Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) 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. 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.
Isaiah is a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah sees some good times and he prophetically sees Israel through some hard times as he proclaims, “To the teaching and the testimony!” Isaiah was a man of faith and a faithful servant of God.
Isaiah is the one God gives the vision of the Lord himself high and lifted up with the angels proclaiming, “Holy, holy, hoy!”
Isaiah’s preaching is loaded with profound insights into the nature of God that point us to the glories of the good news of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
It is no surprise that we see in Isaiah glorious words that prepare the hearts of God’s people for the one who will sit on David’s throne forever, and the one whose government does nothing but increase.
The first words of the birth narrative of Jesus in Luke 2:11 mirror these first words of the promised birth of the One in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us”, “For unto you”. The similarity is far from chance. God leaves nothing to chance. His providential breathing out of his word to Isaiah and to Luke clues us into Luke’s inspired intention: Jesus is the promised one of Isaiah 9:6-7.
Isaiah is preaching during the reign of Ahaz in Isaiah 9, and the gloom of their discipline weighs heavy. But the promise of God’s faithfulness cuts through that darkness with a promise that there will be one who will come that will not be like Ahaz. This promised future king will rule with absolute certainty, righteousness, peace, and justice.
Israel never had a king afterward that fully lived up to Isaiah’s vision. Did God fail? Absolutely not. Because God’s word to Judah had a fulfillment and application that was not for their day.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, – Hebrews 11:39
Isaiah speaks about some Old Testament saints who believed by faith though they did not receive the promise of God in their day. Isaiah and his audience are included in that great cloud of witnesses to God’s saving work as they looked forward without wavering to the fulfillment of his word.
We have had the absolute joy of being able to experience what Isaiah longed to see.
“…since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:40
Who do we get to experience? We experience Jesus. Jesus is the King who carries the weight of governing the Israel of God, the universe, and all things we can’t even see. He is the Wonderful Counselor who we can go to for divine help. He is the Mighty God who will cover us with his sovereign power. He is Everlasting Father who will love us and care for us and provide for us. He is the Prince of Peace who can calm our troubles. Jesus whose rule will never end is God who sits on David’s throne ruling over the nations of the earth. It is Jesus who will advance justice and righteousness now and forever.
Advent. Jesus has come and has made his rule available to us by faith. Receive him today.
Theology in the Dirt 