Isaiah 9:1-7
Tuesday, 1 March 2022
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” – Isaiah 9:7
Our reading today is a prophetic proclamation about Jesus Christ and the nature of His ministry. The previous chapter ends (8:22) with a note about darkness and anguish. But this chapter begins with the promise of a dramatic change that is to come. The subsequent verses explain this change- a fact revealed through the light of the gospel – Jesus Christ can deliver us from the darkness that comes from our sin! Ephesians 5:8 “.. for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord..”
The darkness mentioned there refers to the oppression by the Assyrians who invaded the land around 733 B.C. The light that will replace the darkness of Assyrian oppression will be a Child— God incarnate. Verse 6 talks of the uniqueness of this Child! The four mentioned names of that Child depict His divine-human nature as well as His universal programme of salvation. “Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.” He is a wonderful divine counselor and a powerful warrior; a King and a Father who provides for and protects His people forever; a true Prince born with the right to reign and usher in peace!
The above four double names combine the aspects of Jesus’ deity and His humanity. A further understanding of Vs. 6 will give us more insight. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” “Born” speaks of the Child’s humanity and “given” speaks of His deity. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who existed from eternity!! “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal.4:4.) Jesus existed in heaven from eternity and He was “in the form of God …… equal with God….” (Phil. 2:6) But He who was God took the form of a bondservant and came into this world; the divine Son came in human form – divinity and humanity combined in one person– that is Jesus Christ!
The Assyrian kingdom was the most powerful kingdom at that time and when such a power invades another nation, there was no hope that a more powerful kingdom can come and remove them! But God Himself gives the word in Isaiah 60:2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples. But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you.” Apostle John testified of Jesus in John 1:14: “we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
In our key verse it says that “of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.” This divine King born as a human being, has the power to invade the human heart and establish His authority there – provided we permit Him!! Once that process has begun, it is an ever-increasing process. He is King and He has authority – the darkness of Sin cannot stand before His divine Light.
The powerful Assyrian Kingdom is synonymous of the devil’s kingdom which has been keeping millions of human hearts in darkness!! The good news is that a powerful kingdom is here – the divine light of which is capable to dispel the darkness in the hearts of people!! 2 Cor.4:4 says “ the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.” But Jesus the powerful King from heaven can bring His divine glory and dispel that darkness.
Will you allow that light of Jesus be in your life? Once you allow that process to start within you by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, His Kingdom will start growing in you – dispelling every bit of darkness in you so that you will shine like light for Him!!
Think on: “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 12:46 NLT)
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