This Child, What's His Name? (Isaiah 9:1-7)
Rev. William L. Barron, December 23, 2018Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Do names matter? Consider Adam, the only man not born of woman. Adam means dirt, referring to the dirt from which he was formed by God. Many names are formed by combining another word with EL, which means God. Examples are Daniel, Samuel, Ezekiel. One not in this pattern is Ichabod, which means, the glory has departed upon the occasion of the capture of the ark of the covenant, along with the deaths of Eli, his wife and sons. There are many people who are apparently given the wrong name for the kind of person they are. We bear the name of Christian. The child for whom we are named was named counselor or guide, mighty God, eternal Father, Prince of Peace. In Matthew's gospel, Christ is named Emanuel (God with us) and Jesus (salvation is from God). The prophecy in Isaiah 9 was not common knowledge, although Moses had predicted that another deliverer was to come. Samuel said that from the house of David, a king would be on the throne forever. Did God fail, in view of subsequent history? No. He exercised discipline and then restoration. The King came in Bethlehem, the Messiah, foretold as the holder of the throne of David. His kingdom was not to be an earthly kingdom. He was a supernatural person, the Son of Man, as described by Daniel, who would rule an eternal kingdom. In Isaiah, the prophecy says that the two come together, the line of David and the eternal king: fully God and fully man. The apostles testify to this; however, we can't understand it fully on this side of glory.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « The 'New' Kingdom Of David | None | How Will You Respond To God's King? » |
Isaiah 9:1–7 (Listen)
9:1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
(ESV)