Our Everything

Isaiah 9:6

Introduction: ‘For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,¹ Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (NLT)

1. Key to Permanent Ruler / King

[And the government shall be upon his shoulder]

Lowth supposes that it refers to the ensign of government-the scepter, the sword, the keys, or the like, that were borne upon the shoulder.

The sense is that he should be a king, and under this character the Messiah is often predicted.

Illustration: There has been some ‘royal trouble’ recently (referring to the Monarchy in the United Kingdom).

• First Christmas without the Queen who ruled for 70 years.
• First Christmas with Charles as King.
• Drama with Harry and Meagan.

The sense of this passage is that he shall rule, or that the government shall be vested in him.

Application: The King promised to be born (Jesus) and his tenure would not change, be passed on, relinquished, and especially not mired in controversy.

The phrase ‘upon his shoulder’ = means simply he shall sustain the government, as the shoulder is that by which we uphold anything.

Application: Jesus’ Kingship / Rulership / Office has no expiration date!

Jesus is the sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to His church. He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church.

Question: Why is this so important? What kind of kingdom is it? What distinguishes the Messiah’s kingdom from the other kingdoms of this world?

1. Eternal / Heavenly – His kingship is not over another or ordinary kingdom.
2. Rule with fairness and equity.
3. King that can be trusted.

Transition: What kind of kingdom is it? What distinguishes the Messiah’s kingdom from the other kingdoms of this world?

The names Israel used for Christ in hint at four characteristics that make the Messiah’s kingdom—in all its manifestations—different from any other earthly government.

Application: At a time when the world is weary and despairing of political solutions, when the political future looks bleak, this is welcome news.

Question: Who is this King?

1. Characteristics

[And his name shall be called] That is, his attributes shall be such as to make all these applications appropriate descriptions of his power and work.

To be called, and to be, in the Hebrew, often mean the same thing.

He will be called literally or simply signified who He would be!

1. Wonderful = Distinctly Unique & Miraculous

The personage here referred to, (in his being and in his works), will be exalted above the ordinary course of nature, and that his whole manifestation will be a miracle.’

• It is that which is separated from the ordinary course of events, and which is suited to excite amazement, wonder, and admiration, whether it be miraculous or not.

Wonderful = Anything which is suited to excite wonder and amazement, from any cause, will correspond with the sense of the Hebrew word.

It is a word which expresses with surprising accuracy everything in relation to the Redeemer.

• The Messiah was wonderful in all things.
  • It was wonderful love by which God gave him, and by which he came.
  • the manner of his birth was wonderful;
  • his humility,
  • his self-denial,
  • his sorrows were wonderful; his mighty works were wonderful.
  • his dying agonies were wonderful; and
  • his resurrection,
  • his ascension, were all suited to excite admiration and wonder.

• Counsellor

This word has been sometimes joined with ‘wonderful,’ as if designed to qualify it thus – “wonderful counselor;” but it expresses a distinct attribute, or quality. The name “counselor” here,

Wonderful denotes one of honorable rank;

• one who is suited to stand near princes and kings as their adviser.
  
  
• It is expressive of great wisdom, and of qualifications to guide and direct the human race.
• The Septuagint translates this phrase, ‘The angel of the mighty counsel.’ The Chaldee, ‘The God of wonderful counsel.’

• Mighty God

‘The mighty God of Ages.‘

The name ‘mighty God,’ is unquestionably attributed to the ‘true God’ in Isa 10:21.

Much controversy has arisen in relation to this expression; and attempts have been made to show that the word translated “God,”, may refer to a hero, a king, a conqueror.

Thus Gesenius renders, it ‘Mighty hero;’ and supposes that the name ‘God’ is used here in accordance with the custom of the Orientals, who ascribe divine attributes to kings.

In like manner Pluschke (see Hengstenberg) says, ‘In my opinion this name is altogether symbolical.

The Messiah shall be called strength of God, or strong God, divine hero, in order by this name to remind the people of the strength of God.’

• The everlasting Father
• The Chaldee renders this expression, ‘The man abiding forever.’
• The Vulgate, ‘The Father of the future age.’ Lowth,
• ‘The Father of the everlasting age.’ Literally, it is the Father of eternity,

Thus, the father of strength means

• strong;
• the father of knowledge, intelligent;
• the father of glory, glorious;
• the father of goodness, good;
• the father of peace, peaceful.
• According to this, the meaning of the phrase, the Father of eternity, is properly eternal.
• The Prince of Peace  

This is a Hebrew mode of expression denoting that he would be a peaceful prince.

• The tendency of his administration would be to restore and perpetuate peace.
• This expression is used to distinguish him from the mass of kings and princes who have delighted in conquest and blood.
• In contradistinction from all these, the Messiah would seek to promote universal concord, and the tendency of his reign would be to put an end to wars, and to restore harmony and order to the nations;

Conclusion: Who is this Jesus we celebrate today? According to Isaiah 9:6

1. Jesus is what no one else can be.
2. Jesus is the completion / fulfillment of everything we need or could hope for.