“For Unto Us A Child is Born, A Son Is Given” Isaiah 9:1-7
Pastor David Nelson
1 “But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
At the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry Matthew, in chapter 4, ties those events to what is predicted about the Messiah in this passage of Isaiah. We will highlight a few ways that Jesus the Messiah is described.
First, Jesus is the Son Who is the Light of the World (verse 2). In verses 3-5 He is a Son Who is victorious—He will multiply the nation and increase its gladness. That is, they will be glad in God’s presence as when there is a good harvest or when an army divides up the spoils of war after a mighty victory. Jesus, through His victory and the termination of war, will cause the garments bloodied in battle to be used for burning, fuel for the fire.
Second, Jesus is a Son Who is God in flesh. A child is born; a Son is given. Not famous warrior nor one of renown, but a child is born—emphasizing Jesus’ humanity. A Son is given—emphasizing Jesus’ deity. His authority is described in verse 6: The government will be on His shoulders. Then notice His titles or names:
1. Wonderful-Counselor–Most effective in planning, in formulating a plan for action
2. Mighty-God–Has full omnipotence of God at command; ‘God’ emphasizing “the strong one.”
3. Father-Forever–Loving parental concern for those committed to His charge
4. Peace-Prince–“After all His work is done and He has gathered to Himself a redeemed people, He rules over them as ‘Prince’.” (Source unknown.)
Third, Jesus is a Son Who will reign forever. Verse 7 says there will be no end to His reign. He would reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time and forevermore.
“A child is born; a Son is given.” Jesus is the Son Who is the Light of the World—whoever follows Him, Jesus promised, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Jesus is the Son Who is victorious—He has conquered sin, death, and the devil—for us—for you! Jesus is the Son Who is God in flesh—God is with us! Jesus is the Son Who will reign forever—whenever the Scriptures describe Jesus’ reign it is always described as an eternal reign—of course as God, from all of eternity past to eternity future, but also He reigns as fully human—our brother, who was made like us in every way, yet was without sin—from His resurrection until forever.
What an amazing and incredible Savior we have! His name is Jesus. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let us bow down and worship Him. Let us willing serve Him all the days of our life and for all of eternity. Let us seek to share this with people all over the world who desperately need to hear it. Joy to the world!