Unto Us A Child Is Born

Hunter Strength

None • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Isaiah 9:2–7

Advent

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Gifts and depression

Intro:

-Syro-Ephraimite War. Israel and Syria have acted proudly by attacking Judah, so now their foes (the Assyrians) are being strengthened against them (9:8–11) and have already taken some of their land (9:1). Thus Israel has not completely fallen, but very soon it will (10:3–4). The Assyrian army is arriving or is about to arrive on the scene (10:28–32). It has exerted its muscles against Samaria but has not yet completed its work against Judah (10:11–12). In the near future God will judge Assyria (10:33–34).1

PURPOSE. In this section, Isaiah attempted to convince his listeners that God can be trusted and that his promises for a glorious kingdom for his people will be fulfilled (even though he knows that most will be hardened according to 6:9–10). Judah must not follow the mistaken pattern of sinful pride and oppression like Israel and Assyria lest they suffer the same fate. Instead, they should trust God in spite of their oppressors, for the good news is that God will soon remove their enemies Israel and Assyria. Eventually, their Messiah will reign forever over the all nations and God will establish a period of justice and peace.

A.) Light Described

(v1) An Unexpected Place

Have you ever had something go unexpectedly well? In 1905 in Oakland, California, 11-year-old boy Francis William Epperson mixed a powdered flavoring drink with water. He accidentally left it on porch overnight, with the stirring stick still in it. That night, the temperature dropped below freezing, and the next morning, Francis discovered the drink had frozen to the stick, inspiring the idea of a fruit-flavored “Popsicle”.

People didn’t think anything of this area called “The Galilee of the Nations”

Take notice of the Jew and Gentile presence here: Implication that Christ came for Jew and Gentile?

Matthew 4:12-17 “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(v2) Light In Darkness

Notice the past-tense structure of this passage. The Hebrew idiom suggests that this passage is written with such assurance that God will be faithful to His promise that they could write it in past-tense out of confidence.

Ps. 27:1 tells us God is the Light and Ps. 119:105 tells us His words are a light for us, but here we find that there is a light that was to come in the midst of great darkness. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us more about this:

1 Peter 1:10–12 AV

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

(v3) The Light Brings Joy

Before we notice the joy, notice this first portion of Scripture referring to the multiplied nation. Gen. 17:5 says, “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”, John 10:16 says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Understanding these verses, as well as Paul’s explanation given in Romans, we understand that this is in reference, not to a physical growth of ethnic Israel, but us being grafted in.

Joy in the spiritual dimension. Take note of the phrase “before thee” which insinuates acceptance and reconciliation to God.

Joy in Plenty

Joy in Victory

-This describes joy covering all fronts, it is absolute joy!

Why is there such joy? Take note of the word, “For” as we head into v4. This will detail the way this victory is won.

a.) He brings Joy Through Deliverance (v4-5)

-The word, “broken” means to demolish, to shatter, to destroy. And what did He destroy? Isaiah refers back to Egyptian bondage here and contrasts that all suffering will end by the work of God. But how did He do this? Didn’t we help Him?

-Judges 7: Gideon’s 300 and Midian.

-Judges 7:21 “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host:”

-He did it in a way that only He could for His glory.

They are recipients of fruits from a victory the contributed nothing to.

So, as we read through here the question arises, “How will God preform this victorious, covenant fulfilling work (v4) and how will we enter into this non-contributory salvific covenant(v5)

B.) The Light Explained

The Child and His Birth (v6a)

His Birth From Woman

Gal. 4:4-5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

He was Given By God

John 3:16

The Child and His Command (v6b & 7)

King Tut

Notice: The removal of the burden in v4 from our shoulders and the authority we have upon the One we hold as Lord

His Kingdom is not one waiting to begin, but one that has already began:

Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

And when He ascended to Heaven Daniel 7:13-14 tells us of His coronation: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

No King But Christ

His Government Will Be Uninterrupted

Chinese Persecution:

“Each person in China must have an ID card. It is impossible for a person to catch a flight or train, open a bank account, get a job, or rent an apartment without using their card. Each ID card contains a computer chip which is also used to track people's movements,”

Corrupt John 8:3-11 Here is how they wrote it: The crowd wanted to stone the woman to death as per their law. But Jesus said, ‘Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.’ Hearing this, they slipped away one by one. When the crowd disappeared, Jesus stoned the sinner to death, saying, ‘I too am a sinner. But if the law could only be executed by men without blemish, the law would be dead

Chinese Christian online bookstore owner was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined nearly $30,000 for engaging in what the communist regime deems as “illegal business operations.”

They are ordering Christians to renounce their faith and replace displays of Jesus with portraits of Chairman Mao and President Xi Jinping, as well as the ongoing demolition of churches.

Do you think this is working for them? (1949 - 1.3 to 2020 - 81 Million in China)

His Government Will Fulfill the Davidic Covenant

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

All who come to Him as the off-shoot of the hewn down tree and the One of the Davidic Covenant shall be treated as though they were David themselves. Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David.

The Child and His Qualities (v6)

In its highest use, ‘name’ sums up character; it declares the person. The perfection of this King is seen in his qualification for ruling (Wonderful Counsellor), his person and power (Mighty God), his relationship to his subjects (Everlasting Father) and the society his rule creates (Prince of Peace)

Wonderful Counselor

I feel as though the comma should be missing because of Isaiah 28:29 “This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, Which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.”

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Romans 11:33-34 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

Mighty God

John 1:1-3 “IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Everlasting Father

You may be thinking, “How is the given Son called the everlasting Father”. Turn with me to Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Just as Adam is considered our father, in that we have inherited his sin nature, so is Christ considered our Father as it is through His sacrifice we are given a new nature.

Prince of Peace

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; Their young ones shall lie down together: And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, And the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Conclusion:

By taking upon Himself our sin, the oppression, the horror and tragedy of this world, Christ was able to give back righteousness, freedom, hope and fulfillment in reconciling us to the Father to all who would believe.

Second, Since Christ is the King, have we personally submitted to this reality in our own lives.