One on One: Isaiah 9:6

Saturday, December 28, 2024

He Gets Us

A series on Isaiah 9:6 – The Child of Prophecy
– Wonderful Counselor
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
John 7:10-52

[Jesus was a child of prophecy. The Christmas story in the Bible was predicted in many Old Testament prophecies but the centerpiece of these is Isaiah 9:6. It was written nearly six hundred years before Jesus’ birth. In this series we’re going to look at the meaning and implications of this amazing prophecy.]

You may have seen commercials for the media campaign called “He Gets Us”. The focus of this campaign is to reintroduce Jesus in a way that shows that he understands us, as well as to encourage people to love their neighbors.

During Isaiah’s ministry as a prophet of God, Israel had already been divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. And Assyria was aggressively expanding their kingdom. It was a dark world where Isaiah spoke mostly about judgment, but also words of hope. Words about a Messiah who they believed would one day rule their nation.

Isaiah told them that the “darkness and despair will not go on forever”. That the nation of Israel will see a great light and rejoice. Then he prophesized that a “child will be born and that the government will rest on his shoulders”. He then added that the child will be called “Wonderful Counselor”.

The Festival of Tabernacles was a pilgrimage festival that brought Jews to Jerusalem from far and wide. Jesus was freely teaching in the temple courts. Recently he also had healed someone on the Sabath, which was strictly forbidden by Jewish law. Between his teachings and the healing, Jesus was creating controversy.

The crowds couldn’t agree on who he was. Some thought he was the Prophet spoken of in the Old Testament. Some said he was a good man, while others thought he was possessed by a demon. Thinking that he might be the Messiah, many believed in Jesus. Others were amazed at what Jesus said because he had no formal training.

What would make someone a “Wonderful Counselor”? Being compassionate and empathetic? Or being wise and insightful? What about helping people to understand themselves and giving practical insights on how to deal with their problems?

Jesus had all these qualities and more.

The writer of Hebrews said that he can “empathize with our weaknesses” because he’s been tempted in every way like us but without sin.

When David confessed his sin of adultery, the Lord promised, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you”.

Upon reflecting about the Lord, the psalmist wrote that “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path”.

Prophesying about the Messiah, Isaiah wrote that the “Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord”.

The question asked by the festival crowds reverberates through the centuries: “Who is this man”? The same question is there for us to answer. Isaiah said that he was to be called “Wonderful Counselor”.

Indeed… “He Gets Us”.

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Saturday, November 30, 2024

Survivor

A series on Isaiah 9:6 – The Child of Prophecy
– Introduction
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Isaiah 7:1-17; 9:1-7

The reality TV show “Survivor” is in its 47^th season. The premise is that 18 strangers are placed on an island together with no shelter and little or no food. One by one, they vote each other out of the game until only the winner remains.

As the number of participants are reduced, the lying and manipulation increases. Alliances are made and broken, sometimes on the same day. The prize is one million dollars… so the stakes are high. People become desperate to survive. It is survival of the fittest.

Isaiah lived in a tumultuous time of history. The world was full of political intrigue, shifting alliances and warring nations. It was a matter of survival on both a national and personal level. It was survival of the fittest.

The Assyrian Empire was expanding to the west. The brutality of the Assyrian military was evident in their merciless torture and terrorism. Fear and intimidation were among their weapons. They were masters at siege warfare and one of the first to use cavalry in battle giving them a decided advantage.

Israel was now divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, with the northern kingdom in the crosshairs of Assyria. As a result, both nations were weakened.

In order to combat this, Israel and Aram formed an alliance and then tried to usurp King Ahaz of Judah into a forced coalition against Assyria. Their plan was to replace Ahaz with their own man as king. As you might expect, this possibility terrified Ahaz as well as the people of Judah.

But Isaiah met with Ahaz and told him not to worry. That the Sovereign Lord wouldn’t let this happen. However, Isaiah also warned Ahaz of the consequences if he chose to form an alliance with Assyria instead of trusting the Lord. It would mean a broken alliance that would result in the oppression of Judah by Assyria.

Ahaz didn’t listen to Isaiah and the result was as prophesied. Assyria became not only the Lord’s instrument of judgement for Israel, but also Judah. But there was hope. Isaiah prophesied that the people who walked in darkness will see a great light; that they will be freed from the “yoke of their slavery”.

Into our world of survival, Isaiah pronounced this famous prophecy from the Lord.

⁶For 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.

For centuries, the Jews believed that this meant someday they would have an earthly kingdom. But not Jesus, for him it meant an eternal kingdom. The birth of Christ was the kingdom of heaven come down to earth. He was, is and continues to be "Immanuel, God with us”.