A Child is Born (PT 4)

Introduction

Open Your Bibles, to Isaiah 9. Isaiah chapter 9 and we will be reading verse 1-7.

Last time we meditated on the amazing wonder of God’s plan. God sent a Son that would end the war, a Son to rescue the people in darkness, God people have hope because of a Baby.

We noticed how counter intuitive God’s actions are; showing that this is not a human story.

No human would do what Gideon did

No human would solve the situation of sin as God did

All so God’s name is gloried

We talked about see the connections in scripture. See God’s plan in all of scripture.

The Son was promised in Isaiah and came in Matthew.

Let’s Read

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.

My God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word.

Let’s Pray

Transition

Let time we talked about the statement “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” (Is 9:6, ESV) What type of leader is this child. The Prophet respond to this question be giving us his names. Look at the rest of verse 6 and the start of verse 7 with me.

Body

He is the all Sufficient King (1)

"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” (Is 9:6b-7a, ESV)

Exposition

his name shall be called

Exposition

Who are the ones that will call him this?

The people of God.

The ones brought out of anguish

The ones in the darkness that see a light

The ones in death that the light shines on

Application

If we confess the Son that is born we must also confess his Kingship.

I am going to take a moment to talk about the idea of a carnal Christian and how contrary that idea is to the scriptures.

In this text, those for whom the Son is Born are the ones that confess his perfect ability as King.

John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” - (John 3:36, ESV)

If you don’t love Christ are you saved?

“If you love me you will keep my commandments (John 14:15, ESV)

Illustration

Imagine a person tells you they love America and they are proud to be Americans at the same time they are walking on and burning the US flag right in front of you. You could be forgiving for saying, somethings not right here.

In the same way, those who confess they love Christ yet also run to, revel in, and roister with the the things that Christ has said he hates, are to be questioned.

Transition

Very well Christ said, you cannot “serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24, ESV) You will either hate Christ, and your life will show it; or, you will love Christ and again your life will show it.

The prophet Isaiah tells us of someone that you have to been a dead sinful person to hate. Take a look at the rest of verse 6 here.

his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Exposition

These name of Christ,

I resist calling them titles because titles are external. These definitions are better called names because they are not something external to him but describe who he is intrinsically, internally.

These name are true of him all the time, however, the Prophet is using them in a context here and being faithful stewards of the word means letting the word define our context.

The context is his government.

Right above “the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Is 9:6, ESV)

Right Below “Of the increase of his government” (Is 9:7, ESV)

To use Pastor Gabe’s expository device, there is a sandwich here.

His Government

His names

His Government

We ask then, what these name tell us about his government.

There are 8 words used in 4 pairs. The words mean something individually and in pairs each mean something and the total couplet means something.

Wonderful

Calvin Comments “By the first title he arouses the minds of the godly to earnest attention, that they may expect from Christ something more excellent than what we see in the ordinary course of God’s works, as if he had said, that in Christ are hidden the invaluable treasures of wonderful things. [2]

Counselor

Mighty

The Hebrew Word Gibbor is most often used of those with might leadership, Kings with unbeatable armies [1]

God

The Hebrew word El used often for God means mighty.

Might God, two words the mean mighty, the pair say he is mighty mighty, or he mighty as God.

Everlasting

He is always in charge, there is no age or point where he is not in charge.

Father

This is not a statement about the trinity.

Abi or progenitor, he is the father of this government. It come from him.

. Everlasting Father,

He is the continual progenitor of his government. There is not a moment is his not in charge and there is not a moment he is not the father of this government.

Prince

Prince is a style of rulership. It implies heredity descent. He is the son of David.

Peace

Peace is a state of existence. David was a might King for example, but he was a man of War. Jesus will rule in peace.

Prince of Peace

In Hebrews its just Sar Shalom (Prince Peace)

Jesus’ kingdom will be marked by a hereditary peace.

John Calvin Again writes, “The Prince of Peace. This is the last title, and the Prophet declares by it that the coming of Christ will be the cause of full and perfect happiness, or, at least, of calm and blessed safety. In the Hebrew language peace often signifies prosperity, for of all blessings not one is better or more desirable than peace. The general meaning is, that all who submit to the dominion of Christ will lead a quiet and blessed life in obedience to him. Hence it follows that life, without this King, is restless and miserable.”[3]

Application

This is the king we confess. When we say I believe in Jesus. Paul said in Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro 10:9, ESV)

Do you confess Jesus as Lord? This is what you are confessing.

heirs of the government.

Illustration

Someone comes up to you and says, “yes, i know King Jesus, he is that long haired guy that says we just have to love every body and not judge anybody. You can be sure that person has no idea who Jesus is.

Someone comes up to you and says I can believe in Jesus and live like the devil, You can be sure that person has no idea who Jesus is.

Transition

Jesus is the perfect King, perfect to be loved. Perfect in the disposition of his care for his subjects. The was Jesus’ Kingly claim, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28, ESV) He is the King of rest, and that rest will never end but only grow more. Look at the first part of verse 7.

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

Exposition

The prophet does two things here.

Reinforces the everlasting nature of Christ's Kingship

Complacency*

Give hope for those yet to see the consummation.

Remember the hymn from Sunday, Christmas Bells

Verse 3, no hope disrepair “Hate grows strong”

Verse 4, God is not dead nor doth he sleep”

Application

Think about ourselves for a moment. We can often feel disrepair when we see the evil in this world. I always feel a mixture of anger, disrepair (at some level), and pity, when I think of the million babies that have been murdered in the womb this year here in the US.

But God is not dead, there is still darkness but Jesus is the restful king.

There is rest in Christ for me today. I can turn to him and pray for those murdering and being murdered and know he hears my prayer. I can know he is the perfect king right now.

I can look forward to the consummation of all of these things when the wrong will be set right. When there will no end of the rightness, no end to peace.

Pastor Gabe often speaks of the trifecta of darkness that he faces, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. There is rest right now in Christ for Pastor Gabe.

There is rest for you right now, are you distressed about childlessness, are you grieving a lost loved one, are you at a place where you find no hope int he world, come rest in the king.

Conclusion

In conclusion I have been speaking of comfort but I must also exhort hear a little. It stings a little, at least it did for me as I wrote these words.

How much we must hate those we do not share this rest with.

I think of all the times I have kept my month shut when there was an opportunity to speak about this king.

I have defended the faith often, but I have also often not.

We have the only answer beloved.

Jesus is the only way, to peace.

His truth is the only peace.

In his peace there is life every lasting.

Benediction

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Nu 6:24–26, ESV)

And All God’s People said Amen

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

References

[1] “pertaining to having political or military force (Da 11:3); 3. LN 9 unit: אֵל גִּבּוֹר (ʾēl gib·bôr) Mighty God, i.e., title of One on David’s throne:”James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

[2] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 309.

[3] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 312.

Bibliography

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

Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.