Today in God's Word—September 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
September 16, Isaiah 9
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. - Isaiah 9:6
The message of the prophets, like the gospel itself, was a combination of good news and bad news. The good news is that God loved his people, was merciful and repeatedly called Israel to turn from idolatry and ungodly living and come back to him. The bad news was the warning about the ruinous consequences they would suffer if they rejected his gracious offer. In the same way, Paul wrote in Romans that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to those who believe, the revelation of the righteousness of God in Christ. But in the verses that immediately follow this good news comes the bad news of the warning — that the wrath of God is revealed by the same gospel message for Christ rejectors who refuse to come to God through him. Just so, the burden or message of Isaiah and the other prophets was a both/and mix of offered pardon and pending judgment. It was also an either/or message based on the recipients' response. They would enjoy blessings or experience destruction. But the choice was up to them.
Isaiah 9 is one of many passages in Isaiah where the bright promises and dark threats both occur, one after the other. No passage shines with more glorious heavenly light than this one. Where the dark shadow of idolatry fell across Israel in Zebulun and Naphtali, the prophet predicted that the glorious light of Messiah would shine. The gospel writers connected this prophecy to the beginning of Jesus' ministry and miracles in Galilee. Isaiah used prophetic past tense verbs to emphasize the certainty of the predictions coming to pass. Messiah's triumph would be accomplished as Israel's deliverance in the days of Gideon, without military might, in a way the people could never have accomplished on their own.
The first two phrases of the beautiful promise in our text are not simply saying the same thing in two different ways. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" is a wonderful poetic expression of Messiah's dual nature. The phrase "a child is born" emphasizes the human nature of Jesus. He would be born into this world like any other person. But the second phrase, "a son is given,” speaks to him being something much more: The pre-existent son of God would be the son who was given for us. This God/man would have all authority. His names would describe his majestic holiness.
Think with me about how Jesus is surely all these names suggest. He is Wonderful in his eternal existence, from eternity past to all eternity future. He is Creator and Sustainer of all that is. He is Wonderful in his miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin and subsequent birth. He is Wonderful in his amazing miracles and teaching. He is Wonderful in his sinless life, his sacrificial death on our behalf and his glorious resurrection. He is Wonderful in his ascension into heaven and his promised return.
And he is Counselor. He is in the plural "us" of God in Genesis 1. He is Counselor in all his teaching in a way that no teacher before or since could match. He is the Counselor whose word will judge the world when he comes again.
The New Testament confirms again and again that Jesus himself is the Mighty God. All the fullness of God dwells in him. He is the exact imprint of God's nature. He is also Everlasting Father, the one who gives us eternal life. And he is surely the Prince of Peace. From the angels' announcement of peace on the night of his birth to his death when he shed his blood on the cross to make peace with God for both Jews and Gentiles, he is himself our Peace.
In the next breath (or line) of his prophecy, Isaiah abruptly turned to the devastating destruction that was coming for Israel right away and Judah soon after. The beautiful poetry
describes a horrific outpouring of judgment on the arrogant Israelites who would not repent. A recurring phrase describes the relentless wrath of God like an ominous refrain: "For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is outstretched still."
Centuries later, the apostle Paul would write in Romans, "Note then, the kindness and the severity of God." We can surely see both those aspects of God in Isaiah 9. God's patience and long suffering with Israel is wonderful and encouraging. But the severity of his wrath toward those who refuse to listen and turn to him is terrible indeed. If we will respond in trusting faith and surrender our will to his will, we will enjoy the blessings of the good news and never experience the terror of the bad news.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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