We Celebrate the Child born, and the Son given!

Introduction:

As we continue to celebrate Advent, let’s look at the preview of the coming of Christ from the perspective of the prophet Isaiah and the Jews to whom he spoke from his writings in Isaiah 9:1-7. Isaiah saw his visions during the reigns of 4 Kings of Judah.

Isaiah 1:1 ESV

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Background:

The LORD had expressed his anger with His people Israel (Isaiah 5:3) and foretold through Isaiah that they would be stricken and cut off because of their wickedness in having forsaken the LORD and in fearing men rather than the LORD. Both the houses of Israel and of Judah would be made to stumble, be broken, snared and taken in battle by their enemies. They will be thrown into distress and will go hungry and will speak in contempt of their king and against the LORD. Yet in these verses the prophet also speaks of hope to the people of God for their sinful condition. In the distant future, after the LORD has finished punishing them and causing them to be distressed, and also punishing their enemies, the LORD, through the prophet Isaiah, foretells His people of the time where He will bring them out of the darkness of their sins.

Isaiah 8:21–22 ESV

21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

I. God will shine light into Israel’s darkness (v. 1-5)

A. There gloom will be removed.

B. The contempt God brought upon Zebulon and Naphtali will give way to glory.

2 Kings 15:29 ESV

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.

C. Those in darkness will see a great light.

D. God will multiply the nation.

E. The nation will rejoice.

F. God will remove their burdens and break the rod of Israel’s oppressor.

G. God will end their fighting with peace?

II. God will give a child and a son. (v. 6–7c)

A. A child is born and a son is given (v. 6a)

B. The government will be on his shoulder (v. 6b)

C. His names: (v. 6c)

Wonderful Counselor (wonder/marvel of a counselor)

Mighty God

power of His deity (Deut. 10:17; Jer 32:18)

powerful to fight all obstacles that keep His people away from Him. (Isaiah 10:21)

Everlasting Father (Job 29:16; 32:18; Gen 45:8)

Prince of Peace (Is 32:17; Luke 2:14)

D. His government and its peace will only increase (v. 7a)

E. He is the ultimate son of David to rule over the Davidic throne and kingdom (v. 7b)

F. He will order and uphold the Davidic Kingship with justice and righteousness from then to forever. (v. 7c)

III. The LORD’s zeal will make it happen. (v. 7d)

Exodus 34:14 ESV

14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Zechariah 1:14 ESV

14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion.