Copyright Mike Sullivan, 2018.
This study is part of a ten-week teaching series on Isaiah given at Xenos Christian Fellowship in 2017 and 2018.
Our passage today is a vision of hope. It describes a future when warfare has ended and there is peace on earth, a real peace, a lasting peace.
Today when people hear talk about peace on earth, it sounds like an impossible dream.
Sure, technological advances during our lifetime have brought people together...
Air travel has shortened the distance between us.
The internet has enabled us to quickly share massive amounts of information.
Cell phones make it easier to communicate [slide showing a family sitting at a table, all staring at their phones]... or not!
But despite all this "progress," humans are more at odds with each other than ever before...
Strife at home [slide].
Strife in our country [slide].
Strife between nations.
When you think about the reality on the ground, peace on earth sounds like a pipe dream.
That certainly must have been how it felt in Isaiah's day. He was a prophet who lived 2,700 years ago, and he spoke God's word to a country called Judah that was continually facing conflict, war and deprivation. This is what it was like...
Isaiah 8:21 [The people] ...pass through the land hard-pressed and famished... 22 Then they will look... and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish...
It's against this background of war and conflict and strife that Isaiah offers a word of hope beginning in chapter 9...
Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, you shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
Hope is a desire for something good to happen, having a desirable future in mind that we want to come to pass. And that is what is being put forth here:
No more gloom. Instead, gladness and rejoicing.
A child born into the world will bring an end to war, and unending peace.
Isaiah's message of hope is a reminder for Christians to reject "the sovereignty of evil." Have you heard that term before? It's a feeling that bad conditions will inevitably become worse, that the future is grim. It's a feeling like this: [slide showing Browns fans hoping to make the playoffs].
When we buy into the sovereignty of evil, we look around at the mess our world is in, and think, evil will prevail. Well, if you feel that way, Isaiah says you're wrong. We shouldn't despair as if strife and conflict will win. We shouldn't despair as if there is no hope. There is hope. Isaiah promises that one day things will indeed be better.
Is this wishful thinking?
For centuries, humans have looked for someone or something to make their hope for lasting peace a reality. But true peace has been elusive. Here's a quote from a famous world leader who thought he was closing in on peace with his enemy...
"We regard the agreement signed last night... as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that... consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace..."
That was Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, just before WWII on September 30, 1938.
Many other leaders have failed to find peace before and since. So, if these human leaders never deliver on their promise of peace, why should we believe Isaiah when he says this child born into the world will bring lasting peace? Hope is wishful thinking unless it is anchored in someone (or something) who can truly get the job done. Why will this child succeed where everyone else has failed?
To answer that question, we'll explore WHO the child is, WHAT he will do, WHY he is able to bring peace, and HOW we should respond to him.
WHO is this child?
Isaiah says the person who makes all these positive outcomes possible is a child who is born into the world (9:6a).
Some interpreters say the child is Hezekiah, king of Judah. But Hezekiah never brought light and hope to the oppressed people of Galilee. And he wasn't everlasting. He lived and died, just like other kings who came before and after him.
Isaiah's description of the child in this passage is more consistent with a figure the Bible calls the Messiah. In the Old Testament, the Messiah is a human leader who will one day defeat the Jews' enemies and rule the world forever from the throne of King David in Jerusalem. Scores of passages talk about the Messiah, and everything in 9:1-7 is consistent with those passages.i
Of course, identifying the child as the Messiah leads to yet another question—"who is the Messiah?"
In the movie The Matrix, at first they weren't sure if Keanu Reeve's character Neo was the Messiah. They had to run some tests. Amazingly, the Bible also supplies us with a test to help us identify the Messiah when he comes. The Bible predicts...
WHEN the Messiah will appear in history (Daniel 9:24-27).
WHERE he will be born (Micah 5:2).
The MANNER of his death (Psalm 22).
WHY he will die and rise again (Isaiah 53).
So the true Messiah has to fulfill these and other predictions. We don't have time to get into this, but a strong case can be made that Jesus fulfilled each of these predictions and many others. Even right here in chapter 9 of Isaiah, Isaiah predicts that the Messiah will bring light and hope to Galilee. And in a minute, we will see that Jesus did exactly that.
For now, the main thing to remember is that Isaiah is putting forth a message of hope—God's vision for a future day of lasting peace. And at the center of it all, making it all possible, is the Messiah, Jesus.
WHAT will Jesus do when he comes?
According to Isaiah, the Messiah will first reveal himself in Galilee. Let's re-read the first two verses of chapter 9...
Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
[Show map.] On this map you can see the area once occupied by the tribe of Naphtali and within it, the city of Capernaum. Below that is land set aside for the tribe of Zebulun and within it, the town of Nazareth. Jesus spent a lot of time in this area, which roughly corresponds to Galilee. Isaiah says this is where the Messiah will first appear, and that is exactly what happened at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
Matthew 4:13 [Jesus] went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: [what we are about to red is a direct quote of Isaiah 9, vs. 2, & 3.] 15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light...
For generations, these regions were seen as spiritually dark and less pure than the rest of Israel. And over the centuries, they experienced much suffering. But Isaiah predicted that with the coming of Jesus, all that would change.
Isaiah says there will be "no more gloom."
When Jesus began to preach in this area, he brought hope. He healed people who were sick. And he told people they could enter the kingdom of God by repenting—by admitting to God that they were sinful and calling out to him for mercy.
Isaiah also predicted "the people... will see a great light."
Jesus didn't just bring healing and forgiveness. He brought light—a deeper understanding of who God is. John called Jesus "the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man" (John 1:9, NASB). Further down in the same chapter, John says, "No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known" (John 1:18, NET).
So, Jesus is the light Isaiah predicted because he is God and revealed God to us.
Summary
If you were just reading Isaiah 9, it would be easy to assume that the Messiah dispels gloom, brings light and moves straight on from there to set up his eternal kingdom. But that's not what happens. When Jesus was with his disciples, he explained to them that he would go away for a while and come back later to set up his kingdom.ii That future kingdom, when the hope of lasting peace is finally realized, is the focus of vs. 3-7.
Isaiah 9:3 You shall multiply the nation, you shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
These verses predict that just before the Messiah sets up his kingdom, he will set his people free from oppression. This is consistent with other passages in the Bible that describe the coming of the Messiah. At the end of history, just before Jesus comes back, the Bible predicts the nations of the world will be in a great battle, and much of their firepower will be concentrated against the Jews in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.
God's people will be oppressed by their enemies, but then Jesus will step in and "break the yoke of their burden." Despite being vastly outnumbered, Jesus will lead them to victory. Isaiah compares this future victory to the past Old Testament battle of Midianiii when God helped the Jews win a similar victory against overwhelming odds.
All the gladness in this verse (notice "increase their gladness," "glad in your presence" "gladness of harvest") is due to Jesus' great victory. And then, the lasting peace begins. People will lay down their weapons and shed all their military gear. Isaiah says,
Isaiah 9:5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
Because the fighting is over, the clothing of war will no longer be necessary, and that's significant. It means this isn't just a ceasefire or a temporary truce, but rather a permanent peace.
From this point forward, the way is clear for God to establish his eternal kingdom.
Isaiah 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of Davidiv and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
World peace, long hoped for, but never realized... Jesus is the one who will make it possible.
Summary
So, Jesus the Messiah (Jesus Christ) will come twice. First, he comes to bring healing and forgiveness. When he comes again, he will rule from the throne of David as king and bring an everlasting peace.
There you go... that's what Jesus does. This is the hope for a better future that the Bible puts forth.
WHY will Jesus be able to accomplish all this?
Given how messed up things are in our present world, how will this vision of universal peace ever come to pass?
If so many others have failed, why would we think that Jesus will succeed? Is this even possible?
In order for someone to bring lasting peace, they'll need to be competent. Way more competent than me or you. It won't be enough to hope for it. So, what makes Jesus able to pull it off?
Notice in v. 6 we get a list of names of the Messiah.
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
These aren't just different ways to address Jesus. They also reveal different aspects of his character. Jesus is a wonderful counselor, he is the mighty God, he is the eternal father, he is the prince of peace. He is what these titles describe. And because he is all these things, he, unlike all other leaders before him, will actually be able to run a just government that establishes peace forever.
Let's look at each title more closely...
1. Mighty God
Jesus was born into the world as a human…
V. 6a "For a child will be born to us..."
...but this child isn't just a human. He is God in human form.
Isaiah is not just saying God is mighty. In v. 21 of chapter 10, Isaiah uses this exact same title, "mighty God," to refer to Yahweh, the God of Israel.v Isaiah is saying this child is mighty God—God born into the world, God in human form.
Jesus isn't just a good ethical teacher, he isn't just a wise man, he is God, and because he is God, he has all the resources he needs to rule with righteousness and establish peace.
In addition to calling him "mighty God," Isaiah also calls him...
2. Wonderful counselor
When people say, "that's wonderful," they could mean, "that's great," "I'm happy for you." Or if you come home to find that your dog has scattered trash all over the house, you might darkly mutter, "wonderful." But when Isaiah calls the Messiah wonderful, he means that the Messiah will have extraordinary supernatural abilities.
E.g., In Psalm 139, King David marvels at how God knows everything about him—where he is, what he is thinking. God even knows what David is going to say before he says it. David is overwhelmed by all this and concludes... "such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" (Psa. 139:6).vi
To be wonderful is to do things humans could never do. And here Isaiah focuses on Jesus' supernatural ability to give counsel—to apply wisdom to decision making. Unlike human rulers who rely on advisors in their attempts to make good decisions, Jesus will himself have supernatural wisdom and will rule wisely.vii
We can see evidence of Jesus' supernatural wisdom during his earthly ministry. In John 4, when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, it didn't take her long to realize this guy knows about my life even though I've never met him before! She was so struck by Jesus' knowledge that she went to her village and told people, "come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Is not this the Christ?" She understood that Jesus had supernatural insight into her life.
Political leaders often misjudge people and situations and make terrible decisions as a result. But that won't happen with Jesus. He'll use the insight he has to make great decisions and be the best leader the world has ever seen!
3. Eternal father.
At first this might not seem to fit Jesus because he is the son, not the father. But this can be read as "father of eternity," which would emphasize that Jesus has always been and always will be. So unlike past human rulers who live and die because they are mortal, Jesus has always existed and always will exist like it says in John 1:1. This enables him to complete what he starts. Because he is eternal, Jesus will be able to continue building and expanding his kingdom without end.
4. Prince of peace.
This last title is the easiest to understand. It simply means that when Jesus comes again, he will bring peace. This didn't happen during his ministry on earth. At that time he promised his followers would endure much tribulation.viii But Jesus did promise to bring peace when he returns. When he comes back to set up his kingdom, Jesus will put an end to wicked rulers and people who are living for self apart from God. This will result in a permanent peace.
Summary:
When you look at all of these qualities—wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal father, prince of peace—you realize that these titles could never apply to any merely human leader. Jesus and Jesus alone has the wisdom, strength, and power to realize the hope of a better future that Isaiah says will indeed come to pass.
How will you respond to all this?
There is a simple main point in this passage: Jesus, the Messiah, is our real hope for peace. He alone can make it possible. But how should we respond?
1. Seek peace with God.
It is undeniable that merely human leaders have failed to establish lasting peace, but why? In 100 A.D. the Greek philosopher Epictetus put forth this explanation:
"...while the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief and envy. He cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearns more than even for outward peace."—Epictetus, cited in Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on Luke, p. 112.
His point is that beneath all the fighting, divisions, and military aggression there is a deeper problem that must be addressed—a heart problem, a heart sickness that drives human conflict and prevents people from finding true peace.
Doesn't that ring true? We can't just pass laws and make treaties to end conflicts. The problem is deeper than that.
This is also the perspective of the Bible. It teaches that there truly is something deeply broken in the heart of man. Something called sin that drives all of our conflict and war. Our sin needs to be addressed if we ever hope to have lasting peace.
This starts first with re-establishing peace with God.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
When Paul refers to "what Jesus... has done for us" he's referring to how Jesus, when he died on the cross, swept aside the wall of sin that separates you from God. With that obstacle removed you can have peace with God.
Notice that you can't obtain this peace by behaving well. Instead it comes by "faith." You trust Christ—put your faith in him—to deal with the problem of your sin, and the result is peace with God. Once you have that, you can move out and begin to seek peace and healing with other people.
How about asking Jesus to remove the barrier of sin that separates you from him right now so you can enjoy peace with him?
2. Make Jesus your Lord.
It's natural to want to be the captain of your own ship, to call the shots. The problem is, when you are in a room full of people who all want to be in charge, conflict is inevitable.
E.g., If your family is into board games, and you are all super competitive, what do you do when you think someone is breaking the rules? You consult the rule book. And if there's no rule book handy, it can get ugly, because you're left with people who think they know best just asserting themselves.
Will we ever see peace in the world if we are unwilling to submit to a common authority? No way. Either we vacate the throne, and put someone we all agree on in charge, or conflict will inevitably continue.
Who is your candidate to bring peace?
I have argued that the Messiah—our wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal father, and prince of peace—Jesus is the only one qualified to be on the throne. If you are still not persuaded, here are two more points to consider...
First, we know how self-serving leaders can be. Jesus isn't like that. He is a servant leader, and he demonstrated his servant's heart—his good intentions toward you—by laying down his life for you on the cross. He won't take advantage of you like some authority figures do. He loves you and wants to lead you to a good place. That's the kind of leader we all need and we have that in Christ.
Second, and this may not be a very popular reason, Jesus WILL eventually set up his kingdom. The fact that Jesus has already fulfilled so many predictions is relevant here. If prophesies about his first coming have already come true, shouldn't we take Isaiah seriously when he says that Jesus will rule from the throne of David and establish a lasting peace?! Like it or not, Jesus' kingdom is coming!
So how about it, why not make him your Lord now?
3. Enjoy the benefits of Jesus' leadership now.
Politicians looking for our votes often make ridiculous campaign promises, like Herbert Hoover—"I'll put a chicken in every pot."
But in this passage, Isaiah makes a credible claim that there are benefits when we select Jesus as our leader.
First, he stands ready to offer great counsel.
Many of us are Christians here. But I wonder how eager we are to bring Jesus' wisdom to bear on our decision making. What would you see in the life of someone who believed Jesus truly was a wonderful counselor? You'd see someone going to Christ in prayer and asking for direction. And primarily you'd see someone who was reading the Bible carefully, not to decide where to go on vacation, but to develop a whole value system so they see the world the way Christ sees it.
Second, as your "father of eternity," you can reflect on how he is committed to being with you, always, now and forever.
You can take comfort in the fact that if you know Christ you will never be alone.
Third, because Jesus is the prince of peace, you have a basis for enjoying peace with other believers.
I am sure you are aware our church isn't perfect. We don't always get along with each other. Sometimes there is strife between leaders who are supposed to work together. You may even feel alienated from someone in this room. When we aren't enjoying peace with each other, what should we do?
In Ephesians 4:4 Paul says we have "one Lord." That means Jesus is in charge, and we, especially when we are in conflict, take our marching orders from him. If you are in conflict with someone, are you calling the shots and just trying to get your way? Or are you willing to put yourself under Christ's rule and seek his counsel for what to do next?
Here is some of the wonderful counsel Christ has for us:
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace...
When two people have put Christ on the throne and are committed to forbearing and forgiving, unity and peace are possible. When we are willing to submit to Christ's leadership, there is always hope for peace.
Conclusion
Seek peace with God. Make Jesus your Lord. Enjoy the benefits of Jesus' leadership now!
Let me leave you with this question that Jesus asked Martha:
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
I hope so, because if you do, you will never have to fear death. Instead, you can look forward to an amazing future!
i See Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; Psalm 2; Isaiah 11:1-10; etc.
ii See John 14:28; Matthew 25:31, 32.
iv David was Israel's greatest king. When David was alive, God promised him that one day one of his descendants would rule the entire world forever (1 Chronicles 17:11, 12). Jesus is that descendant, and when he returns, this prediction in Isaiah 9:6, 7 will be fulfilled.
v See a similar use of this title in Psalm 45:3.
vi Sarah was old and thought in her heart, "I could never have a baby." But God said, "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?" It seemed impossible, but God works wonders.
vii Isaiah 11:2-4a says the Holy Spirit will produce in Jesus wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, etc., and it implies Jesus will rely on this to make good decisions. Jesus' kenosis (see Philippians 2:5ff) and reliance on God is foreshadowed here.
viii Jesus knew his polarizing message would be disruptive. That's why he said, "I came not to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). Jesus never promised his disciples that they would see the peace that Isaiah describes.
Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division..."