolled in blood being burned as fuel for the fire. Though I detest the cost, resistance against evil takes a toll on me and on my life. Few people long for peace as do warriors. There are few people in Canada who speak as ardently for peace as does Lewis McKenzie. However, General McKenzie is a realist, knowing that merely laying down one’s arms does not bring peace.
Peace comes from a position of strength and security, which is why the child of God can be at peace in the midst of madness. That saint enjoys peace with God because he is no longer at the mercy of his feelings. He walks in confidence because of the confidence which is his through the salvation that God gives.
I make one further observation before I move on. Joy and peace go hand in glove for the child of God. The world longs for peace, but there is no peace in this fallen world.
The wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
[Isaiah 57:20b, 21]
There is a day coming when all the world shall be boasting in its peace. Perhaps the world will think that the United Nations has at last become effective. As an aside, an observation borne out of years of watching the political entity known as the United Nations, there is no more ineffective means of governing, and assuredly there is no more hopeless way of bringing peace, than through the United Nations. Nevertheless, one day the world shall cry out that peace has come at last. If you remain to hear that cry, beware.
You yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape [1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3].
That cry, when all the world supposes that peace and security has been achieved through political means, presages the beginning of the end. Messiah shall begin His awesome judgements and the world shall tremble before His wrath. All this is but the beginning of His great conquest of evil and His eternal reign of righteousness. Amen.
A Child and a Son — The language which the Spirit prompted Isaiah to write was so incredibly specific. A child is born and a son is given. Before Messiah can free His people of the garments stained with the sweat of resistance against evil, He must become a man. He must be born of a virgin, and He must surrender His life as a sacrifice for sin.
To be certain, Christ was born of Mary, a girl of perhaps no more than fourteen years of age. The birth was supernatural in that Mary was a virgin. Some foolish people have tried to explain away that birth by appealing to parthenogenesis as occurs in some amphibians. However, the text demands a miracle, for despite human efforts to either recreate such a birth or attempts to explain it away, there has been but one virgin birth in all history. Isaiah foretold that miraculous birth and Matthew cites that prophecy.
The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [Isaiah 7:14].
[Mary’s pregnancy and the announcement of an angel to Joseph] took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us) [Matthew 1:22, 23]
This is the celebration we call Christmas, as we remember that God did send His Son to become like us. We confess with joy that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us [John 1:14]. However, we know that there remains a second affirmation in this ancient prophecy, for not only was a child born, but a Son was given. At His birth, Jesus was foreordained to give His life a sacrifice for sin. Old Simeon foresaw this and spoke of it even as he blessed Mary. Read again those familiar words from Luke’s Gospel.
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” [Luke 2:34, 35].
On one occasion, some Greeks asked to see Jesus. At their approach, Jesus faced manfully His pending sacrifice for the sin of mankind. That theme of sacrifice for the sin of fallen man was common throughout Jesus’ ministry, and it became more prominent as He neared the day of His sacrifice. Listen once again to those words, for they contain within them all that is necessary for our freedom from condemnation.
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” [John 12:23-32].
Yes, at Christmas we celebrate the fact that to us a child is born, but let us never forget that as well, to us a son is given. Christ the Lord came to give His life as a ransom for many. I pray that His sacrifice has proven effective for you. It is effective if you believe that He died because of your sin and that He raised to life in order to set you free from all condemnation and from all guilt and give you a place in the Family of God.
God With Us — The beauty of this passage resides in the titles ascribed to the Child who is born and to the Son who is given. We know Him as Jesus, the Hellenised form of Joshua. The name Jesus means “The Lord Saves,” or perhaps, “The Lord’s Salvation.” Associated with the Name of Jesus is the very concept of eternal salvation. Though we know Him as Jesus, before all Heaven and before the earth, He is called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [µ/lv;Arc' d['ybia} r/BGI lae Å[e/y al,P,].
God laid in Zion a precious cornerstone [Isaiah 28:16], and that stone is Christ [Ephesians 2:20]. Peter speaks of that stone as he instructs all who by faith are Christians. Listen to the big fisherman’s words. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do [1 Peter 2:4-8].
That cornerstone shall crush all who fall on it. This is said to demonstrate the excellence of wisdom and the wonderful counsel of the Lord God [Isaiah 28:29]. However, the Son who is given receives the title of Wonderful Counsellor, indicating that He is very God. He is nothing less than the stone cut out by no human hand [Daniel 2:34, 35] which Daniel saw. That stone shall at last destroy every human kingdom, leaving only the reign of the Lord. Surely, Christ is our Wonderful Counsellor and our hope.
Our God is a mighty God. Deuteronomy 10:17 speaks of the Lord in these terms. The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God. Though it appears as a hopeless dream to mankind now, the Word of God prophesies that a remnant of Israel will at last return to their Mighty God. God, through Isaiah promises, A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God [Isaiah 10:21]. That Mighty God to whom Israel shall turn is none other than Him who is referred to in the Hebrew tongue as Yeshua ha Mesheach—Jesus the Messiah.
This Son who is given is identified as not only the Mighty God, but as the Everlasting Father. I love the Hebrew for this title, for He is d['ybia}—Father until… He is the Eternal Father, Father of all mankind, until whenever. There is no end to His reign. The remnant of Israel cries out to the Lord,
You are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
[Isaiah 63:16]
What is glorious to the people of God is that we know Jesus as the Eternal God. When Philip pleaded with Jesus to show the disciples the Father, the Master responded in tones both firm and gentle, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?” Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works [John 14:9, 10].
The Son who is given is also said to be the Prince of Peace. Though this title looks forward to the Millennial reign of the Messiah, it has applications to our lives now. Of the reign of Messiah, the Psalmist has said.
In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
[Psalm 72:7]
Christians know that Jesus is now our peace [cf. Ephesians 2:14]. He brings peace within the Body, reconciling each of us to God and reconciling us to one another. This is why it is vital that we strive for unity in the Faith and seek peace with one another. However, more than that, He serves to give us peace in the midst of daily turmoil. We are free of condemnation. We fear no evil, for He has conquered the foe. We know how it shall all end, and we are destined by His Word to reign with Him.
That peace points to the reign of the Prince of Peace, not merely in our hearts, but as sovereign over this fallen world. This shall occur when He at last returns and sets up court over all the earth. Isaiah saw that day and wrote of it.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
[Isaiah 11:6-9]
We can wait until He has at last brought peace to the earth and attempt to submit to Him at that time, but we will discover to our horror that it will be too late. We must embrace Him as the Saviour of all now. We must receive Him as the Wonderful Counsellor appointed for our benefit. We must submit to Him as the Mighty God. We must rest in Him as the Everlasting Father. We must seek Him as the Prince of Peace.
If we will be saved, according to the Word of God we must receive Him as Lord. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].
This is the Christmas message. We must worship the child who is given, not as a child, but as our sacrifice for sin and as our Saviour. That is our call to each individual sharing this service today. Come, believing that Christ the Lord is delighted to set you free from all condemnation and receive Him as Master of life. Come, believing that this Jesus lives and that He will receive you, just as He receives all who come to Him in faith. Come, and angels attend you in the way. Amen.
Joy is that quality which makes the child of God confident in the midst of an uncertain world. Joy is that quality which creates contentment in the life of the saint. Joy is nothing less than the unconquerable spirit of the redeemed of God. Joy permits the people of God to stand resolute in the face of all opposition and persecution. Joy ensures that the saved will not waver as they advance the cause of the Saviour. Joy is the secret of power in the life of the child of God.
The text speaks of joy which characterises all who willingly receive the Messiah. The Yoke of burden which previously bound people to this earth, the staff which once pressed down on the shoulder of those who lived for this world alone, the rod of the oppressor which beat down those who look to Messiah, have all been broken. The yoke which is now broken says that life need not any longer be marked by toilsome labour. The staff on the shoulder speaks of suffering arising from identification with this dying world. The rod of the oppressor speaks of suffering from comes from personal hostility.[4]
----
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Ó 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Jennifer Harper, Religion leads to a merrier Christmas, The Washington Times, http://www.washtimes.com/national/20031211-120439-3680r.htm
[3] see J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 1993) 101
[4] see J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 1993) 101