The Son’s Reign-Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah, Old Testament, Sermons

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” (Isa 9:6).

Theme: God’s solution to the world’s problems is not a conquerer but a child; it is not might but meekness and mildness. The weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1 Cor 1:25b). The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom (1 Cor 1:25a). God’s power works best and is perfected in weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

Recap: Fear God, Follow God, or Fall Away (Isaiah 8). When one fears God they do not fear the conspiracies of the world but live in safety and security (Isa 8:13-14a).

Key Themes and Verses in Isaiah 1-9:

  • The grace of God (Isa 1:18).
  • “Walk in the light of the Lord” (Isa 2:5).
  • “Stop trusting in mere humans” (Isa 2:22).
  • See God and hear the voice of God (Isa 6:1,5,8).
  • Trust God – This theme runs through chapter 7-39 (Isa 7:4a,9b).
  • Fear God and find safety (Isa 8:13-14a).
  • God’s solution is not a c_______ but a c____ (Isa 9:6-7).

The Messiah in Isaiah:

  1. The Messianic Sign (7:1-16): His birth. Immanuel (Isa 7:14).
  2. The Messianic Son (9:1-7): His person. His nature (Isa 9:6).
  3. The Messianic Branch (11:1-16): His kingdom. His reign.

When the Son reigns:

  1. Light dawns (9:1-2).
  2. Joy increases (9:3-5).
  3. Peace prevails, righteousness reigns (9:6-7).

Interspersed between these messianic passages are passages of God’s judgment because of the failure to trust God (7:18-9:22; 9:8-10:34).

Contrasting reigns. This future righteous Davidic king will bring a period of light, joy and peace to God’s people (9:1-7). It envisions a glorious future time of peace (11:1-16). The light, joy and peace of his reign (9:1-7) sharply constrasts with the darkness, distress and war of Ahaz’s reign (Isa 8:22). The peace and justice that the future Davidic ruler will establish is also contrasted with the sinful pride and oppression that led to the downfall of both Israel and Assyria (9:8-10:34).

  1. Light(9:1-2)

The most humbled will be the first to be honored. The geographic location of Zebulun and Naphtali is to the northern part of Galilee, the area of Israel first humbled by foreign military invasions, and the region most influenced by foreign cultures and religions. Isa 9:1 predicts that the least likely area of Israel, the far northern section that was the most militarily oppressed and most influenced by poagans, will in some way be honored by God when he sends a new “light” in the future.

People walking in darkness see a great light of hope in the future. The poetic royal birth announcement begins in Isa 9:2. Light is a sign of hope and deliverance from the darkness that pervaded the land. A new day of hope and light will arrive. God is the light (Ps 27:1). God’s words are a light (Ps 119:105; Isa 8:20). God’s glorious coming to his kingdom is pictured as light (Isa 60:1-3).

  1. Joy(9:3-5)

Two illustrations of wild celebrative joy are used to compare the people’s future happiness. The people will rejoice and jump for joy like people do when they see an unusually massive harvest (possibly referring to the joy at the Feast of Weeks – Dt 16:9-12), or when they observe the hoards of goods brought home by the troops after an enemy nation is plundered. Isaiah uses God’s great victory over Midian as a comparison (Judges 6-7).

III. Peace (9:6-7)

This oracle comes to a climactic end by announcing the birth of a son who would reign forever as a righteous Davidic ruler, one who is very different from Ahaz. His names are titles that represent his character and roles.

Wonderful Counselor combines the idea of doing something “wonderful, extraordinary, miraculous” with the skill of “giving wise advice, making plans, counsel.” God is the source of all miraculous events and his plans are the wisest counsel to follow. God will work in and through this son to demonstrate his extraordinary wisdom to plan wonderful miraculous things.

Mighty God. If onse includes a verb to this dual name the name might mean “God is mighty” or “God is a mighty warrior.”

Everlasting Father combines two ideas in one concept. It can be translated “my father [is] eternal” or “father of eternity.” “Father” is a relatively rare way of describing God in the Hebrew Bible (Dt 32:6; Jer 3:4, 19; Isa 63:16; 64:7; Mal 2:10). This tendency may be a conscious attempt to avoid pagan images of the gods giving birth to people. Since fathers were the heads of tribes who wisely led the people, it is a fitting title for a ruler. “Everlasting” is a title that does not apply to any human ruler, except that the Davidic promise speaks of one who will rule on the throne of David forever (2 Sam 7:16; Isa 9:7).

Prince of Peace. Every king wanted to bring peace and prosperity to his subjects. Peace implies an end of war.It is reminiscent of the ideal peace described in the kingdom of God in Isa 2:4. This ideal is discussed in more detail in Isa 11:6-9.

Four things are known about the government this ruler will establish (Isa 9:7):

  1. When he rules he will limitlessly expand his influence and create peace without end (Ps 2:8).
  2. He will reign on the throne of David and reestablish his kingdom.
  3. His method of ruling will be based on the principles of justice and righteousness (Isa 11:4-5).
  4. This Davidic ruler will reign forever (2 Sam 7:16).

This message of hope expresses the certainty that God’s previous promises to the Davidic dynasty will be fulfilled in spite of all the terrible, dark circumstances the nation faced in the time of Ahaz. Light, joy, the end of war, and a new, righteous, Davidic ruler empowered by God himself will replace the gloom that surrounded the nation in the middle of the Syro-Ephraimite War (734 BC). Just as in the dark and hopeless times of Isaiah (Isa 6:9-10), God’s promise in modern times is still to bring peace and justice to this world through the Messiah. Such good news offers rebellious people to turn from trusting in political alliances, mediums because God is their only true source of hope. God’s promises will only be accomplished through his chosen messianic ruler. Placing trust in any other solution is folly.

Questions [Alternate Titles: The Reign of a Righteous King {Gary Smith}; Unto Us a Child is Born {John Oswalt}; A Great Light Shines {Barry Webb}; The Royal Hope {J Alec Motyer}; The Messianic Son of God: His Nature {Michael Rydelnik, Moody Bible Commentary}; The Glory of God’s King; The Child with Many Names.]:

  1. What hope was offered to those who lived in Galilee (9:1-2)? How does 9:1–2 relate to the preceding vision of 2:2-4 and 4:2-6? What does that tell us about God’s ultimate intent (Mt 4:13-17)?
  2. Why is the nation rejoicing (9:3-5)? How was it possible (9:7b; Judg 6:15; 7:2, 7)
  3. Who is responsible for this deliverance (9:6)? What is the irony here? What do his names tell us about him?
  4. Wonderful Counselor (Prov 9:10; 27:9).”In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” Albert Schweitzer.
  5. Mighty God (Isa 8:13-14a; Ps 18:2; Prov 29:25).
  6. Everlasting Father (Lk 15:17; 1 Jn 3:1; Mt 7:9-11).
  7. Prince of Peace (Isa 30:15; 48:18; 66:12).
  8. Notice 4 things about the nature of the government this ruler will establish (9:7a)? How will this happen (7b)?
  9. “…there will be no end.”
  10. “He will reign on David’s throne…”
  11. “…with justice and righteousness…”
  12. “…from that time on and forever.”
  13. In a segment dealing with oppression and brutality (7:1–9:7) why the recurring emphasis on children (Mt 18:3-4; Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17; 2 Cor 12:9)? Some scholars say this is a human child, perhaps Hezekiah (b. 737 BC). Why not (Isa 7:14)?

References:

  1. Smith, Gary V. Isaiah 1-39. The New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. B & H Publishing Group. Noshville, TN. 2007. 143-149.
  2. Motyer, J. Alec. Isaiah. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1999.
  3. Webb, Barry G. The Message of Isaiah: On Eagles’ Wings. The Bible Speaks Today. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1997.
  4. Kidner, Derek. New Bible Commentary. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1994.
  5. Ortlund Jr., Raymond C. Isaiah: God Saves Sinners. Preaching The Word. Crossway books. Wheaton, IL, USA. 1995. (Book. 50 audio sermons on Isaiah by Ray Ortlund.)
  6. Isaiah – Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae.
  7. Isaiah: Title of each chapter and commentary.
  8. Isaiah – Matthew Henry.
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