Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

Introduction

As we enter the month of December, a lot of excitement and anticipation builds up as each week moves progressively closer to Christmas.

We love spending time with family and friends, as well as the chance to show love & appreciation to others with gifts and season’s greetings.

We really have to be mindful though to not forget the real reason for Christmas.

We’ve most likely heard the story many times before, but we must protect ourselves from letting it get outdated or irrelevant.

The fact is, we would all be in our sins and in spiritual darkness and hopelessness if it were not for the Christmas Story.

I’d like to walk with you through some insights and practical notions about the birth of Jesus that still impact us today.

The Birth of Jesus expresses God’s Love.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

Characteristics of God’s Love

1. Selfless

6 For to us a child is born

to US (a Gift!)

a child (GOD Almighty wrapped in flesh as a helpless baby!)

Jesus came to serve.

His humble birth was selfless.

We earned eternal death & hell.

God gave us (believers) eternal life & heaven.

2. Timely

this day

at the right time

3. Sacrificial

to us a son is given;

4. Miraculous

the virgin shall conceive

Immanuel = “God with us”

The Birth of Jesus establishes God’s Kingdom.

...and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Characteristics of the King

1. Wonderful Counselor

His counsel is wonderful.

How is it wonderful?

2. Mighty God

3. Everlasting Father

Everlasting

Father

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples, so as not to “orphan” them.

4. Prince of Peace

Peace

Old Testament

שָׁלוֺם (šālôm).

n. masc.

soundness, peace.

The state of being whole.

Peace denotes the wholeness, soundness, and well-being that characterizes God and that God created in the world.

As peace was broken due to human sin, such well-being constitutes the hope for ultimate restoration by God.

A Present Peace

The death of Jesus on the cross restored peace:

between God and sinful humanity (if they repent and turn to Christ)

between Jew and Gentile

A Future Peace

The reign of Christ already produces this kind of transformation in the sphere of human character, and will ultimately change the whole creation (cf.

Rom.

8:19–25.).

Whether this will be realized literally as depicted here is another matter; it seems better to view this as an earthly expression of the ‘new heavens and … new earth’ (65:17, 25) in which variety will not be enmity, and the weak will be the complement, no longer the prey, of the strong.

All Creation awaits this “ultimate restoration” of peace (or šālôm).

Characteristics of the Kingdom

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,

1. Expansive

Of the increase….no

end

Other Translation

Isaiah 9:7 (CSB): 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end.

The expanse & breadth (size) of the Kingdom of God will be infinite

of his government

מִשְׂרָה (miśrâ), N. domination.

Noun Usage

1. dominion† — dominance, power, or sovereignty through legal authority.

Related Topics: Government; Dominion.

Is 9:5 וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה

Is 9:6 לַם רַבָּה הַמִּשְׂרָ֜ה

—

2. Peaceful

[of the increase]…of peace

3. Eternal

there will be no end

4. Davidic

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

Why is this important?

Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 23:5; Pss 89:3; 132:12; 2 Chr 13:5)

5. Just & Righteous

to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness

Notice that Jesus will both establish…and…uphold His Kingdom in this way.

It begins with justice and with righteousness and continues in it.

It won’t start out great only to unravel into chaos and get perpetually worse as time goes on.

God‘s Kingdom is eternal because God Himself is eternal.

6. Awaits Complete Fulfillment

from this time forth and forevermore.

7. Divinely Assured

The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this.

Interesting statement.

Instead of saying “the LORD of Hosts will do this,” Isaiah says “The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this.”

We should have no doubt of anything God’s zeal drives Him to accomplish.

We can count on Him to do what He sets out to do.

OBSERVATION: God’s zeal drives His actions.

Zeal for what?

His glory

for his name’s sake

The Heavenly scene in Revelation 5:13