A Child Is Born (PT 2)

Introduction

Open your Bible if you would to Isaiah Chapter 9, Isaiah Chapter 9. We will read verse 1-7 but we will be focusing on verse 3-5 this evening.

Last time,

The her in anguish will be set free.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2, ESV)

Even in despair the light will come.

“those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Is 9:2, ESV)

Even in death there is hope.

Where is there hope even in death?

As we talked about last time, no historical event make sense of these comments other then Jesus

Calvin summed for us well our conclusion from last time,

“If therefore we extend the commencement of the deliverance from the return from Babylon down to the coming of Christ, on whom all liberty and all bestowal of blessings depends, we shall understand the true meaning of this passage, which otherwise has not been satisfactorily explained by commentators.”[1]

The fortunes of Israel are restored in Christ.

Lets Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 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.

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word

Let’s Pray

Transition

With what we covered last time in mind lets jump into verse 3 tonight.

Body

Joy Grounded in Christ (1)

Text

Isaiah 9:3 ESV

You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

Exposition

“You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy”

Exposition

Two words are given that mean to make larger.

Multiply

Increase

What is increased? Joy.

Joy, Rejoice Joy, Glad.

Calvin comments here “It is as if Isaiah had said, “There never was greater joy, though the multitude of the people was greater. Though we are few and contemptible in number, yet by the light with which thou shinest on us thou hast cheered us to such a degree that no joy of our former condition can be compared with the present.” [2]

Like the previous verses we are presented with a joy, a hope that is undiminished in the face of adversity. It overcomes adversity and turns even the struggles to joy.

Illustration

John the Baptist was one of the first recorded experiencing this ultimate Joy. In the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of Christ.

Transition

That joy is what is at the center of verse three, notice the statement. “they rejoice before you.” The verse has three parts, who rejoices, where they rejoice, and what they rejoice like.

"they rejoice before you “

Exposition

Before you, the ground of this Joy is not temporary, it is in God eternal, unchangeable, all sufficient,

Calvin’s comment on this phrase, “before you,” is insightful. Calvin writes, “He means that the joy was true and complete, not slight or temporary. Men often rejoice, but with a deceitful and transitory joy, which is followed by mourning and tears. He affirms that this joy has its roots so deeply laid, that it can never perish or be destroyed” [3]

Application

Again we see God is the center a ground for hope. The people of Isreal were facing a coming disaster, if you will excuse the pun, of biblical proportions. In the oases here, Isaiah remind the people that those who wait on God have hope and joy even in the face of the trials.

illustration

Nothing is a better illustration then the saints that have walked this out.

For example, John Calvin had migraines his whole life and was sickly and bed ridden often and he writes,

“Now, hence it is evident what Christ brings to us, namely, a full and perfect joy, of which we cannot in any way be robbed or deprived, though various storms and tempests should arise, and though we should be weighed down by every kind of afflictions. However weak and feeble we may be, still we ought to be glad and joyful; for the ground of our joy does not lie in numbers, or wealth, or outward splendour, but in spiritual happiness, which we obtain through the word of Christ.” [4]

Or Horatio G. Spafford who lost his business, been bankrupted, and lost both is daughters at sea and still he writes,

“It is well with my soul” - “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.

Or the count less other saints that have faced, Lions, Fire, beheading, starvation, and torture and yet have unshakable faith in the God that saves.

Transition

This is the joy that is at harvest and at the end of the battle. Look at the rest of the verse there.

"as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil”

Exposition

“as with joy at the harvest” The harvest is when all the work is done. The reword is at hand.

“they are glad when they divide the spoil.” The battle is over and victory is won and the fear of death in battle is replaced with the rewards of victory.

Application

Dear friends, saints, adopted of the Lord, your victory is won in Christ.

Are you in a night of sorrow? Has anguish ravaged your soul? Is there night in your soul? Take heart, with the dawn comes the light. Jesus is that light. You can say with Calvin, “though various storms and tempests should arise, and though we should be weighed down by every kind of afflictions. However weak and feeble we may be, still we ought to be glad and joyful; for the ground of our joy does not lie in numbers, or wealth, or outward splendour, but in spiritual happiness, which we obtain through the word of Christ.” A long With Horatio G. Spafford you can proclaim the truth, “It is well with my soul!”’

This is not a fake joy, this joy feels the heartache, the loss, the sickness, the pain, and does not pretend it way.

No this is a gritty joy that stands in the face of the trials and says it is well with my soul. This joy takes comfort in God promises, leans on them and in so doing God turns trial to reward. The reward of endurance the reward of faith.

Transition

This gritty joy, joy that sticks, is because he one the battle. Look to the victor in verse 4.

God’s is the victory (2)

Text

Isaiah 9:4 ESV

For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Exposition

“For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor”

Exposition

Yoke, Staff, Rod.

The worst kind of oppression.

The Babylonian atrocities are a visualization of the oppression of sin.

Application

The Israelites were facing destruction as a nation. But death in this life is not the worst oppression. Bondage to sin, the inability to do what is good, or even worse no desire to do what is good. Is the kind of oppression we are talking about here.

Transition

What does God do with this oppressor?

He brakes them.

“you have broken”

Exposition

The actor is God, “you have broken”

Jesus does what Jesus will do, David writes in Psalm 2:9 “You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psa 2:9, ESV).

Transition

So God is the one that frees his people from the worst kind of oppression.

“as on the day of Midian”

Exposition

Why does the author reference Midian.

No one can point to the victory over the Midianites and say Gideon did that.

Just like the victory over Midian, the victory that gives God’s people the gritty joy is God’s victory worked out by him.

illustration

Isaiah provides the illustration here. I mean what kind of a battle plan was it that Gideon had? Here go down to the army of 100,000 fighting men with 300 men. Oh, and and when you get there, don’t fight, break some pottery and yell really loud.

Application

Who’s was the victory over Midian? Surely not Gideon’s.

yet Gideon's that shared in the victory.

Who’s is the victory over sin? Surly not ours.

Yet we share in the in the victory.

Transition

What kind of victory is it? It is a victory in a battle but there is still a war to fight? Or is it a victory as in VE day, the end of the war. God’s victory is final, take a look at verse 5.

It is a Final Victory (3)

Text

Isaiah 9:5 ESV

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

Exposition

“For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.”

Exposition

Every boot and every garment is burned because there is no more use for them. The war is over, God has won.

Again we see how this passage only make sense in Christ.

When the Israelites do return with Eza and Niamiah the battle is not over.

“15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail.” (Ne 4:15–16, ESV)

They have returned from captivity but they are ready for battle.

Application

This is how the battle works for the saint, just like the Israelite we are ready to fight, we have spiritual warfare to do, we have sin to fight but we are more then conquerors in Jesus. Our victory is now, and not yet, ready and at head and yet awaiting the final advent.

Conclusion

Verse 6, which we will get into next time, starts with the words, “For to us a child is born”

Why is there a lasting victory, a child is Born

Why is there joy in stead of anguish, a child is Born

How has God won the Victory, a child is Born.

All peace offered the besieged Israelites in this passage, all of the peace offered every sinner beset by sin, is found in this child.

So well did the angels say Peace on earth and good will to men that Christmas day of Christ’s birth.

Next time we will consider this child and who he is.

Benediction

“May the God of peace be with you all.” Ro 15:33 and all of God’s people said “Amen.”

Go in peace or stay and fellowship in his peace, both are good.

References

[1] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 300.

[2] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 302.

[3] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 302.

[4] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 303.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and William Pringle. Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.