The King is Coming: And He is Marvelous

Last week we looked at the pressing need for a Godly King in .

1. God meticulously cared for Israel

2. Israel stubbornly and arrogantly resisted obeying God

3. God warned Israel of impending judgment/destruction as a result of their defiant and abominable way of living?

Why did God do this?

THROUGH IMPENDING JUDGMENT, GOD ISSUED ISRAEL A CALL TO REPENT!

1. The terrifying expectation of judgment serves as motivation to return to God.

2. God’s announcement of judgment provides insight into God desire for His people to repent

3. Israel cannot return to Him on their own power—they simply do not have the knowledge or will to follow the Lord.

Chapters 7 and 9 of Isaiah are promises that God will send a King (a Messiah) that will lead His people to return to Him, thus resulting in PEACE—not judgment!

Outline of Chapter 9:

The Promised Blessings of the King:

1. God will make a light shine through the darkness (vs. 2)

2. God will bring joy to His people (vs. 3)

3. God will remove the oppression of His people (vs. 4)

4. God will bring an end to war (vs. 5)

The Character of the King:

1. The King is born a human (vs. 6)

2. The King will carry the burden of ruling God’s people (vs. 6)

3. The King has four titular names (vs. 6)

a. Wonderful Counselor

b. Mighty God

c. Everlasting Father

d. Prince of Peace

4. The King will bring increasing peace and dominion (vs. 7)

5. The King is the Promised one (vs. 7)

6. The King is the perfect embodiment of righteousness and justice (vs. 7)

How Does this Come About?

1. Isaiah’s commission is through God’s Zeal (vs. 7)

2. The King is promised through God’s Zeal (vs. 7)

3. The King delivers through God’s Zeal (vs. 7)

4. The King provides wondrous peace through God’s Zeal (vs. 7)

5. The King rules in righteousness and with justice through God’s Zeal (vs. 7)

Question: Why is this passage significant?

First, this is progressive revelation: God further defines the messianic King to come—He adds to previous prophecy.

Isaiah 7:10–17 ESV

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”

Observations:

· God is working and has planned for a coming King

· Israel did not really understand this prophecy because it lacks detail

· All this text reveals is that a young woman (not necessarily a virgin) will become pregnant and have a son named Immanuel (God with us).

· From our vantage point: We see this prophecy had an immediate and messianic fulfillment.

Thus, clarifies by ascribing to this “child, son” attributes and titles that belonging to God alone. Additionally, the child’s identity and role is more clearly expounded upon.

It is absolutely vital that we understand the implications of progressive revelation from TWO aspects:

1. The nature of Scripture as God’s revealed word

2. The nature of sanctification in relation to God’s word

The Nature of Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1. ALL—every line and word—of the Bible originates from God

2. All of the Bible teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains us

3. All of the Bible equips us to serve God

Because all of Scripture is from God and intended for our growth, there are a couples of observations we make:

1. Scripture is progressive in revelation—that is, it clarifies and expounds upon what was previously stated.

2. In order to gain an accurate understanding of what God requires and expects from us, we must have a thorough knowledge of ALL of His Word.

3. Illustration: Mathematics

a. We first learn to count and recognize numbers

b. Then we learn addition and subtraction, followed by division and multiplication

c. We learn fractions, negative integers, and exponents

d. Later, we work basic equations and word problems

e. Later we learn Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus

f. Lastly, some venture into theoretical calculus, physics, and the such.

If Mathematics, reading & writing, science, mechanics, history, and every other subject we learn requires progressive learning…should we not expect the same to be true with an infinite God choosing to reveal Himself to a finite creation?

This brings us to the nature of sanctification (Christian growth)

The Nature of Sanctification:

No one immediately completely receives and comprehends the full work of the Lord!

1. Abraham did not understand the enslavement of his offspring

2. Moses did not understand the occupancy of the promise land

3. David did not understand the grasp the eternal aspects of the messianic promise

4. Israel did not understand how the King would come in humility

5. We do not understand how the scenes in Revelation will play out

6. In summary: God progressively reveals Himself throughout history. His first coming (foretold in this passage) was marvelous; however, his marvelously glory and revelation will culminate with His second coming!

Just because we do not FULLY understand the depth of our Lord does not imply that we cannot grow in our understanding of Him.

Sanctification is more than merely sinning less; in fact, it has more to do with a greater understanding and experience of God—resulting in decreasing sin.

The very nature of the Bible shows us that God has chosen to permit us extended periods of time for us to comprehend and respond to His self-revelation—this is an extreme act of MERCY.

What we see taking place in (and all of Isaiah) is progressive revelation from the Lord of what the promised Messianic (anointed) King would be like.

Secondly, this Messianic King is unlike anyone the world has ever seen or known—He is completely unique.

Edwards Hastings once noted: “…wherever Jesus appeared He impressed… during His ministry His companions went about with Him in open-eyed amazement.” (The Speaker’s Bible: Isaiah)

Why do you think people were so impressed with Jesus?

1. He spoke truth in a manner that had no rival.

2. He openly contradicted traditions He deemed antagonistic to the Father.

3. He performed unprecedented miracles

4. He claimed and was found to be (resurrection) God in the flesh

5. Jesus was WHOLLY different!

God inspires Isaiah to list 6 titles/attributes of the Messiah that set Him apart from everyone:

1. He is a human

2. He is God with us ()

3. He is the Wonderful Counselor

4. He is the Mighty God

5. He is the Everlasting Father

6. He is the Prince of Peace

“Wonderful Counselor” combines doing something extraordinary with giving wise counsel—Jesus taught and did works in a completely unique manner!

“Mighty God” Most likely means that this King would be mighty in battle. While it is possible that this is a title and not a name, know this: NO ONE IS EVER CALLED GOD IN THE BIBLE BUT GOD!

“Everlasting Father” most-likely means “my father is eternal,” and is an uncommon way of referring to God in the OT. However, there is no way this title can refer to a human king/ruler—thus, it is a unique way saying the one who would rule on David’s throne is God himself. Consequently, we see that God is unpacking Himself to the Israelite people and He is very COMPLEX.

“Prince of Peace” This implies that the coming King would bring an end to war and oppression. However, the NT clarifies that He would also bring peace with God!

Exclusionary Descriptions: Three descriptions are sinful to apply to anyone but God

1. God with us in human form.

2. Mighty God

3. Everlasting Father

A Confusing Description: The gift of a newborn son that is identified as God!

1. We have no problem with a man being a great king

2. We have a problem with a man being God

The Nature of Jesus’ Nature:

1. Truly God

2. Truly Man

3. Not of Mary (or Joseph), but of the Holy Spirit

Question: How do you see your Lord? How do you see Jesus?

Isaiah shows us that King Jesus is Marvelous because He is UNIQUE:

1. Jesus uniquely hold three offices simultaneously:

a. Prophet = He speaks on behalf of God and reveals God to us

b. Priest = He makes the way for us to approach the Lord

c. King = He is God and our great protector

2. The Character of Jesus is refreshing and unique to ONLY God:

a. Counselor: Wise, Comforting, and Instructing

b. God: Sovereign Ruler without challenge or equal

c. Father: Caring and the source of family stability

d. Peaceful: Approachable, protective, and inviting.