The Wonder Of Immanuel

Introduction: At this point in history, the children of Israel and Judah were living in a time of darkness and did so even up to the times of Jesus’ first coming.

Let me explain a little bit about the setting:

Ahaz the king of Judah was on the verge of possible being taken over by Israel and Syria.

God sent Isaiah to talk with Ahaz and encourage him to seek God for a sign of deliverance and peace.

In his own pride and arrogance, he declined and chose to place his hope in the Assyrian people for safety and peace.

The very people king Ahaz sought refuge in were the very people that eventually became their oppressors.

The people continued to live in much pride and confidence of their ability to rebuild their lives to a point of prosperity and peace.

Application: Can we honestly say that anything has changed with humanity today? Darkness is all around us, pride, pain, death, struggle, oppression, war, conflicts, etc.

God have them a vision through Isaiah of a coming Messiah who would be called “Immanuel”=God is with us.

God not only gave Isaiah a vision of the cradle but also of the crown. This complete vision is described in the 9th chapter and that is exactly where we want to begin and conclude.

1) The Purpose Of Immanuel

A. He would bring light into darkness

What is darkness? It is simply the absence of light. God Sovereignly placed the light in man in the garden, but man volitionally chose to put that light out through the conception of sin in his heart.

On his own, man has been successful in brings darkness into this world.

(vv1-3) They may have conquered lands, but they could not produce peace or joy.

Man could not contribute on his own the light humanity needed then and now.

Luk 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

B. He would bring peace into a land of conflict

Definition: Total well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people. Linked in the OT with the covenant, the presence of peace, as God’s gift, was conditional upon Israel’s obedience. In prophetic material, true peace is part of the end-time hope of God’s salvation. In the NT, this longed-for peace is understood as having come in Christ and able to be experienced by faith.

There was conflict in Isaiah’s day among God’s chosen people. Between one another and those outside the kingdom.

We today are also surrounded by conflict, fighting, contention, wars, etc.

Man may create treaties, but Jesus was sent to rule with peace!

2) The Person Of Immanuel

A. The dual nature of Jesus

A child is born = His first advent established His identity, not His reign.

This does not signify the beginning of Jesus’ existence, but rather the beginning of our hope.

A Son is given = the title for the King.

This is said to prove His origin in Heaven, not in Bethlehem.

Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

It is Jesus to whom the kingdom of peace is given

Galatians 4:4

B. The wonder of Jesus’ nature

Isaiah’s vision did not stop at the cradle, but continued to the reign of Jesus.

These names are not like our names. They give the nature of significance of the person named.

Illustration: “He mad a name for himself = reputation. Not the same!

His Wonder

It means “extraofdinary, surpassing, marvelous, wonderful”

It is not used they way we use it (that was just wonderful)

The Bible use:

Gen 18:10-14 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. [11] Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. [12] Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? [13] And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? [14] Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Is anything too marvelous, wonderful, extraordinary for the Lord?

Psa 139:1-6 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. [3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. [5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Let us take counsel from Nicodemus when he said, “no man can do these things apart from God.”

His Counsel

Meaning, “one who plans”

He has wisdom to rule

Kings made decisions; they give counsel. However, they often surround themselves with counsellors.

Jesus is the one and only king who’s counsel is with wonder due to Him needing no external guidance.

Joh 1:48-51 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. [49] Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. [50] Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. [51] And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Joh 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, [29] Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

His Power

Psa 45:3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

What Isaiah is saying brings the ideology of divine kingship into Jerusalem and applies it to a future king.

Notice how Jesus identifies Himself in Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

His Fatherhood

This title probably comes as the most striking.

Jesus is said to be the Son, but is now also called the “perpetual Father.”

Isaiah is confirming a couple of things: 1) The Sovereign LORD who had always enthroned the Davidic kings would come and rule as the Messiah. 2) Jesus is eternal and equal to the Father.

John 8:23 “I am not of this world”

John 5:43 “I came in My Father’s name”

John 10:30 “I and the Father are one”

Jesus is the expressed image of the Father.

His Peace

This title means that the Messiah will be One who ensures for His people the blessings of peace.

IMPORTANT - His peace is not simply the absence of war or comfort in present trials, but the working of “all things” to that final culminating moment when we enter into the “new heaven” and “new earth”

Illustration: Who would be honest to say that you experience a level of peace when their is assurance of your plans working out? (they often don’t)

Jesus’ plans and purposes; cradle, cross, crown and new creation CANNOT BE ALTERED!!!

3) The Promise Of Immanuel

A. The authority of our assurance (v7)

“Zeal” speaks of God’s deepest passion.

“Perform” speaks to God accomplishing what He set out to do!

“Hosts” speaks to God’s authority over all things in Heaven and earth!

Our hope has never and will never rest in the name of some monarch or president.

Our only hope is in the Word of the LORD that promised Immanuel.

The only real hope you can have rests in God’s personal presence in your heart and in your life.

Conclusion: So, due to the fact that because of the advent of Jesus Christ, God is with us today. The question that remains is this, “Will you be with Jesus when your life is over?” Jesus did not make a mistake when he came to provide the wonderful Gospel of peace to sinners like you. Jesus has done the work and is ready and able to be your Savior if you would only believe and confess Him as Savior. Immanuel came to give peace. Will you receive it today?