Isaiah 9
Promise that dimness will end verse 1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation
when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali – and afterwards did more
grievously afflict her by the way of the sea
beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations
Promise of future victory verse 2- 5
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death
upon them has the light shined
You have multiplied the nation – and not increased the joy
they joy before you according to the joy in harvest
and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil
For you have broken the yoke of his burden
and the staff of his shoulder – the rod of his oppressor
as in the day of Midian
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise
and garments rolled in blood
BUT this shall be with burning and fuel of fire
Promised Messiah will come: Jesus Christ verse 6- 7
For unto us a child is born – unto us a son is given
and the government shall be upon his shoulder
and HIS name shall be called Wonderful – Counselor
the mighty God – the everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end
upon the throne of David – upon his kingdom – to order it
and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even for ever
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this
Children of Israel receive judgment verse 8- 10
The Lord sent a word into Jacob – and it has lighted upon Israel
and all the people shall know
even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria
that say in the pride and in the stoutness of heart
The bricks are fallen down
BUT we will build with hewn stones
The sycamores are cut down
BUT we will change them into cedars
LORD uses foreign nation in judgment verse 11- 12
THEREFORE the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him
and join his enemies together – the Syrians before
and the Philistines behind
and they shall devour Israel with open mouth
For all this HIS anger is not turned away
but HIS hand is stretched out still
Israel will not repent verse 13- 17
For the people turned not unto HIM that smites them
neither do they seek the LORD of hosts
THEREFORE the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail
branch and rush – in one day
the ancient and honorable – he is the head
and the prophet that teaches lies – he is the tail
For the leaders of this people cause them to err
and they that are led of them are destroyed
THEREFORE the LORD shall have no joy in their young men
neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows
for everyone is an hypocrite and an evildoer
and every mouth speaks folly
For all this HIS anger is not turned away
but HIS hand is stretched out still
Brother with fight with brother verse 18- 21
For wickedness burns as the fire – it shall devour the briers and thorns
and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest
and they shall mount up like the lifting of smoke
Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened
and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire
no man shall spare his brother
And he shall snatch on the right hand – and be hungry
and he shall eat on the left hand – they shall not be satisfied
they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm
Manasseh – Ephraim – Ephraim – Manasseh
and they together shall be against Judah
For all this HIS anger is not turned away
but HIS hand is stretched out still
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2` The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (1080 :”walked” [halak] means to use one’s feet to advance, to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away. to die, live, manner of life (fig.) or advance by steps)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIS work on a daily basis. However, there were people in Israel that would rather walk in the darkness of this world instead of listening to the prophet or worshiping the LORD.
There are many people today that play at church. They go to church but then leave to do their own thing without praying and asking the LORD what HE wants them to do after they leave a worship service.
If we are going to church or reading the Bible without an intention of changing our behavior or listening to the still small voice of the regarding what we should do each day than we are not following the directions of the LORD regarding leading a life that is pleasing to HIM.
The children of Israel had a bad habit of doing their own thing except when someone was coming to fight with them and then they wanted the LORD’S help/ We have the same tendencies as we wait until things are bad and then we want the LORD to get us out of trouble.
Too often the LORD makes us wait for a while to see if we really want HIS help. Sometimes HE answers quickly but if we continue see HIM answer quickly we tend to not live a life that is pleasing to HIM.
HE wanted the children of Israel to obey HIM but they were good at backsliding and we tend to be the same as them.
CHALLENGE: If we really want to follow the LORD we will be reading HIS word and praying for direction every day and when HE answers we will praise HIM for HIS help.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (4951 “government” [misrah] means rule, dominion, position of high ruler or king, or empire.)
DEVOTION: Here is a verse that is used at Christmas time regarding the birth of Jesus to Mary. It is also used to show that Jesus is returning again after the Tribulation time period to set up HIS kingdom on earth for a thousand years.
We have the promise that the Messiah is going to come to this earth to reign over the earth for a thousand years in the future. It is supposed to be understood by every believer that we have a future hope of reigning with HIM during this time period.
Our government today is run by individuals who are only human and because of that it is run by sinners. Every human being is a sinner. There was only one person in history who was virgin born and who was promised to come again to reign over this world.
Here we find HIM compared to mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. These three descriptions of the Messiah show that HE was equal with God the Father. HE has all the attributes of the other two persons of the Trinity or Godhead. All three are equal but have different responsibilities.
Our understanding of the Trinity or Godhead is so limited because of our limited brain power. Yet we find that many people try to understand it by explaining it away instead of just believing it by faith.
One day we will meet Jesus. Those who are believers will stand before HIM at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive our rewards because of our service to HIM while we were alive. The rest of humanity will meet HIM at the Great White Throne Judgment to learn that they will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels because they chose to not become followers of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: When we read this verse do we understand just who the Messiah is and our responsibility to serve HIM daily? HE promises so much to those who are genuine believers.
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: 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. (1961 “leaders” [hayah] means guide, blessed one, lead straight, live an upright life, or make progress.
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were a rebellious group of people. The LORD gave them directions and they didn’t want to follow them. They are said to be sitting in darkness but there is a LIGHT coming. This LIGHT is the Messiah who will come later in history. We know HIM as Jesus Christ.
In the mean time there was a problem that the LORD pointed out to Isaiah. The problem was the leadership. They were teaching the children of Israel to err from the truth of the Word of God. They were not guiding them in the right way.
Those who are to lead an upright life were falling into sin and disobedience to the LORD. The people were following their example. This really displeased the LORD. Remember that those who are given more responsibility are given a greater judgment.
Today we have those who are giving direction to the church called pastors and denominational directors. These individuals are supposed to know the Word of God because of their educational background. They have been given courses in Bible Colleges and Seminaries on how to give direction to the local church.
However, many in seminaries and Bible colleges that teach have never been pastors of local churches. They think what needs to be done and what really needs to be done are two different things. They have ideas but they don’t cause the local church to be faithful to the Word of God. They seem to be teaching that pastors are to build their own kingdom instead of the LORD’S church.
This causes confusion. The LORD gave instructions to the disciples as to what it will take to build HIS church. HE sent them out on visitation. HE showed them how to do it and then sent them out on their way to learn from practice. They came back with reports and the LORD met them and gave them further instructions. They were to be good example. They did everything HE wanted the people to do.
It seems that some of the guides to the church today are informing the people regarding what they think they should do without setting the example. They are setting the church up to fail.
Faithful guides are what the LORD wanted for Israel and what HE wants today in the church. There should be no confusion.
CHALLENGE: Guide by example. Watch what you teach but don’t practice. Faithfulness is necessary for proper guidance
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for everyone is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (2611 “hypocrite” [chaneph] means soiled, godless, irreligious, or profane.
DEVOTION: The LORD promised the children of Israel a redeemer. The redeemer was coming in the future. HE was telling the tribe of Judah or the southern kingdom that judgment was coming. They were not listening to HIM. Their prophets were telling them lies. The lie was that the judgment was short lived. It would be over soon. It was a lie.
God wanted them to repent but they were not going to do it. A phrase is mentioned three times in this chapter and once in the next. It is the end of this verse.
HE was angry with his people because of their lack of trust in HIM. HE was stretching out HIS hand in judgment to get their attention.
Sometimes we deceive ourselves into thinking that the LORD is going to put up with our sin without judgment. We are also deceiving ourselves into thinking that the judgment on our nation will be short lived. Both are a lie. If our nation is not honoring the LORD, it is not a Christian nation. With all that is happening in the streets of our cities, how can we say we are honoring the LORD?
With all that is happening in the churches of our nation, how can we say we are honoring the LORD? The need of a Redeemer is needed now!!! Those who are followers of Christ need a revival. Revival can only happen in individuals who have a proper relationship with the LORD. Those who don’t have this relationship need repentance which leads to forgiveness and a proper relationship with the LORD. Most of those in our churches and on the streets will never have a proper relationship to the LORD because they are depending on their good works to get them into heaven and not the LORD.
The revival needs to start with ME!!! Too many individuals are going to church and not honoring the LORD. The world calls them SOILED!
CHALLENGE: The LORD doesn’t want individuals who act like they are saved, HE wants those who are saved to obey the Word of God like they love the LORD.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 6
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 7, 11, 13, 14, 19
Zeal verse 7
LORD of hosts verse 7, 13, 19
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 8, 17
Wrath of the LORD verse 12, 17, 19, 21
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
(Messiah) verse 1, 2, 6, 7
Child is born verse 6
Son is given verse 6
Wonderful verse 6
Counselor verse 6
Mighty God verse 6
Everlasting Father verse 6
Prince of Peace verse 6, 7
Throne of David verse 7
Establish kingdom with judgment verse 7
Establish kingdom with justice verse 7
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Midian verse 4
Rezin verse 11
Enemies verse 11
Syrians verse 12
Philistines verse 12
Ancient verse 15
Honorable verse 15
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Walk in darkness verse 2
Pride verse 9
Stoutness of heart verse 9
Turn not to the LORD verse 13
Not seek the LORD verse 13
Prophet that teaches lies verse 15
Leaders lead away from the LORD verse 16
Err verse 16
Hypocrite verse 17
Evildoer verse 17
Speak folly verse 17
Wickedness verse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
See the light verse 2
Joy verse 3, 17
Peace verse 7
Pride and stoutness of heart verse 9
Turn to the LORD verse 13
Seek the LORD verse 13
Mercy verse 17
Satisfied verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Land of Zebulun verse 1
Land of Naphtali verse 1
Throne of David verse 7
Jacob verse 8
Israel verse 8, 12, 14
Ephraim verse 9
Samaria verse 9
Manasseh verse 21
Ephraim verse 21
Judah verse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Shadow of death verse 2
Kingdom established for ever verse 7
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QUOTES regarding passage
6–7. What follows: the King and his rule. Each preceding explanation leads into this third and fundamental explanation. How does the victorious, covenant-fulfilling work of God (4) come about? By what way do the Lord’s people (5) enter a non-contributory salvation? By the mere fact of the King’s birth. The emphasis rests not on to us but on a child is born. Child: his human descent. Son: his maleness and dignity in the royal line. Born of human parentage but also given by the Lord. His people’s shoulders (4) are delivered when his shoulders accept the burden of rule. He will be called: literally ‘one will call his name’. In its highest use, ‘name’ sums up character; it declares the person. The perfection of this King is seen in his qualification for ruling (Wonderful Counsellor), his person and power (Mighty God), his relationship to his subjects (Everlasting Father) and the society his rule creates (Prince of Peace). Wonderful: literally ‘a Wonder of a Counsellor’. The vast majority of the eighty times the pālā’, its noun (as here, pele’) and adjective (pilĕ’î) occur, they refer to the Lord, himself and his works. It is the nearest word Hebrew has to the idea of ‘supernatural’, here bringing a wisdom far above the human: the fulfilment of 1:26, contrasting with Ahaz whose decisions ruined his people; like, but transcending, Solomon whose wisdom remained earthly (1 Kgs 4:29–34). Mighty God: the repetition of this title in 10:21, referring to the Lord himself, establishes its meaning here. Translations like ‘Godlike Hero’ are linguistically improbable, side-stepping the implication that the Old Testament looked forward to a divine Messiah (see on 4:2; 53:1). Everlasting is both general (26:4) and specific (57:15). When people requested a king (1 Sam. 8) they wished to replace the episodic rule of the Judges with the permanency of monarchy. The King to come is the ultimate fulfilment of this longing. Father: used of the Lord, ‘father’ speaks of his concern (Ps. 65:5), care and discipline (Ps. 103:13; Prov. 3:12; Isa. 63:16; 64:8); cf. Ps. 72:4, 12–14; Isa. 11:4. Peace is personal fulfilment (2 Kgs 22:20), well-being (Gen. 29:6), harmony (Exod. 4:18), peace with God (Num. 6:26; 25:12; Isa. 53:5). The verb, šālēm, means ‘to be whole, complete’. Prince corresponds to our idea of ‘administrator’. This Prince, then, himself a whole personality, at one with God and with his people, administers the benefits of peace/wholeness in his benign rule. This rule, however, will be unchanging in its character (and peace), without end in space and time (for ever), the fulfilment of the Davidic ideal (David’s, Pss 2:8; 72:8–11), reflecting the holiness of God in its devotion to justice in practice and righteousness in principle (cf. 5:16), and guaranteed by the commitment (zeal) and activity (accomplish) of the Lord. Zeal: as passionate commitment (37:32; 42:13; 59:17; 63:15); cf. the love that tolerates no disloyalty and brooks no rival (Num. 15:11; Ps. 79:5). It is the Lord who plans the future (1), shatters the foe (5) and keeps his promises (7). (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 101–102). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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6–7 The introductory conjunction “For” is very important here (v.6). All these wonderful events must have an adequate cause. The word “child” is in a position of emphasis. The first person plural “us” suggests a link with 7:14 (see mg. there). Just as the theme of the Branch of the Lord (see extended comment at 4:2) becomes more and more explicitly messianic, so it is with the motif of the child. If the child of Isaiah 7:14–16 (see extended comment there) typifies the ultimate divine Christ, the child of these verses is that Christ. It is true that monarchs of the Near East often received exaggerated adulation from their subjects, especially at their enthronement and at subsequent kingdom renewal ceremonies. This is not Mesopotamia, however, but Judah, and Hebrew prophecy was founded on truth, not flattery. OT prophets did not hesitate to speak stern words of judgment to their political overlords (cf. e.g., 2 Sam 12:7–12; 1 Kings 21:20–24). To speak to monarchs words that could not be taken at their face value was hardly consistent with their calling.
The passage does not necessarily imply that the child is to be a boy-king. In fact Isaiah may not have regarded that as a blessing (cf. 3:4, 12). The context says much about children; so the child is spoken of in terms of his birth. The tenderness of the child also suggests a comparison with the defeat of Midian’s army by Gideon’s small band of men (Judg 6–7), a comparison reinforced by the dual reference to the shoulder (cf. v.4).
It seems likely that the prophet intended us to understand that the child has four names, not five (cf. v.6, text and mg.). The first two suggest divine wisdom and power (cf. 11:2; 1 Cor 1:24), for the word translated “wonderful” has overtones of deity. The last two set forth the ends he accomplished by the exercise of these attributes—his fatherly care of his people and the bringing of peace with all its attendant blessings. In the context this quartet of names comes to its climax with “Prince of Peace,” as a glance at vv.4–5 makes clear. Its implications are spelled out in v.7.
The word “increase” combined with the phrase “his [i.e., David’s] kingdom” suggest that the prophecy has in view much more than a particularly great king of Judah (cf. 2 Sam 7:12–16). David’s kingdom went well beyond this; in fact, its boundary extended far beyond the traditional “Dan to Beersheba” limits of Canaan proper (2 Sam 8). The language of this verse—in which a picture of peace with righteousness comes before the reader—is reminiscent of a pre-Davidic ruler of Jerusalem: Melchizedek (Gen 14:18; cf. Heb 7:2). The harmonious linking of peace and righteousness occurs again, with more detailed exposition, in 11:1–9.
Since the beginning of chapter 7, the prophet has been making the most amazing disclosures in the name of the Lord; and these have come to a great climax in these two verses. The reader is likely to echo the wondering awe of the mother of this child and cry out, how will this be?” (Luke 1:34). The prophet anticipated such a question in the closing sentence of this oracle. In fact, both the advent of the Messiah and the blessing of his people, the remnant of Israel, are guaranteed by the zeal of the Lord (cf. 37:32). (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 74–75). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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6. For—the ground of these great expectations,
unto us—for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare “unto you,” Lu 2:11).
son … given—(Ps 2:7). God’s gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Jn 3:16; Ro 6:23).
government … upon … shoulder—The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Is 22:22). Here the government on Messiah’s shoulder is in marked antithesis to the “yoke and staff” of the oppressor on Israel’s “shoulder” (Is 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the “Heir of all things,” who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14).
name … called—His essential characteristics shall be.
Wonderful—(See on Is 8:18; Jdg 13:18, Margin; 1 Ti 3:16).
Counsellor—(Ps 16:7; Ro 11:33, 34; 1 Co 1:24; Col 2:3).
mighty God—(Is 10:21; Ps 24:8; Tit 2:13) Horsley translates: “God the mighty man.” “Unto us … God” is equivalent to “Immanuel” (Is 7:14).
everlasting Father—This marks Him as “Wonderful,” that He is “a child,” yet the “everlasting Father” (Jn 10:30; 14:9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [Hengstenberg].
Prince of Peace—(See on Is 9:5; Ge 49:10; Shiloh, “The Tranquillizer”). Finally (Ho 2:18). Even already He is “our peace” (Lu 2:14; Eph 2:14). (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 440). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
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9:6–7. Here Isaiah recorded five things about the coming Messiah.
1. He was to be born a Child. The implication, given in parallel style, is that this Child, a Son, was to be born into the nation of Israel (to us) as one of the covenant people.
2. He will rule over God’s people (cf. Micah 5:2) and the world (Zech. 14:9). The government will be on His shoulders figuratively refers to the kingly robe to be worn by the Messiah. As King, He will be responsible to govern the nation. In Isaiah’s day Judah’s leaders were incompetent in governing the people. But the Messiah will govern properly.
3. He will have four descriptive names that will reveal His character. He will be the nation’s Wonderful (this could be trans. “exceptional” or “distinguished”) Counselor, and the people will gladly listen to Him as the authoritative One. In the kingdom many people will be anxious to hear the Messiah teach God’s ways (2:3). He is also the Mighty God (cf. 10:21). Some have suggested that this simply means “a godlike person” or hero. But Isaiah meant more than that, for he had already spoken of the Messiah doing what no other person had been able to do (e.g., 9:2–5). Isaiah understood that the Messiah was to be God in some sense of the term.
This Deliverer will also be called the Everlasting Father. Many people are puzzled by this title because the Messiah, God’s Son, is distinguished in the Trinity from God the Father. How can the Son be the Father? Several things must be noted in this regard. First, the Messiah, being the second Person of the Trinity, is in His essence, God. Therefore He has all the attributes of God including eternality. Since God is One (even though He exists in three Persons), the Messiah is God. Second, the title “Everlasting Father” is an idiom used to describe the Messiah’s relationship to time, not His relationship to the other Members of the Trinity. He is said to be everlasting, just as God (the Father) is called “the Ancient of Days” (Dan. 7:9). The Messiah will be a “fatherly” Ruler. Third, perhaps Isaiah had in mind the promise to David (2 Sam. 7:16) about the “foreverness” of the kingdom which God promised would come through David’s line. The Messiah, a Descendant of David, will fulfill this promise for which the nation had been waiting.
The Messiah is also called the Prince of Peace, the One who will bring in and maintain the time of millennial peace when the nation will be properly related to the Lord. Together, these four titles give a beautiful picture of the coming Messiah’s character (Isa. 9:6 includes the first of Isaiah’s 25 references to peace.)
4. The Messiah, seated on David’s throne (Luke 1:32–33), will have an eternal rule of peace and justice. His rule will have no end; it will go on forever (cf. Dan. 7:14, 27; Micah 4:7; Luke 1:33; Rev. 11:15). Following the kingdom on earth, He will rule for eternity. He will maintain righteousness (cf. Jer. 23:5), as His rule will conform to God’s holy character and demands.
5. This will all be accomplished by the zeal of the Lord Almighty. The coming of the millennial kingdom depends on God, not Israel. The Messiah will rule because God promised it and will zealously see that the kingdom comes. Without His sovereign intervention there would be no kingdom for Israel.
Apparently Isaiah assumed that the messianic Child, Jesus Christ, would establish His reign in one Advent, that when the Child grew up He would rule in triumph. Like the other prophets, Isaiah was not aware of the great time gap between Messiah’s two Advents (cf. 1 Peter 1:10–12; and see comments on Isa. 61:1–2). (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1053–1054). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The Lord promised them a Redeemer (Isa. 9:1–7). Isaiah continued the theme of light and darkness (8:20–22) by announcing, “There will be no more gloom” (9:1, NIV). The Redeemer will come and bring to the world the dawning of a new day (v. 2; Luke 1:78–79; John 8:12). We know that this prophecy refers to Christ because of the way it is quoted in Matthew 4:13–15. The geographical areas named in Isaiah 9:1 were especially devastated when the Assyrian army moved in, but these areas would be especially honored by the ministry of the Messiah. Jesus was identified with “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matt. 4:15, NIV), and His loving ministry to the people brought light and joy.
But the prophet looked beyond the first coming of Christ to His second coming and the establishing of His righteous kingdom (Isa. 9:3–7). Instead of protecting a small remnant, God would enlarge the nation. Instead of experiencing sorrow, the people would rejoice like reapers after a great harvest, soldiers after a great victory (see Jud. 6–7), or prisoners of war after being released from their yoke of bondage. Of course, some of this occurred when God defeated Assyria and delivered Jerusalem (Isa. 37). But the ultimate fulfillment is still future; all military material will be destroyed (9:5) because the nations will not learn war any more (2:4).
Isaiah 9:6 declares both the humanity (“A Child is born”) and the deity (“A Son is given”) of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet then leaps ahead to the Kingdom Age when Messiah will reign in righteousness and justice from David’s throne. God had promised David that his dynasty and throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16); and this is fulfilled literally in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32–33; Zech. 9:9), who will one day reign from Jerusalem (Isa. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5–8; 30:8–10). This kingdom is called “the Millennium,” which means “one thousand years.” The phrase is used six times in Revelation 20
If His name is “Wonderful,” then there will be nothing dull about His reign! As Counselor, He has the wisdom to rule justly; and as the Mighty God, He has the power to execute His wise plans. “Everlasting Father” does not suggest that the Son is also the Father, for each Person in the Godhead is distinct. “Father of Eternity” is a better translation. Among the Jews, the word “father” means “originator” or “source.” For example, Satan is the “father [originator] of lies” (John 8:44, NIV). If you want anything eternal, you must get it from Jesus Christ; He is the “Father of eternity.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 36–37). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Revelation 21
When the old heaven and earth are transformed, we will fellowship intimately with God.
INSIGHT
In the new heaven and new earth, the distance between God and man will be removed. In the Old Testament, the glory of God was displayed as a brilliant light, but men were not able to look on it. In the New Testament, men were able to approach Jesus; but His glory was not seen, being veiled by His human form. In the new heaven and new earth, the glory of God will not be veiled, and we shall be able to behold it. The distance will be removed, and we will fellowship with God forevermore.
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THE DOCTRINE OF REGENERATION
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Psalm 51:10
Nothing, it seems to me, is quite so strange as the way in which man by nature always objects to the doctrine of regeneration. There is nothing also, I sometimes think, that so demonstrates the depth of sin in the human heart as this objection to the doctrine of the rebirth or being born again. Read the New Testament Scriptures, and you will find that men objected to it in those days. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoke about it, He was always persecuted. People disliked Him for mentioning it. When He began to expose the depth of iniquity in the human heart and to talk about a rebirth, they invariably misunderstood Him. They disliked it then, and it has always been the same ever since.
When John Wesley was truly converted, he went back to his university at Oxford and preached a sermon on this very subject; and he was hated for it. Those respectable religious people in Oxford disliked this doctrine, and they made it impossible for him to continue preaching there. The natural man, the unregenerate human heart, objected to this great and wondrous biblical doctrine of rebirth and regeneration. And it is equally true today. People sit and listen to an address or sermon on what is called the fatherhood of God or the brotherhood of man and they never object to it. When they are exhorted to live a better life, they never express any objection at all. They say that it is perfectly right, and even though they are reprimanded for not living better lives, they say that it is perfectly true and quite fair and that they could do better. But if a preacher stands before the natural man and says, “You must be born again—you must have a new life from God,” they ask, “What is this strange doctrine?”
A Thought to Ponder: There is nothing that so demonstrates the depth of sin in the human heart as objection to the doctrine of the rebirth. (From Out of the Depths, pp. 71-72, (HMM, Institute of Creation Research)
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MAN HAS NO EXCUSE
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Psalm 51:4
In the next step a man finds that he has absolutely no excuse or plea. David is telling God, “I haven’t a single excuse. I have no plea. There is nothing to be said for me. There is no reason for what I have done. The whole thing was the result of utter willfulness. I am altogether wrong. I have nothing to plead in mitigation.”
I want to emphasize this. I say that this is an absolutely essential part of repentance and of conviction of sin. I therefore plead with you to examine yourselves and examine your actions. Can you justify all you have done? Can you really put up a plea of mitigation? Let me take up the position of Nathan the prophet. What if I stood in this pulpit and described your love to you in a parable about somebody else? Would you see it? We must examine ourselves in this respect. Let me put it bluntly by putting it to you like this. As long as you are in the position of trying to justify yourself, you have not repented. As long as you are clinging to any attempt at self-justification and self-righteousness, I say you have not repented. Surely the man who is repentant is the man who, like David, says, “There is not a single excuse. I see it clearly. I have no justification. The things that I see in my life—I hate them. I had no business doing them. I did them willfully; I knew it was w rong. I admit it! I frankly confess it—‘that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.’”
Do you feel that God is rather hard on you when He condemns you? Do you feel that God would be dealing unfairly with you if you ever found yourself in hell? If you do, you have not repented. I would emphasize that the test of repentance is this—that a man having looked at himself, and at his own heart and life, says to himself, “I deserve nothing but hell, and if God sends me there, I haven’t a single complaint to make. I desire nothing better!” That is an essential part of repentance, and without repentance there is no salvation.
A Thought to Ponder: As long as you are clinging to any attempt at self-justification and self-righteousness, you have not repented. (From Out of the Depths, pp. 30-31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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