Advent1
A. First Advent:
Prophesied Deut. 18:18, 19; Is. 7:14
Came as man Phil. 2:5–8
Announced Luke 2:10–14
Time predicted Dan. 9:25
To save the lost Matt. 18:11
Subject to government Matt. 17:24–27
[i]
A. Announced in the Old Testament by:
Moses Deut. 18:18, 19
Samuel Acts 3:24
David Ps. 40:6–8; Heb. 10:5–8
Prophets Luke 24:26, 27
B. Prophecies fulfilled by his:
Birth Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23
Forerunner Mal. 3:1, 2; Matt. 3:1–3
Incarnation Is. 9:6
Time of arrival Dan. 9:24, 25; Mark 1:15
Rejection Is. 53:1–4; Rom. 10:16–21
Crucifixion Ps. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:24–28
Atonement Is. 53:1–12; 1 Pet. 1:18–21
Resurrection Ps. 16:8–11; Acts 2:25–31
Priesthood Ps. 110:4, 5; Heb. 5:5, 6
C. His first coming:
Introduces Gospel age Acts 3:24
Establishes new covenant Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6–13
Fulfills prophecy Luke 24:44, 45
Nullifies the ceremonial system Heb. 9
Brings Gentiles in Acts 15:13–18
[ii]
Incarnation of: Gen. 3:15; Deut. 18:15–18; 1 Chr. 5:2; Psa. 2:7Acts 13:33. Psa. 40:7, 8; Psa. 80:17; Psa. 89:19; Isa. 7:14–16; Isa. 9:6; Isa. 11:1; Isa. 32:2; Isa. 49:1, 5; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 5:2, 3Matt. 2:5, 6. Matt. 1:1, 16, 17 [Luke 3:23–38.] Matt. 1:18, 23; Matt. 8:20; Matt. 13:55, 56; Matt. 22:45; Luke 1:26–35, 38–56; Luke 2:1–21; Luke 24:39; John 1:14; John 7:42; John 20:27; Acts 2:30 2 Sam. 7:12; Psa. 89:35, 36. Acts 3:22 Deut. 18:15–19. Acts 13:23; Rom. 1:3; Rom. 8:3; Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 15:47; 2 Cor. 5:16; Gal. 3:16 Gen. 12:3; 17:7; 22:18. Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:7, 8; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:3, 6; Heb. 2:9, 14, 16–18 vs. 9–17.; Heb. 7:14; Heb. 10:5; 1 John 1:1–3; 1 John 4:2, 3; 2 John 7; Rev. 22:16 See Humanity of, Relation of, to the Father.
Four names were used to describe the coming Immanuel (Isa. 9:6). Each reflects the office of deity and humanity. “Wonderful Counselor” means an extraordinary (godlike) advisor; “Mighty God” means a heroic God; “Everlasting Father” means an everlasting overseer; and “Prince of Peace” means a captain who secures spiritual peace and tranquillity. His government will continue because it rests on the unconditional covenant God made with David (2 Sam. 7:12–16; cf. Luke 1:32–33). [iii]
The fourfold name and attributes of the Child (Messiah) who shall be born to reign forever upon the throne of David are given. Wonderful, Counselor (see 28:29) is likely one name that expresses His ability as a political guide and leader. He is the living Word, the infallible source of guidance, the inexhaustible wisdom, the Truth, and the Way. On Him will rest the government (the entitlement to rule). Mighty God: The Child is God incarnate, the omnipotent One. The word translated “Mighty” has the additional meaning of “hero.” The Lord is the infinite Hero of His people, the Divine Warrior who has triumphed over sin and death. Everlasting Father expresses Christ’s fatherly care. The name is not in conflict with that of the First Person of the Trinity. Jesus said to Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). “Everlasting” can also mean “everywhere present”; He has the divine attributes of both eternity and omnipresence as He rules upon the throne of David and within the hearts of the redeemed. Prince of Peace: His reign will be characterized by shalom, health, well-being, prosperity, happiness, and cessation of enmity. The NT states this required His triumph over Satan. Kingdom: See The Kingdom of God: The Message of the Kingdom and Conflict and the Kingdom (p. xxx).[iv]
The Gift-Child in this passage is the same divine Child as Immanuel. Again, using the prophetic perfect, the prophet sees Him as though He were already born. Wonderful, Counselor (pele˒ yō˓ēts) is actually one term in Hebrew. A wonder is indicative of a miracle. Counselor is often used in parallel with king (cf. Mic. 4:9). Thus miraculous counsel is given by this God-like King. The mighty God (El Gibōr) is the strongest of these titles. In Isaiah, El is always used of God and never refers to man. Gibōr means “Hero.” Together they describe One who is indeed God Himself. Everlasting Father (abı̄˓ad) literally means Father of Eternity. He alone is the source of eternal life. Prince of Peace (Sar-Shalōm) indicates that the mighty God will be a benevolent ruler bringing eternal peace on earth through the establishment of His kingdom. Thus the obscure figure of Immanuel is now brought to clear light: He is Himself God incarnate! [v]
9:6 Child … Son. The good news is the birth of Jesus Christ. The four royal names express His divine and human qualities, giving assurance that He is indeed “Immanuel” (7:14).
born … given. The verbs are consistent with His humanity and deity respectively.
Wonderful, Counselor. Since the other titles each consist of two words, it is probably best to combine these two words in a single title, “Wonderful Counselor.”
Mighty God. As a warrior, God protects His people (10:21; Deut. 10:17; Jer. 32:18).
Everlasting Father. The Father and King cares for His subjects (40:9–11; 65:17–25; Matt. 18:12–14; 23:9–12; Rom. 8:15–17).
Prince of Peace. His government brings peace (2:4; 11:6–9; Ps. 72:7; Zech. 9:10; Luke 2:14).
§ 9:7 throne of David. He is a descendant of David (11:1 note), who will establish the kingdom of God in “judgment and justice”(1:21 note).
zeal. God guarantees that this will be fulfilled (37:32; 42:13; Zech. 1:14).[vi]
See him in his humiliation. The same that is the mighty God is a child born; the ancient of days becomes an infant of a span long; the everlasting Father is a Son given. Such was his condescension in taking our nature upon him; thus did he humble and empty himself, to exalt and fill us. He is born into our world. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. He is given, freely given, to be all that to us which our case, in our fallen state, calls for. God so loved the world that he gave him. He is born to us, he is given to us, us men, and not to the angels that sinned. It is spoken with an air of triumph, and the angel seems to refer to these words in the notice he gives to the shepherds of the Messiah’s having come (Luke ii. 11), Unto you is born, this day, a Saviour. Note, Christ’s being born and given to us is the great foundation of our hopes, and fountain of our joys, in times of greatest grief and fear.
2. See him in his exaltation. This child, this son, this Son of God, this Son of man, that is given to us, is in a capacity to do us a great deal of kindness; for he is invested with the highest honour and power, so that we cannot but be happy if he be our friend.
(1.) See the dignity he is advanced to, and the name he has above every name. He shall be called (and therefore we are sure he is and shall be) Wonderful, Counsellor, etc. His people shall know him and worship him by these names; and, as one that fully answers them, they shall submit to him and depend upon him.
[1.] He is wonderful, counsellor. Justly is he called wonderful, for he is both God and man. His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints; in his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, he was wonderful. A constant series of wonders attended him, and, without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness concerning him. He is the counsellor, for he was intimately acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity, and he gives counsel to the children of men, in which he consults our welfare. It is by him that God has given us counsel, Ps 16:7, Re 3:18.
He is the wisdom of the Father, and is made of God to us wisdom. Some join these together: He is the wonderful counsellor, a wonder or miracle of a counsellor; in this, as in other things, he has the pre-eminence; none teaches like him.
[2.] He is the mighty God—God, the mighty One. As he has wisdom, so he has strength, to go through with his undertaking: he is able to save to the utmost; and such is the work of the Mediator that no less a power than that of the mighty God could accomplish it.
[3.] He is the everlasting Father, or the Father of eternity; he is God, one with the Father, who is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to them, and so is the Father of a blessed eternity to them. He is the Father of the world to come (so the LXX. reads it), the father of the gospel-state, which is put in subjection to him, not to the angels, Heb. ii. 5.
He was, from eternity, Father of the great work of redemption: his heart was upon it; it was the product of his wisdom as the counsellor, of his love as the everlasting Father.
[4.] He is the prince of peace. As a King, he preserves the peace, commands peace, nay, he creates peace, in his kingdom. He is our peace, and it is his peace that both keeps the hearts of his people and rules in them. He is not only a peaceable prince, and his reign peaceable, but he is the author and giver of all good, all that peace which is the present and future bliss of his subjects.
(2.) See the dominion he is advanced to, and the throne he has above every throne (v. 6) : The government shall be upon his shoulder—his only. He shall not only wear the badge of it upon his shoulder (the key of the house of David, ch. xxii. 22), but he shall bear the burden of it. The Father shall devolve it upon him, so that he shall have an incontestable right to govern; and he shall undertake it, so that no doubt can be made of his governing well, for he shall set his shoulder to it, and will never complain, as Moses did, of his being overcharged. I am not able to bear all this people, Num. xi. 11, 14.
Glorious things are here spoken of Christ’s government, v. 7.
[1.] That it shall be an increasing government. It shall be multiplied; the bounds of his kingdom shall be more and more enlarged, and many shall be added to it daily. The lustre of it shall increase, and it shall shine more and more brightly in the world. The monarchies of the earth were each less illustrious than the other, so that what began in gold ended in iron and clay, and every monarchy dwindled by degrees; but the kingdom of Christ is a growing kingdom, and will come to perfection at last.
[2.] That it shall be a peaceable government, agreeable to his character as the prince of peace. He shall rule by love, shall rule in men’s hearts; so that wherever his government is there shall be peace, and as his government increases the peace shall increase. The more we are subject to Christ the more easy and safe we are.
[3.] That it shall be a rightful government. He that is the Son of David shall reign upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, which he is entitled to. God shall give him the throne of his father David, Luke i. 32, 33.
The gospel church, in which Jew and Gentile are incorporated, is the holy hill of Zion, on which Christ reigns, Ps. ii. 6.
[4.] That it shall be administered with prudence and equity, and so as to answer the great end of government, which is the establishment of the kingdom: He shall order it, and settle it, with justice and judgment. Every thing is, and shall be, well managed, in the kingdom of Christ, and none of his subjects shall ever have cause to complain.
[5.] That it shall be an everlasting kingdom: There shall be no end of the increase of his government (it shall be still growing), no end of the increase of the peace of it, for the happiness of the subjects of this kingdom shall last to eternity and perhaps shall be progressive in infinitum—for ever. He shall reign henceforth even for ever; not only throughout all generations of time, but, even when the kingdom shall be delivered up to God even the Father, the glory both of the Redeemer and the redeemed shall continue eternally.
[6.] That God himself has undertaken to bring all this about: "The Lord of hosts, who has all power in his hand and all creatures at his beck, shall perform this, shall preserve the throne of David till this prince of peace is settled in it; his zeal shall do it, his jealousy for his own honour, and the truth of his promise, and the good of his church." Note, The heart of God is much upon the advancement of the kingdom of Christ among men, which is very comfortable to all those that wish well to it; the zeal of the Lord of hosts will overcome all opposition.[vii]
(Galilee of the Gentiles was the Savior’s boyhood home and the scene of part of His public ministry.) Christ’s First Advent brought light to Galilee. His Second Coming will bring joy to the nation and put an end to slavery and war.
9:6 The First Advent is described in verse 6a: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” The first clause speaks of His humanity, the second of His deity. The next part of the verse points forward to the Second Advent:
the government will be upon His shoulder — He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The rest of the verse describes His personal glories:
His name will be called Wonderful — this name is a noun, not an adjective, and speaks of His Person and work.
Counselor — His wisdom in government.
Mighty God — the omnipotent, supreme Ruler.
Everlasting Father — or better, the Father (or “Source”) of eternity. Eternal Himself, He confers eternal life on those who believe in Him. Vine comments: “There is a twofold revelation in this: (1) He inhabits and possesses eternity (57:15); (2) He is loving, tender, compassionate, an all wise Instructor, Trainer, and Provider.” 20
Prince of Peace (Sar-Shālôm) — the One who will at last bring peace to this troubled world.
9:7 His government will be far-flung, peaceful, and endless. Sitting upon the throne of David, He will rule with judgment and justice. How will all this be brought about? The Lord’s jealous care for His people will perform this.[viii]
“Wonderful, Counselor” is actually one name instead of two. Government was considered a burden and thus was often described as being borne on the back or shoulders. “Mighty God” (˒el gibbor, Heb.) is literally “God Hero,” i.e., “an heroic God,” an emphasis upon the deity of the Messiah. The word “Father” describes the relationship God is to have with His people (63:16; Ps. 103:13), while “Everlasting” defines the type of fatherhood, forever guarding and sustaining. He establishes a peace beyond the temporary cessation of warfare. Taken together, the four names of the coming Messiah are an extension of the name “Immanuel.” They are not names in the modern sense but rather attributes of the One to whom they are given (cf. 7:14, note).[ix]
6. For—the ground of these great expectations,
unto us—for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare “unto you,” Lu 2:11).
son … given—(Ps 2:7). God’s gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Jn 3:16; Ro 6:23).
government … upon … shoulder—The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Is 22:22). Here the government on Messiah’s shoulder is in marked antithesis to the “yoke and staff” of the oppressor on Israel’s “shoulder” (Is 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the “Heir of all things,” who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14).
name … called—His essential characteristics shall be.
Wonderful—(See on Is 8:18; Jdg 13:18, Margin; 1Ti 3:16).
Counsellor—(Ps 16:7; Ro 11:33, 34; 1Co 1:24; Col 2:3).
mighty God—(Is 10:21; Ps 24:8; Tit 2:13) Horsley translates: “God the mighty man.” “Unto us … God” is equivalent to “Immanuel” (Is 7:14).
everlasting Father—This marks Him as “Wonderful,” that He is “a child,” yet the “everlasting Father” (Jn 10:30; 14:9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [Hengstenberg].
Prince of Peace—(See on Is 9:5; Ge 49:10; Shiloh, “The Tranquillizer”). Finally (Ho 2:18). Even already He is “our peace” (Lu 2:14; Eph 2:14).
7. Of … increase … no end—His princely rule shall perpetually increase and be unlimited (Da 2:44).
throne of David—(1Ki 8:25; Ps 2:6; 132:11; Je 3:17, 18 Ez 34:23–26; Lu 1:32, 33; Ac 2:30).
judgment … justice—It is not a kingdom of mere might, and triumph of force over enemies, but of righteousness (Is 42:21; Ps 45:6, 7), attainable only in and by Messiah.
zeal, &c.—including not only Christ’s hidden spiritual victory over Satan at the first coming, but the open one accompanied with “judgments” on Antichrist and every enemy at the second coming (Is 59:17; Ps 9:6–8).[1]
I have a confession to make. I despise the commercialism and exploitation of Hollywood (Santa Claus, snowmen) and the marketplace. Santa Claus is at the mall even before Thanksgiving (he arrived last week at Carbondale). Movies abound about Santa, his reindeer, snowmen, elves, etc. On Christmas Eve weathermen report watching for his arrival on radar. Snowmen are more important than nativity scenes. We count the # of days to Christmas by how many shopping days are left (BTW on the front page of The Southern this AM, there is a little countdown of the # of shopping days left—does any body know how many days there are? (28, I think)). I despise the pressures of spending to buy for everyone in the family—because you have to send something to everyone to be fair. Trying to figure out what your brother/sister who has everything needs is maddening. Knowing that if is not the right thing, then they may think less of you. Honestly how many times have you gotten a present from a relative and said you loved it! Most of the time we either take it back and exchange it for something we want, give it to someone else, “who really needs it,” or stick it in the closet to be put into the next garage sale. I despise the “Seasons Greetings”, “Xmas”—all to avoid the name of Christ.
Think with me about how we—even in the church—look at Christmas in 2005. Usually the first question someone asks you after Christmas (yes, even in the church) is “What did you get for Christmas?” If we got a lot or what we wanted, we had a good Christmas. If we didn’t get a lot, or didn’t get what we wanted, we had a bad Christmas. We may not believe in Santa Claus, but sometimes you sure can’t tell it by the way we act or talk.
Call me Scrooge if you like, but I see the Christmas celebration as so much more than getting presents. What are we excited about? Why are we counting down the days to Christmas? Or are we counting the days to Christmas? Or is it just another day—a paid holiday—which BTW happens to be on Sunday this year. Some may think we should cancel services on Christmas day—not I! How much more wonderful a celebration it is to come together as the family of God and celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Now I know this is not the real birthday of Jesus (scholars feel it was probably in October), but it is the day we have chosen to celebrate it around the world.
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[1]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Is 9:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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[i]Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's quick reference topical Bible index. Nelson's Quick reference. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[ii]Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's quick reference topical Bible index. Nelson's Quick reference. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[iii]Hughes, R. B., Laney, J. C., & Hughes, R. B. (2001). Tyndale concise Bible commentary. Rev. ed. of: New Bible companion. 1990.; Includes index. The Tyndale reference library (Page 261). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
[iv]Spirit filled life study Bible. 1997, c1991 (electronic ed.) (Is 9:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[v]King James Version study Bible. 1997, c1988 (electronic ed.) (Is 9:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[vi]New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Is 9:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[vii]Henry, M. (.). E4's Matthew Henry's Complete 6 Volume Commentary (electronic ed.). :: ,.
20 (9:6) Ibid., p. 43.
[viii]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Is 9:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[ix]New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1995 by Foundation for Reformation. (electronic ed.) (Is 9:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.