TO US A CHILD IS BORN

Isaiah 9:1-7 / Keywords 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 9:1 [a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation

    and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

    as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

    when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

    you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

    the bar across their shoulders,

    the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle

    and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

    will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-21 is numbered 9:1-20.

1. A great light (1-5)

There seemed to be nothing but distress and gloom in Israel, but Isaiah saw with the eyes of a prophet. He saw the great light of the Lord. He was the one who had been protecting his people, enlarging them, the source of all their providence and joy. Most of all, Isaiah saw the Lord who had been bearing the tremendous burdens of his people. In fact the Lord would shatter the burden of their oppressors and the burden of the power of sin by himself. He indeed is the great light for those who trust in him.

 

2. Prince of Peace (6-7)

The Lord would crush the power of sin through a child, a son. God sent Jesus to be born to us, to be our Immanuel. Jesus became our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace by bearing sin on himself. In this way he became our ruler in place of sin, and his rule is eternal.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for bearing the burden of sin. Help me to be ruled by Jesus, not by sin. Help me to welcome Jesus as my Prince of Peace.

One Word Jesus is the Prince of Peace