See The King in His Beauty (Isaiah 9)

Isaiah 9:1-7; 6-7

"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. 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" (Isa 9:6-7, NIV). [Alternate Titles: A Great Light Shines {Webb}; The Royal Hope {Motyer}; The Glory of God's King; The Child with Many Names.]

Theme: Everyone needs a friend and a counselor who is wonderful, strong and stable, fatherly and peaceful.

1. Despite Your Failures, Let's Meet and Talk (Isaiah 1).
2. The Ideal and The Reality (Isaiah 2-4).
3. A Worthless Vineyard (Isaiah 5).
4. I Saw The Lord (Isaiah 6).
5. Trust or Bust (Isaiah 7).
6. Is God Your Sanctuary or Your Judge? (Isaiah 8).

Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and see the king in his beauty. In Isa 9:1-7, the spiritual gloom of Isa 8:22 is dispelled forever by the light of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Isa 9:2). Isa 9:6-7 gives us a glimpse of the king in his beauty (Isa 33:17), as we gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (Ps 27:4). It is one of the most memorable messianic descriptions from Isaiah. The promise is that a child is coming (Isa 9:6; Mt 4:15-16), breaking into the darkness and bringing his life-giving light (Isa 9:2; Jn 1:9-13; 1 Pet 2:9). This coming "child," a "son," is the embodiment of Immanuel (Isa 7:14; 8:8). His character displays his divine identity: he is a Wonderful Counselor (Isa 28:19), the very Might of God (Dt 10:17), an Everlasting Father (a royal one who is like a loving father to his people), and the Prince of Peace (Ps 72:7; Jn 14:27; Eph 2:14; Phil 4:7).

References:

1. The Glorious Messiah and the Messianic Age (Isaiah 9:1-7). Against the background of the prophecy of war and destruction, darkness and gloom in Isaiah 8, Isaiah 9 is this prophecy about the Messiah—the glorious coming king. "Messiah" in Hebrew means "anointed one," the anointed king. In a sense, every king who was anointed in Jerusalem as a descendant of David would be called a "mashiah" (pronounced mah-she-ack), a messiah. But the Bible tells how ultimately a son of David would come who would be known as "the Messiah." We believe that Jesus Christ is that Messiah. The NT word "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah." This Messianic Prophecy, then, holds out hope for peace and righteousness through the reign of Jesus the Messiah.
1. The dawn of the Messianic age (1-5): Peace will come.
• The change in circumstances will end the despair (1-2).
• The Messiah brings joy and prosperity (3).
• Joy comes through the cessation of war (4-5).
2. The righteous reign of the Messiah (6-7): Peace will finally come.
• The Lord will bring about the advent of the Messiah (6a).
• The Messiah will be a wonder king (6b).
1. Wonderful Counselor.
2. Mighty God.
3. Everlasting Father.
4. Prince of Peace.
• The Messiah will reign in righteousness (7).
2. The Glory of God's King (Isaiah 9:1-7). {Bible Study Questions.}
1. The hope of coming light (1-5).
2. The source of comforting light (6-7).
3. Exegetical-Homiletical Study of Isaiah 9:1-7.
4. The People Who Walk In Darkness Shall See A Great Light (Isaiah 9:1-7).
5. For To Us A Child Is Born (Isaiah 9). Daily bread from Nov 2010.