Introduction

This morning I want to consider one of the most famous OT prophecies about the coming of Jesus (read). This is a great passage filled with powerful language. And it’s a great passage for us to remember at Christmas, first, because v. 6 hints at Messiah’s humble birth when it prophesies that Israel’s deliverance will come from a child. His story will begin in humility.

But it also reminds us that Jesus’s story is far from complete. The primary emphasis is on the fact that humility will eventually give way to glory. So, even as we celebrate the incredible story of Jesus’ humble birth, we eagerly anticipate the day when he returns. Jesus will conquer evil, establish a righteous kingdom, and “He shall reign forever and ever.” It’s going to be a glorious day.

So, this prophecy is filled with hope, but to appreciate the force of this text, we must understand that Isaiah 7–12 were born out of a terribly dark time in the Southern Kingdom of Judah around 730 B.C.

Ahaz was Judah’s king, and he was unimaginably wicked. 2 Kings 16:3 condemns him because he “walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire.” He imitated the idolatry of the Northern Kingdom to the extent he sacrificed his own child to the pagan god Molech. The ancients would heat an idol of Molech to red hot temperatures and then they would place an infant either in the red-hot arms of the idol or in boiling water and watch him or her burn. It’s horrible. And Judah’s king, the seed of David, who stood in the line of Messiah and who was supposed to rule in righteousness did this to his own child.

Therefore, God began to pour out his judgment. He allowed Assyria to conquer the Northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. It was an ominous sign for both Israel and Judah that God had removed his blessing and judgment was coming.

But rather than turning to God, the Northern Kingdom formed an alliance with Syria to stand against Assyria, and they wanted Ahaz to join them. Ahaz refused, so, Isaiah 7 picks up with the fact that Israel and Syria joined forces to attack Judah.

Notice what God said to Ahaz in 7:3–7. Ahaz was terrified, but God promised to give him the victory if he stood up to Israel and Syria. Sadly, he did not trust the Lord; instead, Ahaz paid Assyria to attack Syria. As a result, Israel and Syria had no choice but to withdraw and defend their lands. So, Ahaz’s plan worked, but it angered God.

To make matters worse, Ahaz went up to Damascus to meet the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III, and he was drawn to the idolatrous worship of the city. Therefore, he commanded his servants to replace the altar of burnt offering that God had designed with a pagan replica and made other pagan alterations to the temple. If you are Isaiah or another faithful Jew, it had to be such a dark and seemingly hopeless time.

In some sense we can relate, because evil abounds everywhere. We aren’t sacrificing children to Molech, but much of our society glories in the death of unborn babies. People despise biblical sexuality and a biblical view of the home. Like the faithful remnant of Isaiah’s day, the darkness can feel overwhelming. But Isaiah 9 declares that the darkness will not last forever. Joy will come in the morning, and it will be wrapped up in a person, God’s promised Messiah. Verses 1–5 promise…

I.  Messiah will overwhelm the darkness with light (vv. 1–5).

I’d like us to see 3 radical changes that Messiah will bring about. First…

Glory will replace gloom (vv. 1). Notice the contrast between Judah’s condition in Isaiah’s day with what Messiah will bring (8:21–9:1). Zebulun and Naphtali were located in Northern Israel along the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, and “Galilee of the Gentiles” was the region east of the Sea of Galilee. And again, Isaiah’s readers were grieving over the fact that Assyria had largely wiped out these two tribes. They were either dead or in captivity.

But v. 1 promises that someday Messiah will make this region “glorious by the way of the sea…” Now, this was probably surprising to Isaiah’s Southern audience, because they would assume Messiah will primarily minister in and around Jerusalem since he will be a Davidic king.

However, we know that in Jesus’ 1^st coming, he primarily ministered in this exact area. And notice what Jesus said about this prophecy in Matthew 4:12–17. The Gospels tell us that Jesus brought incredible light to the exact same areas that Assyria had devastated.

Galilee is where the angels told Joseph and Mary that Messiah was about to come. Jesus grew up in Galilee, and much of his ministry was in Galilee. He preached the Sermon on the Mount and many other famous sermons in this region. He performed incredible miracles. Over and over, he manifested the character and glory of God in Galilee.

So, through Isaiah, God assured Israel that he had not forgotten this region. Someday he would overwhelm the darkness with light in the person of Messiah. Of course, we still benefit from the light of this ministry. The Sermon on the Mount has ministered to all of us this year, and we regularly benefit from Jesus’ Galilean ministry when we read the Gospels. And the fact that God has already fulfilled v. 1 assures us that he will also bring about 2 other radical changes. Verses 2–3 promise that someday…

Light and joy will replace darkness and sorrow (v. 2–3). We shouldn’t draw too hard of a line between vv. 1 and 2, but vv. 2–5 clearly transition from Jesus’ 1^st coming to his 2^nd. The same Messiah who entered Jerusalem on a donkey to bring peace and salvation will come a 2^nd time on a warhorse to defeat Israel’s enemies and to establish a righteous kingdom for Israel. And notice the reaction of God’s people (vv. 2–3).

It’s hard to imagine how different the political scene will be to the darkness of the oppressive human empires that litter human history and that continue to dominate the world. It’s pretty rare that you turn on the news and come away happy. It’s mostly discouraging, sad, and dark.

But the darkness and gloom will not last forever. Jesus is coming with “great light.” He will “multiply the nation,” and he will replace sorrow with “gladness” and “rejoicing.” The 3^rd radical change is that…

Peace will replace oppression (vv. 4–5). Verse 4 uses two of God’s greatest works for Israel’s as illustrations of what Messiah will do at his 2^nd When Israel was in Egyptian slavery, God “broke the yoke of their burden” and gave freedom. And later when the Midianites were squeezing Israel into starvation, God used Gideon to destroy the oppressor.

Of course, our world is still filled with oppressive governments and dictators who abuse their subjects instead of serving them. This will culminate in the reign of Antichrist. But God assures Israel that Messiah will once again defeat the oppressor. He will “break the yoke of their burden” and “the rod of the oppressor.”

And once Jesus defeats these evil powers, v. 5 says that there will no longer be any need for instruments of war. The warrior’s boots and bloody garments will be gathered and burned. Peace will replace oppression. “And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war” (Isa 2:4).

What a blessing it is to know that the darkness, evil, and violence of our world will not last forever. It’s not because humanity will eventually become enlightened and figure out how to get along. It’s because Jesus is coming with great light. He gave us a foretaste of that light in his 1^st coming, and someday he will come in full glory, and he will overwhelm the darkness with light. Praise the Lord! And after he conquers evil, vv. 6–7 promise…

II.  Messiah will establish a perfect kingdom (vv. 6–7).

Verses 6–7 are jam packed with glorious truths about who Jesus is and what he will do. Verse 6 begins by describing…

His Humanity and Humility: In context, the 1^st line of v. 6 is surprising because we’ve spent several verses imagining a mighty warrior king obliterating his enemies, but v. 6 describes Messiah as a “child” and a “son.” As such, it pretty clearly looks back at the prophecy of 7:14. So, 9:6 is again referencing his birth to a virgin.

As well, these words remind us of Jesus’ humanity. We’ll see in a moment that Jesus is fully God, and yet v. 6 also reminds us that he became fully man. The same infinite God who created mankind also entered the lineage of David. He became fully man.

Furthermore, the fact that Isaiah refers to him as a child hints at the fact that he would endure a very humble beginning. We know that this is exactly what happened. Imagine giving birth in the conditions Mary endured. She had to travel across the country while she was full-term because of a dictator’s decree. Then she gave birth in terrible conditions. Then she had to flee to Egypt because another dictator wanted to kill her baby. That’s not how you would normally welcome a great king.

It didn’t get any better during Jesus’ 1^st He grew up in a humble Galilean home. He lived under the oppression of the Romans. Even the Jewish authorities despised him from the moment he began to preach. Ultimately, the Jewish and Roman authorities conspired together to kill Jesus on the cross. And they reveled in his suffering and humiliation all along the way.

Jesus understands what an evil, oppressive, and violent government really is. No one has ever endured more injustice than Jesus. Through it all, you have to imagine that Jesus frequently anticipated the day when as v. 6 says, “The government will rest on His shoulders.” “This evil will not go on forever. Someday, I will confront it and destroy it. And I will bring freedom, joy, and blessing to my subjects, not pain and oppression.” I cannot wait for the day when “The government will rest on His shoulders.” And v. 6 goes on to describe character of his rule.

His Character: God says that Messiah’s reign will earn him 4 precious titles that will distinguish him from every other king who has ever ruled. First, he will be called…

Wonderful Counselor: The background to this title is that ancient kings always had counselors who were supposed to help them rule wisely. But those counselors were not always wise, and the king didn’t always listen to them. That was Ahaz. Isaiah had to be dumbfounded when he rejected the promise of God’s protection in Isaiah 7. And it’s still amazing that people in power with so many resources still manage to say and do the dumbest things.

But not Jesus. He will be his own “Wonderful Counselor.” He will never make an impulsive foolish decision that brings pain and chaos to his citizens. Instead, he will reign with perfect wisdom and understanding. Just imagine how awesome it will be to follow a ruler who is wonderfully wise and always does what is right. 2^nd, he will be called…

Mighty God: This title couldn’t be clearer. Messiah will not only be a great man; he will be “Mighty God.” He will receive the worship that Scripture says must be reserved for God alone. Similarly, notice the prophecy of 7:14. Messiah will be born of a woman. He will be fully man, and yet he will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Isaiah is clear that Messiah will be God.

Practically speaking this means that means that Messiah’s kingdom will have no rivals. No evil power will be able to resist his righteous rule. That’s incredible. Yes, our country has enjoyed an unusual reign of military dominance. But we’ve always had rivals, and we are constantly concerned that some evil rival will develop a weapon or sneak past our defenses and do us damage.

But we won’t have any concerns under the reign of Jesus. He is Mighty God, and no one will be able to resist his rule. 3^rd, he will be called…

Eternal Father: I must clarify that this title is not saying that Messiah is God the Father, as if they are the same person. That’s because Isaiah is not using the title as a technical term for the nature of the Godhead. Rather, Father is a description of Messiah’s character and the nature of his rule.

Specifically, it points to the fatherly care with which Messiah will serve his citizens. The point is similar to Psalm 68:5, which says, “A father of the fatherless and a judge for widows, is God in His holy habitation.” God’s fatherhood means that like our human fathers he is compassionate toward our weakness and compensates for it.

Of course, that’s very different from most kings. Most of them use and abuse the weak to serve their own purposes. But not Jesus. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus will be the Servant King.

And praise the Lord that his compassionate reign will never end. Judah had enjoyed some good kings, but the time was always too short. But not Jesus. He will be known in his kingdom as “Eternal Father.” 4^th, he will be called…

Prince of Peace: Again, it’s helpful to frame this title with Isaiah’s context. Judah was weak and under constant pressure from foreign powers. They didn’t know what it meant to live securely without the threat of violence.

But Jesus will be the “Prince of Peace.” He will crush every evil rival power. Verse 5 said he will eliminate the need for instruments of war. And throughout the Millennial Kingdom, humanity will enjoy a reign of peace like nothing it has ever experienced.

And it’s not just that he will eliminate conflict. Biblical peace includes the idea of well-being, blessing, and comfort. We will know a prosperity and freedom from anxiety like humanity has never experienced before. It will be wonderful. Again, it won’t be because we figure it out; it will be because the “Prince of Peace” will reign over us.

In sum, these 4 titles encourage us that a ruler is coming who will be unmatched in human history. His reign will be stand out for wisdom, power, care, and peace like no other king before him. Finally, notice what v. 7 says about…

His Reign: First, “There will be no end…” In other words, Messiah’s reign will spread to every corner of the globe. There won’t be any pockets of resistance or rebellion. Now, in most cases, that’s scary because we say that “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But not Jesus. It’s not just that his government will increase, Isaiah says that his peace and blessing will spread with it.

Second, “On the throne of David…” Isaiah clearly foresaw a kingdom centered on the throne of David in Jerusalem. This is not merely a kingdom in my heart as the Amillennialist says. No, this is the kingdom God promised Israel.

But it won’t just serve Israel. Jesus will bring “justice and righteousness” to all humanity. There won’t be any of the corruption that plagues every government. No one will be able to complain, “That’s not fair.” No everything will be just and righteous.

Third, Christ’s reign will continue “From then on and forevermore.” It won’t be a temporary, fading kingdom. It will continue into all of eternity.

But fourth, Isaiah anticipated the fact that his beleaguered readers might hear all of this and think, “That’s too good to be true.” When you are in that kind of darkness it is almost impossible to imagine light. So, Isaiah concludes, “The zeal of…” All of this will happen. Jesus is coming again, and he will fulfill every promise God has made. We can bank our souls on it.

Conclusion

Therefore, I want to urge all of us to make sure we know that we will be in that kingdom. This text is clear that not everyone will enter. Christ will destroy all who refuse his lordship. Just a couple weeks ago, we studied Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The only way you will enter that kingdom is to come through Christ and through his work on the cross. Jesus died so that you could be forgiven of all your sin and be made right with God. Through him you can know that you have an inheritance with Christ in his kingdom. So, if you have never been saved, come to the Savior in humility. Repent of your sin, trust in the finished work of Christ, and be saved. We’d love to share with you how you can know this incredible hope.

If you are saved, I hope you will spend the next few days rejoicing that God became man. He didn’t just become man; he came in humility to suffer and die so that you could be forgiven and know the Lord. And then look forward eagerly to his return. I’d like to close by reading the conclusion to this section of Isaiah in chapter 12. This chapter records a couple verses we will sing to the Lord when Christ establishes his kingdom and we rejoice in his presence (read).