Christmas According to Isaiah

Isaiah 9:1-7

Few people are able to distinguish between Luke’s rendition or Matthew’s account of the Incarnation. Most contemporary Christians grew to adulthood hearing a conflation of the two accounts and in their mind the two are indistinguishable. Perhaps that is good since each account presents a different perspective of the birth of the Son of God in order to provide a complete story. However, because we have heard these two accounts so frequently we are perhaps prone to think that only these two evangelists were aware of the coming of the Son of God. Nothing could be further from the truth.

From the moment of the Fall of our first parents God had promised a Saviour. Much later we are able to look back through the eyes of the Apostles and discover that the One who has been appointed to set us free from bondage to death was chosen even before the Creation of the world. What is apparent from even a casual acquaintance with the Word of God is that Christmas has always been central to God’s plan for mankind. The Incarnation—the revelation of God’s Son as one of us—has from eternity past been the focus of God’s plan for fallen humanity. Christmas is essential for our salvation.

Isaiah lived in the dark days of Israel’s decline. Though superficially the nation seemed secure, a dark rot gnawed away at the foundation of Jewish society. Economically, the nation was prospering and people lived in ostentatious splendour. There were, it is true, a significant number of the people who were excluded from enjoying the fruits of national affluence; but the nation generally enjoyed great wealth. Militarily the nation seemed secure. The armies of Israel were strong and well equipped. The borders of the nation were secure and the throne was unthreatened. No major wars were then being fought and those few enemies which might otherwise menace national security seemed remote and incapable of mounting a major threat. No significant social foment stirred the populace during those days. However, the underpinnings of Jewish society were decayed and the seeds of destruction were sown.

Family life was in disarray. Contempt for authority was the rule of the day. Disrespect of elderly had become a common feature of Jewish life. Parental authority was constantly challenged. Morality was ridiculed and unrighteousness was exalted. Worship of the true and living God was a façade, religion having been reduced to mere rituals thoughtlessly carried out by ageing adherents to the Faith. Society in general was characterised by a muted sense of quiet despair.

Into this environment of hopeful hopelessness, God revealed His grace by sending a message of hope. The message pointed forward to events which were yet some seven hundred fifty years in the future. That which Isaiah prophesied would usher in the Age of Grace. The One to whom Isaiah pointed would complete the prophecy when He concludes His Millennial reign and at last puts down all rebellion. Explore this study of Christmas according to Isaiah.

Reasons for Christmas [verses one through five] — Nevertheless is the first word in our English text. The word, though an interpolation by the translators, is required for understanding of Isaiah’s prophecy. We are prone to think that the chapters of the Bible are separate units, each standing alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. The ninth chapter is a continuation of the eighth. Read Isaiah 8:19-22 with me.

When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 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 toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

Isaiah’s contemporaries were embracing nature worship even as they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images [see Romans 1: 23]. Even then mankind had already exchanged the truth for God for a lie [see Romans 1: 25]. The Prophet speaks of the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor [Isaiah 9:4]. Isaiah wrote of a time of enforced humility for the people, and of a time of war and conflict [Isaiah 9:5]. In such a time of darkness and fearful gloom, God would send a Saviour.

When the Son of God was born the world stumbled about in deep darkness. The voice of the prophets had been silenced for at least four centuries. Worship of God who is light had degenerated into mere routine—a burden tolerated as a necessary cultural mandate. Even among the professed people of God were many who had adopted Greek and Roman pagan theologies as truth.

By and large the peoples of this earth had staggered into darkest sin, and ignorance of God was paraded as wisdom. The mystery religions of Mithraism, the Magna Mater, the Dea Syria, Isis and Osiris, Dionysus and Eleusian mysteries held sway throughout most of the world, giving evidence of mankind’s continual futile search for cosmic significance. Where the “civilised world” had not yet gained influence, pantheistic religions (such as druidism and Wicca) or polytheistic religions (such as Hinduism and animism) prevailed to enslave the darkened hearts of fearful societies.

The people of God had been humbled through repeated conquest and occupation. Constant wars on the fringes of the Empire necessitated a continual flow of recruits to fight Rome’s battles, halting probes by the barbarians—the Celts, the Teutons, the Huns, the Vandals, the Goths and the Visigoths— to test Roman resolve. Into that darkened and threatening environment the Son of God was born.

Not much has changed! If I ignore the conditions during the intervening centuries between the First and the Twenty-first Centuries, conditions are comparable. I am not fearful; I am actually optimistic to an exaggerated degree. I am convinced that we are entering new dark ages. As Christians, we shall be tested by increasingly powerful, irrational and unreasonable opposition. However, the darkest hour permits those few lights which yet shine to penetrate farthest and to appear the brightest. When evil seems to abound, those who walk with the Lord will be most readily recognised as empowered by Him. The day of darkness will ensure the clearest distinction between righteousness and wickedness. We are confident that where sin increases, grace increases even more [see Romans 5:20]. Christians need not fear the darkness since we walk in the light.

During this past week I have again reviewed contemporary society. Spiritual wickedness grows unrestricted in western society. As we enter the Christmas Season, stores are decked out in Holiday colours and houses are gaily festooned. The streets are tinselled and lights are strung between the lighting standards. Yet too often we are unable to openly acknowledge the reason for this observance in our schools or in our civic activities. “Winter Festival” and other such innocuous names are given to the festivities in order to avoid damaging the sensitivities of any non-Christians.

Instead of being a Christian observance, the Christmas Season has been increasingly secularised to a point that it is sometimes difficult to see the Faith through the layers of materialism and overt paganism.[1] Paganism—ancient druidic rites, worship of Gaea (Mother Earth) and growth of Wicca—has ascended to a point that the Faith is threatened in this day. I preached from this passage ten years ago and made the observation at that time that Camosun College planned to offer a non-credit community course on Wicca and that the Province of British Columbia was considering registering a group as a religious society under the name of “Temple of the Lady Society.”

That which was in the planning stage ten years ago has come to full flower. Temple of the Lady, located in Delta, provides handfasting services (marital unions) performed in any “Pagan tradition—Gardnerian, Asatru, Dianic, Thelemic, etc.).[2] This society competes with the Wiccan Church of Canada[3], the Congregationalist Witchcraft Association of British Columbia[4], the Covenant of Gaia[5], the Pagan Federation of Canada[6], the Alta Pagan Community[7], the Lillith Temple Society[8], numerous covens[9] and the Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Canada[10] to provide prison ministries[11], handfastings (marriages)[12], apologia[13] and outreach throughout the Province. There has been a steady influx of recruits to neopaganism from a number of environmentalist groups including Greenpeace, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Sea Shepherd Society [see British Columbia Report, Nov. 5, 1990].

Were such overt paganism insufficient to give Christians pause when considering the effectiveness of our witness today, we need but read the daily news to realise that evil has infected society to a dismaying extent. Gender wars have contaminated the Faith. Feminists demand and compliant males agree that the Apostle to the Gentiles was misogynist and mistaken about setting women apart to the pastorate. Feminists, funded by our taxes doled out by our current government, exclude pro-life, pro-family and Christian representation at United Nations sponsored conferences.[14] Our compassionate neighbours permit the delivery of a baby until only the head remains undelivered, and then kill the infant by inserting scissors into the skull to macerate the brain.[15] That same nation now debates whether babies born alive should be protected or permitted to die.[16]

Our province seeks to redefine marriage to permit same-sex marriage.[17] In doing this they ignore not only the history of western society but ridicule the Faith of most Canadians. Clubs which promote homosexuality are promoted in public schools and by the B.C. Teachers Federation and those few, courageous, conscientious parents who dare raise their voices in protest are silenced by such quasi-judicial entities as the B.C. Human Rights (or Wrongs) Commission.[18] This promotion follows the American model of GLSEN which provides training in how to convert elementary school children to accept sodomites and lesbians as morally upright individuals.[19] At least twenty-three prime time programs on television this season feature homosexual characters[20]—and this despite the silence of Christians who watch such vile sitcoms. Conscientious individuals who dare speak out against such spiritual wickedness are increasingly seen as hate criminals.[21]

Increasingly the attitude is adopted that it is good to ridicule simple-minded Canadians who accept God as Creator and who dare believe the biblical account of His creative work. The wisdom of this age is witnessed in the rejection of Christian morals even as the views of pagans and Hindus and Muslims and a plethora of eastern cults are embraced as the epitome of spiritual enlightenment.

In these past days I have noted that Liberal MP John Bryden introduced a bill to “take Christ out of Christmas.”[22] Our Federal Minister of Multiculturalism, assigned to promote Canadian tolerance, is free to ridicule evangelical Christians.[23] She seems unable to remember that she is responsible to also protect the majority faith of Canadians. Even Supreme Court judges feel free to assert that Christian values are often a disguise for intolerance.[24] Where do we find these people? In the face of such assault on righteousness should we be surprised to learn that a grandmother attempted to sell her own five-year-old grandchild so that his organs could be harvested.[25]

It is as though we are watching the unfolding of the events which prompted the writing of Romans 1:21-32. Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Focus of Christmas [verse six] — For Christians there can be no question but that the focus of Christmas must be Christ. Too often forgotten in this contemporary “me-first” society is the wonderful truth that God did not create us and then forget us. Though we are fallen creatures, and though there is no good thing within us to make us attractive to God, He nevertheless loves us and has provided a way for us to both know Him and to enjoy Him forever. The way He has accomplished the unimaginable is through provision of a perfect sacrifice for sin. I have often noted the precision with which Isaiah writes as he is guided by the Spirit of God to pen this promise of Christmas.

To us a child is born,

to us a son is given.

God’s Son was sent to die in the place of wicked mankind. In the protoevangelium, those words of promise which were spoken by the Lord God at the Fall of our first parents, we discover the truth that the Promised Deliverer would experience the pain and the sorrow resulting from the serpent striking His heel. Listen again to the Lord God in Genesis 3:15.

I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.

This provision of One to taste death in man’s place was no after-thought. God was not responding to an unexpected rebellion by the man and woman He had created. God knew His creature would rebel, and before He created the man He made provision for redemption. God provided, if you will, for Christmas from before the creation of man. Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God [1 Peter 1:17-21].

The Aramaic Targum Jonathan, written in the first century B.C., paraphrased the words found in our central text. Listen to this ancient Jewish understanding of Isaiah’s message.

And there was called His name from of old,

Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, He who

Lives forever, the Messiah in whose days

Peace shall increase.

Unfortunately, because of the growth of those who worship Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, the renowned Jewish commentator Kimchi attempted to avoid ascribing these names to Jesus. He, therefore, rendered this passage differently.

The God who is Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God, the eternal Father, calls

His name the Prince of Peace.

Modern Jewish translators avoid translating at all, choosing instead to transliterate into English, and thereby giving mute testimony to their acute embarrassment, as is evident in Slotki’s Soncino commentary on Isaiah.

And his name is called µ/lv;Arc' d['ybia} r/BGI lae Å[e/y al,P,.

This is the identical tactic adopted by translators of the Jewish Publication Society Bible translation, The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text. In a footnote, these translators, apparently fearful of prophetic accuracy in this instance, rob Jewish readers of a glorious messianic promise through translating the verse with neither reference to nor even possible fulfilment of any messianic prophecy.

Wonderful in counsel is God the Mighty, the everlasting Father, the Ruler of peace.

While there is discrepancy between ancient and contemporary Jewish translators, the first readers understood these words to be a clear claim to deity for the One who was to be born and who was to be given.

The wonderful truth about his One promised is that He is, by virtue of His Person, able to accomplish all that is prophesied about Him. How richly suggestive the titles which are ascribed to this coming child who was to be born and who was to be given. He is designated the Wonderful Counsellor, a name which speaks of His divine nature. The noun al,P, usually translated wonder, wonderful or miracle, occurs some thirteen times in the Old Testament. What is amazing is that in virtually every instance it is unequivocally applied to God or to His powerful works. In all cases, it could be applied to God without stretching the import of the word. All this points to the import of Isaiah’s words to those first readers. They would have immediately associated the Coming One as divine. In fact, that is exactly what we discover when we appeal to Jewish commentators writing before the Christological controversy became heated by the presence of the Messiah.

Though wicked men inveigh ever so much against our Lord’s position as the Wonderful Counsellor, we are nevertheless certain that it is Jesus, the mystery of God … in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [Colossians 2:2b, 3]. Therefore, we are confident that all who believe Jesus is the Wonderful Counsellor will likewise discover that He is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

Were that wonderful and comforting Name insufficient to convince readers of His divine origin, He is also identified as Mighty God. As an exciting aside, Isaiah will later write a wondrous thing when of Israel he writes:

A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob

will return to the Mighty God.

[Isaiah 10:21]

At His ascension, our Lord Jesus reminded those who gathered on that Galilean mountaintop that All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me [Matthew 28:18]. He is unquestionably Mighty God.

Though the words seem mysterious to us, this coming One is next identified as Everlasting Father, or more literally Father of Eternity. The emphasis is upon His eternal nature and the dependence of all time upon Him and upon His Word. Time, and all creation itself, depends upon Christ and His powerful word, as we discover in the words of Paul. He [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together [Colossians 1:17].

Finally, Isaiah tells us that this coming Ruler shall be Prince of Peace. That Hebrew word µ/lv;, means more than our term peace. This word signifies not only the absence of war and strife, but it sums up the thought of prosperity, well being, harmony within and without, internal serenity, peace with God. The word signifies the perfect state of man which God intended when first created. Reading that Title which Isaiah presented, our minds turn almost automatically to the words of the Master as He taught His disciples to prepare them for the change which would come when His sacrifice was at last complete. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [John 14:27a].

Taken together the four titles of the coming Messiah are but an extension of the Name given earlier—Immanuel, God with us. This Name was given in another messianic prophecy [Isaiah 7:14]. You will no doubt remember this prophecy since it is so frequently cited in the Christmas story in Matthew 1:22, 23.

These are not merely names or titles in the modern sense, but they are rather attributes of the One to whom they are given. The Messiah is Divine in wisdom for a world enshrouded in darkness. He is Mighty God in a world enslaved by the power of wickedness. He is the Everlasting Father presented to a world entrapped in relentless time. He is Prince of Peace for the restless multitudes. He is the Christ of Christmas.

Promise of Christmas [verse seven] — There is a desperate need for Christmas to be realised in our world. There is need to recognise Christ as the focus of Christmas. In our pride and conceit He has been forgotten, but He is nonetheless the One whose birth divides time, ensuring that history is His Story. There is a rich promise to all peoples in Christmas, whether those people accept the promise of reject it.

The angel choir, whose beautiful words are recorded in Luke’s Gospel, extends a glorious promise to all mankind.

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.

[Luke 2:14]

Old Simeon, speaking as a prophet of God, spoke of the promise of Christmas when he said:

my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.

[Luke 2:30-32]

Though the promise is not now realised by all, it is nevertheless true. God has made provision for all to be saved, if they are but willing to be saved. Whether men and women should believe the Good News or not, Messiah shall nevertheless reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom. How terrible it shall be for those who oppose Him. Those refusing His rule and opposing His reign, are described by David in the Second Psalm, whose messianic message is worthy of review in light of this message.

Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the LORD

and against his Anointed One.

“Let us break their chains,” they say,

“and throw off their fetters.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

Then he rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

“I have installed my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:

He said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.

Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

You will rule them with an iron sceptre;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry

and you be destroyed in your way,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

[Psalm 2:1-12]

Were we reading the Book of Isaiah we would shortly come to a detailed prophecy of Messiah’s reign [Isaiah 11:1-9]. Of that reign we read that the Spirit of God will rest on Messiah, reminiscent of that astonishing scene played out on the banks of Jordan as Jesus was immersed when He identified with sinful man in His death and resurrection [Luke 3:21, 22]. That identification presages His eternal wisdom which will be displayed in judgement of the whole earth—first as the nations enter into the Millennium and then throughout the whole of that glorious reign and at last when the Millennium draws to a conclusion. Then the redeemed will be ushered into eternity and the wicked shall be consigned to their eternal destinies. The reign of Messiah will be characterised by justice, by righteousness, and by faithfulness. Because the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, peace shall encircle the globe.

What marvellous descriptions are presented of that day which shall shortly be revealed … descriptions so marvellous they appear to be dreams. What a contrast to the distressing, darkened, gloomy conditions that describe the world of this day! Now—the spirit of wickedness reigns; then—the Spirit of God shall prevail. Now—a spirit of foolishness and incomprehension, a spirit of folly and weakness, a spirit of ignorance and rebellion characterises the earth; then—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord will be regnant. Now—we see scant evidence of justice; then—righteousness and faithfulness will ensure that justice is served. Now—spiritual darkness is the norm; then—the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea. The promise of what shall be is the promise of Christmas.

Christmas 2000 is, in many respects, a time of dark foreboding. Uncertainties surround every aspect of our lives, creating and ensuring an aura of fear for many. Such need not be the condition to which we surrender in our lives, for in these dark days we are reminded again of the victory over evil which is certain. With every Christmas light we are reminded that He who has perfectly fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy is the same One of whom John said, In him was life, and that life was the light of men [John 1:4]. With every Christmas carol we sing we remember that joy is the lot of those who know Him, awaiting His sure return. Every Christmas star decorating multiplied trees throughout our land will remind us that war shall be eliminated, but not by the brilliance of earthly leaders, when the Prince of Peace shall reign. This is the promise of Christmas.

This is Christmas according to Isaiah, a promise of hope instilling anticipation in every believer’s heart. Nor is this event to be long delayed, though we ourselves cry with the suffering saints of the Great Tribulation, How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth [Revelation 6:10]? Together with multiplied saints of millennia past and in response to our Saviour’s repeated promise that He is coming soon [see Revelation 22:7, 12, 20] we utter the constant prayer, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus [Revelation 22:20b]. This promise, and this anticipation of the saints, provides the impetus for us to speak to you of that offer of salvation which today is extended once more to all who now hear my voice. This promise of life everlasting, of God’s peace and of God’s presence is offered to all who will receive it.

You need not continue in darkness, but you may have light. You need not continue in ignorance of God, but you may walk in wisdom and understanding. You need not suffer injustice with never a hope of justice, but you may experience righteousness and faithfulness and justice now. Is it not time for you make this a true Christmas? Heed the words of the exiled Apostle of Love and be saved today.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood…

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen [Revelation 22:14, 15, 18-21].

Be saved today. Amen.

The Aramaic Targum Jonathan, written in the first century B.C., paraphrased the words found in our central text. Listen to this ancient Jewish understanding of Isaiah’s message.

And there was called His name from of old,

Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, He who

Lives forever, the Messiah in whose days

Peace shall increase.

Unfortunately, because of the growth of those who worship Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, the renowned Jewish commentator Kimchi attempted to avoid ascribing these names to Jesus. He, therefore, rendered this passage differently.

The God who is Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God, the eternal Father, calls

His name the Prince of Peace.

Modern Jewish translators avoid translating at all, choosing instead to transliterate into English, and thereby giving mute testimony to their acute embarrassment, as is evident in Slotki’s Soncino commentary on Isaiah.

And his name is called µ/lv;Arc' d['ybia} r/BGI lae Å[e/y al,P,.

This is the identical tactic adopted by translators of the Jewish Publication Society Bible translation, The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text. In a footnote, these translators, apparently fearful of prophetic accuracy in this instance, rob Jewish readers of a glorious messianic promise through translating the verse with neither reference to nor even possible fulfilment of any messianic prophecy.

Wonderful in counsel is God the Mighty, the everlasting Father, the Ruler of peace.

While there is discrepancy between ancient and contemporary Jewish translators, the first readers understood these words to be a clear claim to deity for the One who was to be born and who was to be given.

----

[1]Douglas Todd, A Time for Wonder and Weirdness, Vancouver Sun, December 1, 2000 (http://222.vancouversun.com/newsite/opinion/001201/4971222.html)

[2] http://www.geocities,com/Athens/Pantheon/8350/index.html

[3] http//www.wcc.on.ca

[4] http://www.cwa.ca/cwabc.html

[5] http://www.cogcoa.ab.ca/en/index.shtml

[6] http://www.pfpc.ca

[7] http://www.snowstones.com/ap/pagan.html

[8] http://www.lilithtemple.bc.ca

[9] http://www.witchvox.net/wotw/groups_a/british_columbia_ga.html

[10] http://www.islandserve.com/~atccanada/

[11] http://www.pfpc.ca/resources/prison/index.html