THE PRINCE OF PEACE

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. God had humbled Zebulun and Naphtali through the Assyrian army. But later, he would honor them. This happened when Jesus ministered in Galilee. Jesus is the great light that is prophesied here. Because of Jesus, a great light has dawned. We once lived in darkness, but now we have the light of God shining for us and in us because of Jesus. He is the reason for our rejoicing. He removes the yoke of our burdens. Because Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins, and was raised to life, we have victory over sin and death and an assured hope in new and eternal life.

 

2. Verses 6 and 7 are a beautiful rendition of who Jesus is to us. For to us a child is born! For to us a son is given! God loves us so much, he gave us his Son so that we could have life. He is our Wonderful Counselor. We can go to him with all our problems. He is Mighty God through whom we have defeated Satan. He is our Everlasting Father who loves us and protects us. He is our Prince of Peace, through whom we have peace with God. He is our everlasting King!

 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus. He is our light and our wonderful Lord and King. May Jesus’ light shine brightly in each of us.

One Word Listen to God’s word and obey