By Grace: The King of Peace
Isaiah 9:1-7
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
(Isaiah 9:6)
Isaiah goes on to reveal who this coming Son is. Notice that the child will govern the universe. Hebrews 1:3 says, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his be-ing, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Christ is already in charge. His rule is character-ized by these four names given to us by Isaiah. By grace, He is our "Wonderful Counselor" - the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the "Mighty God" - all-powerful and sovereign.
Isaiah calls Christ the "Everlasting Father" but doesn't confuse the Father and the Son. Like the Father, Christ cares for us with His providential love. He is our Great High Priest, answering our prayers and interceding for us. Christ is the Everlasting Creator, the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. Finally, Isaiah describes Christ as the "Prince of Peace." The word "peace" here is "shalom" in Hebrew. It means all-encompassing completeness and well-being - the peace that passes understanding, extended to each of us.
INSIGHT
God works through weakness. Christ didn't come in flowing robes on a luxurious throne. The King was born in a lowly manger.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 10-11
Psalm 5
Matthew 8-9
Isaiah 9:1-7
To Us a Child Is Born
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death[a]
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,[b] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 9:2 Or land of darkness
b. Isaiah 9:6 Or Wonderful, Counselor
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