Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

In their time of crisis, instead of turning to God for wisdom, the people consulted demons (Isa.

8:19; Deut.

18:10–12); and this only increased their moral and spiritual darkness.

The increase of the occult in our own day is evidence that people are deliberately rejecting God’s Word and turning to Satan’s lies.

“If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isa.

8:20, NIV).

Judah’s leaders anxiously looked for the dawning of a new day, but they saw only a deepening darkness.

God’s Word is our only dependable light in this world’s darkness (Ps.

119:105; 2 Peter 1:19–21).

In a word, for the remnant, beyond the darkness of the hidden face and the distressful pathway there is the shining light

The Light of the Messiah

This hope is sure.

9:1–7 is couched in past tenses; the future is written as something which has already happened, for it belonged to the prophetic consciousness of men like Isaiah to cast themselves forward in time and then look back on the mighty acts of God, saying to us: ‘Look forward to it, it is certain, he has already done it!’

Because of this confidence, Isaiah can place the light of 9:1ff. in immediate proximity to the darkness of 8:22, not because it will immediately happen but because it is immediately evident to the eye of faith; those walking in the darkness can see the light ahead and are sustained by hope.

The Land will be divinely visited removing the gloom

Matthew 4:

The

Isaiah speaks of the area that was first in being taken captive by the Assyrians = land of Naphtali and Zebulun

Joshua 20:7

The People walking in darkness and living in the shadow of death will see the great Light

They have been enduring the hiding of God’s face

The Messiah’s appearance will dispel the darkness and His atoning work will defeat death

Genesis

John 1:

The nation will be magnified and be filled with joy

Israel’s greatest gift to the world is the Messiah

Joy always accompanies the presence of the Lord

A joy described to be like a harvester gathering his fruit or warriors who having won a great victory are now taking the spoils

The reason for the joy

The enemy has been defeated

Vocabulary used recalling Egypt and Midian (Judges 6-8)

Broken the yoke of burden

The staff of his shoulder

The rod of the opressor

Just like in the days of Midian

A victory given by an act of God

Judges 7:

Judges 7:

Three aspects of suffering are included in the deliverance.

The yoke that burdens is suffering as actually endured, a toilsome way of life.

In the bar across their shoulders, ‘bar’ should be ‘rod’, ‘staff’ or ‘stick’, the only meaning maṭṭēh has in non-metaphorical use.

This is suffering that is inflicted as the stick is laid to their backs.

Rod of their oppressor is suffering arising from personal hostility, as of a taskmaster.

But there will now be no burdens, no blows, no tyrants.

The war is over

The noun (se’ōn, boot) and the accompanying participle (so’ēn, used in battle) are found only here in the Old Testament and, are variously described as Egyptian, Assyrian or Aramaic loan-words.

They are chosen here to express the breaking of the alien power which has gripped the Lord’s people.

The people didn’t fight they come into the battlefield after the victory was won

They use the items of warfare to fuel the fire because they would no longer be needed

The reason for the victory

The birth of the Messiah

His birth was promised in the past

His birth set in motion and secured all that has and will happen

His birth declared His humanity and deity = a Child and a Son

He is born as from human parentage and given as from God.

But the prophet looked beyond the first coming of Christ to His second coming and the establishing of His righteous kingdom (Isa.

9:3–7).

Instead of protecting a small remnant, God would enlarge the nation.

Instead of experiencing sorrow, the people would rejoice like reapers after a great harvest, soldiers after a great victory (see Jud. 6–7), or prisoners of war after being released from their yoke of bondage.

Of course, some of this occurred when God defeated Assyria and delivered Jerusalem (Isa.

37).

But the ultimate fulfillment is still future; all military material will be destroyed (9:5) because the nations will not learn war any more (2:4).

Isaiah 9:6 declares both the humanity (“A Child is born”) and the deity (“A Son is given”) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The prophet then leaps ahead to the Kingdom Age when Messiah will reign in righteousness and justice from David’s throne.

God had promised David that his dynasty and throne would be established forever (2 Sam.

7:16); and this is fulfilled literally in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32–33; Zech.

9:9), who will one day reign from Jerusalem (Isa.

11:1–5; Jer.

23:5–8; 30:8–10).

This kingdom is called “the Millennium,” which means “one thousand years.”

The phrase is used six times in Revelation 20

If His name is “Wonderful,” then there will be nothing dull about His reign!

As Counselor, He has the wisdom to rule justly; and as the Mighty God, He has the power to execute His wise plans.

“Everlasting Father” does not suggest that the Son is also the Father, for each Person in the Godhead is distinct.

“Father of Eternity” is a better translation.

Among the Jews, the word “father” means “originator” or “source.”

For example, Satan is the “father [originator] of lies” (John 8:44, NIV).

If you want anything eternal, you must get it from Jesus Christ; He is the “Father of eternity.”

He will bear upon His own shoulders the authority to rule (see shoulders in verse 4)

He will be called by the name

His name describes His character, office, and work

Wonderful Counsellor = wonder-counsellor

Wisdom beyond earthly wisdom

Divine wisdom for the Messiah is deity

Mighty God

Title given to God, Himself

Isaiah

Everlasting Father

His being = He is eterenal

His relationship = He is Father

Prince of Peace

Prince = He is ruler

Peace = The characteristic of His rule

The rule of the Messiah

His rule and peace will expand and be unending

He sits upon the throne of David () Focal point of the kingdom

His rule will be one of righteousness and justice

His kingdom will never end

The zeal of the LORD will perform all of this

The Lord’s anger

Anger against an arrogant and proud heart

Anger against an attitude that refuses to accept God’s judgment