To us a Child is born
Text Isaiah 9:6a Time 03 12 08 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
Isaiah 9:6 is one of the great prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Messiah. It is one of two found quite close to each other in Isaiah 7-12 (what has been called the Book of Emmanuel) – the other is in 7:14 (Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel).
Isaiah 9:6 is one of the great prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Messiah. It is one of two found quite close to each other in Isaiah 7-12 (what has been called the Book of Emmanuel) – the other is in 7:14 (Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel).
Perhaps you are familiar with the famous chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Handel’s Messiah was first performed in 1742, some 17 years before Handel died. It was revived again over 40 years after the first performance in John Newton’s time. Newton objected to it as it involves singing Scripture for entertainment. Rather than just be negative he preached a series of sermons on the texts used in that oratorio. His aim is summed up in something he says near the end of the series - “Permit me to hope and to pray, that the next time you hear the Messiah, God may bring something that you have heard in the course of these sermons, nearly connected with the peace and welfare of your souls, effectually to your remembrance.”
When he comes to this great Christmas text he says that every clause in the verse could provide us with a long sermon. That is certainly true and so I want us to just begin looking at it tonight and then return to it again. Tonight I just want to look at the opening words For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
Chapter 8 of Isaiah ends on a very sad and distressing note (8:21, 22) Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look towards the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. Isaiah prophesied in very dark and dreary days when there was much sin and many troubles. However, God enables him to look forward to better times ahead. Isaiah 9 begins with a strong Nevertheless …. Isaiah 9:1-7 is full of hope for the future. This hope is so strong and these better times are so certain that Isaiah writes in the past tense – the so called ‘prophetic past’.
One commentator divides 1-7 into 2 parts:
1. The hope described (1-3). There are three things
What God does – The reason that despite the desperate situation there will one day be no more gloom for those who were in distress is that though in the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali … in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.
What his people will enjoy – It is because God is determined to honour The people walking in darkness that they (past tense) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
What follows – (3) You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
2. The hope explained (4-7) Again there are three elements
What God does - 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, (ie under Gideon) you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
What his people will enjoy – Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
What follows this great victory is what we find in 6 and 7 and what we want to concentrate on now.
Notice the movement from
When he comes to this great Christmas text he says that every clause in the verse could provide us with a long sermon. That is certainly true and so I want us to just begin looking at it tonight and then return to it again. Tonight I just want to look at the opening words For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
Chapter 8 of Isaiah ends on a very sad and distressing note (8:21, 22) Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look towards the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. Isaiah prophesied in very dark and dreary days when there was much sin and many troubles. However, God enables him to look forward to better times ahead. Isaiah 9 begins with a strong Nevertheless …. Isaiah 9:1-7 is full of hope for the future. This hope is so strong and these better times are so certain that Isaiah writes in the past tense – the so called ‘prophetic past’.
One commentator divides 1-7 into 2 parts:
1. The hope described (1-3). There are three things
What God does – The reason that despite the desperate situation there will one day be no more gloom for those who were in distress is that though in the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali … in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.
What his people will enjoy – It is because God is determined to honour The people walking in darkness that they (past tense) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
What follows – (3) You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
2. The hope explained (4-7) Again there are three elements
What God does - 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, (ie under Gideon) you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
What his people will enjoy – Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
What follows this great victory is what we find in 6 and 7 and what we want to concentrate on now.
Notice the movement from
Nevertheless do not be afraid (1) to
For God will act (4)
to For (6) – how God will act.
There is no doubt at all that this a prophecy of Messiah. That is made clear in Matthew 4:12-17 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
There are four things in particular I want us to concentrate on tonight.
1. The hope is a child and a son. Look nowhere else.
This great victory that is going to come for God’s people will be won through a person. Fundamentally, the truth is not abstract. It is not in the realm merely of ideas. It is to do with a person. Surprisingly, perhaps, this person is a child. The emphasis is not on the child when he grows up but on the mere fact of his birth. Once he comes all will be well. He is referred to as both a child and a son.
1. Child
For God will act (4)
to For (6) – how God will act.
There is no doubt at all that this a prophecy of Messiah. That is made clear in Matthew 4:12-17 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
There are four things in particular I want us to concentrate on tonight.
1. The hope is a child and a son. Look nowhere else.
This great victory that is going to come for God’s people will be won through a person. Fundamentally, the truth is not abstract. It is not in the realm merely of ideas. It is to do with a person. Surprisingly, perhaps, this person is a child. The emphasis is not on the child when he grows up but on the mere fact of his birth. Once he comes all will be well. He is referred to as both a child and a son.
1. Child
This word relates him to his ancestry. He has a mother like us all.
2. Son
2. Son
He will be a male, and, as is clear, of the Royal line. He is Son and heir. The word king is not used – perhaps because the idea had been greatly devalued by the fact that Judah’s kings had so often been reprehensible.
There can be no doubt that, as in 7:14, Isaiah has in mind the coming of Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have implausibly tried, especially Mediaeval Jewish commentators, to deny it. Others can see it so clearly that they try to say it was written much later than it was – around 800 years BC. However, both earlier Jewish commentators and Christians see this must be about Messiah.
So here is the hope for Israel and for the world – not an army, not a political movement but a person. And not a world leader or a great hero but a baby. As one writer (Oswalt) puts it ‘How will God deliver from arrogance, war, oppression and coercion? By being more arrogant, more warlike, more oppressive and more coercive?’ Well, no. It is clear from Isaiah that God is powerful enough to destroy his enemies in a moment but ‘again and again, when the prophet comes to the heart of the means of deliverance, a childlike face peers out at us.’ God overcomes his enemies by becoming vulnerable and humble. On the face of it the idea seems faintly ridiculous and yet even to the worldly mind there is a charm to the idea that attracts. But this is not some form of romanticism but the cold fact that the only hope for any one of us is in the Lord Jesus Christ – the child who was born in Bethlehem and who Mary his mother placed in a manger there. Do you believe that? Do you believe it as a fact?
This fact ought to shape our approach to everything. For example
1 To salvation
There can be no doubt that, as in 7:14, Isaiah has in mind the coming of Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have implausibly tried, especially Mediaeval Jewish commentators, to deny it. Others can see it so clearly that they try to say it was written much later than it was – around 800 years BC. However, both earlier Jewish commentators and Christians see this must be about Messiah.
So here is the hope for Israel and for the world – not an army, not a political movement but a person. And not a world leader or a great hero but a baby. As one writer (Oswalt) puts it ‘How will God deliver from arrogance, war, oppression and coercion? By being more arrogant, more warlike, more oppressive and more coercive?’ Well, no. It is clear from Isaiah that God is powerful enough to destroy his enemies in a moment but ‘again and again, when the prophet comes to the heart of the means of deliverance, a childlike face peers out at us.’ God overcomes his enemies by becoming vulnerable and humble. On the face of it the idea seems faintly ridiculous and yet even to the worldly mind there is a charm to the idea that attracts. But this is not some form of romanticism but the cold fact that the only hope for any one of us is in the Lord Jesus Christ – the child who was born in Bethlehem and who Mary his mother placed in a manger there. Do you believe that? Do you believe it as a fact?
This fact ought to shape our approach to everything. For example
1 To salvation
Matthew 18:2-4 He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
2 To witness
2 To witness
2 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ....
3 To parenting
3 To parenting
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged
4. To holy living
4. To holy living
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
2. He will both be born and be given. He is both God and man.
You notice, secondly, that he says two parallel things about this child and son.
1. He will be born.
2. He will both be born and be given. He is both God and man.
You notice, secondly, that he says two parallel things about this child and son.
1. He will be born.
This brings out the human side. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. A real baby was born there. He had genes and blood cells, skin and bones just like us. Never underestimate the humanity of Jesus.
2. He will be given.
2. He will be given.
But also he would be given. God sent him into this world. He came from the glory of heaven to this world. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. He did not spare his one and only Son. He gave – he did not lend. We must never forget that he is nothing less than God – he is God come in human form.
We must always keep this in mind about Jesus. He was one person, yes, but he had two natures – human and divine. He is the God man, the One Mediator between God and man. This is why he is the perfect Saviour – as man he fully sympathises with us in our weakness and sin but as God he is able to save us, nevertheless. This is what Newton calls ‘the central truth of revelation’ which like the sun casts its light on all else.
3. He will be born and given to those who believe. Is he yours?
The emphasis in the Hebrew is certainly on the child being born and the son being given but do notice the repeated to us. Isaiah is speaking of the people of God. To all who trust in him Jesus has been born. The angel spoke similarly to the shepherds at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:11) Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. It was a favourite theme at Christmas time with Luther – a Saviour has been born to you. He was not born, he did not come merely to please himself – it was for you, for all who look to him.
Did Christ die for you? He died for all who look to him and to him alone.
4. The government will be on his shoulders. Be confident in him.
The last thing I want us to look at tonight is the phrase and the government will be on his shoulders. This is not the only thing that Isaiah says, clearly, but it is the first. He uses a rare word for government. It is a word that basically means this child or son will be the epitome of princeliness, of executive authority. On his shoulders is symbolic of bearing rule (See 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.) Think of a golden chain of authority. This is a common enough picture from the idea of carrying authority. In 7:14 we have already been told that the child is Immanuel (God with us). The statement here comes as no surprise then – the child is the Son of God and he will reign forever until all his enemies are put under his feet. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Of course, that kingship was veiled on earth. Many would have gladly made him an inferior earthly king but he refused it. He refused because he had a higher glory to come. Already his kingdom has advanced far but one day it will reach its zenith and it will be in every place.
Here is the great paradox again – a mere baby, yet Lord of all! Trust in gentle Jesus now before he comes in wrath and might and destroys you. Those who trust in him already share in his throne – and there is more to come. What blessings await those who have the King for their friend. Are you ready for glory?
We must always keep this in mind about Jesus. He was one person, yes, but he had two natures – human and divine. He is the God man, the One Mediator between God and man. This is why he is the perfect Saviour – as man he fully sympathises with us in our weakness and sin but as God he is able to save us, nevertheless. This is what Newton calls ‘the central truth of revelation’ which like the sun casts its light on all else.
3. He will be born and given to those who believe. Is he yours?
The emphasis in the Hebrew is certainly on the child being born and the son being given but do notice the repeated to us. Isaiah is speaking of the people of God. To all who trust in him Jesus has been born. The angel spoke similarly to the shepherds at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:11) Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. It was a favourite theme at Christmas time with Luther – a Saviour has been born to you. He was not born, he did not come merely to please himself – it was for you, for all who look to him.
Did Christ die for you? He died for all who look to him and to him alone.
4. The government will be on his shoulders. Be confident in him.
The last thing I want us to look at tonight is the phrase and the government will be on his shoulders. This is not the only thing that Isaiah says, clearly, but it is the first. He uses a rare word for government. It is a word that basically means this child or son will be the epitome of princeliness, of executive authority. On his shoulders is symbolic of bearing rule (See 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.) Think of a golden chain of authority. This is a common enough picture from the idea of carrying authority. In 7:14 we have already been told that the child is Immanuel (God with us). The statement here comes as no surprise then – the child is the Son of God and he will reign forever until all his enemies are put under his feet. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Of course, that kingship was veiled on earth. Many would have gladly made him an inferior earthly king but he refused it. He refused because he had a higher glory to come. Already his kingdom has advanced far but one day it will reach its zenith and it will be in every place.
Here is the great paradox again – a mere baby, yet Lord of all! Trust in gentle Jesus now before he comes in wrath and might and destroys you. Those who trust in him already share in his throne – and there is more to come. What blessings await those who have the King for their friend. Are you ready for glory?
