GOD WITH US

 

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Man has abandoned God, but God has not abandoned man.  Sin had separated us from Him, but He has come to us in Jesus Christ.  Isaiah called the Son of God, “Immanuel,” (7:14), meaning “God with us.”  Now, the prophet tells us the implications of that invasion from heaven.

This points to CHRIST’S SUBMISSION, “For unto us a Child is born….”  This is the incarnation—Christ exchanging the majesty of heaven for a manger of hay.  God became man to live among us as God intended man to live, so that He could bring us to God.

His incarnation enabled CHRIST’S SACRIFICE, “Unto us a Son is given….”  This is the crucifixion—Christ receiving a crown of agony instead of a crown of glory.  God became man in order to be one with us and die in our place, so that we can be forgiven.

The acceptance of His sacrifice will bring CHRIST’S SOVEREIGNTY, “And the government will be upon His shoulder.”  This is His return—Christ risen in victory, ascended in glory, and coming again in supremacy as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

There is a description of the King:

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

This five-fold description of Christ answers to the fundamental human needs.  “Wonderful,” deals with the dullness of life—Jesus fills us with wonder, restoring pleasure to man. “Counselor,” directs the decisions of life—Jesus furnishes us with wisdom, returning purpose to man.  “Mighty God,” meets the demands of life—Jesus overcomes our weakness, releasing power for man.  “Everlasting Father,” oversees the dimensions of life—Jesus watching over us in, revealing providence to us.  “Prince of Peace,” overrules the disturbances of life—Jesus reconciling is to God in His work, bringing His peace to us.

 ‎There is a description of the Kingdom: 

            In its extent,

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end….           

As Isaac Watts expressed in the hymn,

                        Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

                        Does His successive journeys run.

            In its endurance,

                        Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end…. 

            Watts went on to write, 

                        His kingdom spread from shore to shore,

                        ‘Til moons shall wax and wane no more.

            In its establishment,

                        Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

In His first advent, Christ was judged and treated unjustly, but in His second advent, He will be the Judge and will bring justice to all. 

            In its execution, 

                        The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

Make no mistake, as the Almighty God brought complete fulfillment of the prophecy of Christ’s first coming, He will execute the promise of Christ’s second coming.  That is His eternal plan—no power of hell can stop it; no plot of humans can thwart it!  Those who submit to Him here, are those saved by Him hereafter.