“A Child Is Given”
[Isaiah 9:1-7]
July 22, 2018, Second Reformed Church
“But”
We return to our look at the book of
Isaiah this morning. We will remember in
chapter eight, God told King Ahaz and the Southern Kingdom of Judah that since
they did not trust God to keep His promise to stop the Northern Kingdom of
Israel from conquering Judah, but made an alliance with the Assyrians, the
Assyrians would turn against Judah and conquer them as well.
God told Judah to turn to the
teaching – to the testimony – to believe the Word of God and hold fast to it,
but they denied and disregarded it and held the Word of God and His promises in
contempt, so God promised to throw Judah into thick darkness. They would have no spiritual sight.
But God is faithful, even when we
are faithless.
But God keeps His promises, even
when we don’t.
But God has sufficient power that
not even death is to be feared because God can raise the dead.
With God, in Christ, there is always
hope. God promises to save a remnant and
God will always save a remnant. God will
always save the people He chose and gave to His Son to save.
And so we see, God will save His
people.
“But there will be no gloom for her who
was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way
of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.”
God disciplined Israel and Judah for their
sin and allowed the Assyrians to conquer them, and the people were thrown into
spiritual darkness as a result of their sin.
But God tells them that though in the former time Zebulun and Naphtali were
disciplined – the northern most tribes of Israel who stand in for all twelve
tribes that God sent into exile – in the latter time – and we will remember
that the latter time is the period from Jesus’ first coming through His second
– we are living in the latter time right now – God will make the way glorious
to the west of the sea of Galilee, to the west of the Jordan, in the land of
Galilee – Galilee of the nations.
And we can look back with twenty-twenty
hindsight and say, “Ah, yes. Jesus grew
up in Galilee. Jesus’ first miracle was
in Galilee. Jesus had much of His
ministry in Galilee.” God – through
Isaiah – is saying that the Way out of the thick darkness will come – and He
will come out of Galilee. Galilee of the
nations.
And this is a curious expression that is
only used this once in the Scripture – “Galilee of the nations.” It is simple enough – Galilee was a mixture
of Jews and Gentiles. Just as Abraham
was told that his Seed would bless all the nations, so we see that fulfilled,
here, as we are told that the Savior – the glorious deliverance from the thick
darkness of sin and spiritual death – comes to every type of person in
existence – not merely the Jews.
As we read in the Gospel of Matthew: “Now when he heard that John had been
arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in
Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what
was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the
Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for
those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned’ From
that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand’” (Matthew 4:12-17, ESV).
Isaiah continues, “The people who walked
in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep
darkness, on them has light shone.”
As Paul confirms – the Light is Jesus and
His salvation: “But when anything is
exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is
light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and
Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians 5:13-14, ESV).
And John writes, “This is the message we
have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:5-7, ESV).
God promised to send the Savior, and He
and His work are the light of salvation that brings a person – any type of
person – out of thick darkness into the light – going from spiritual death to
spiritual life.
And this salvation brings about great
joy:
“You have multiplied the nation; you have
increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they
are glad when they divide the spoil.”
Israel – the Northern and Southern
Kingdoms – the vast majority of the people, went into captivity or were
killed. Yet, when their discipline was
done, representatives of all the people returned to the land. Out of these few people – out of this remnant
– plus the Gentiles – as would be seen in the latter days – God saves His
people.
The people of God multiply as people out
of every nation, tongue, and tribe, believe that Jesus is God the Only
Savior. And the joy of receiving
salvation is like the joy they felt when the harvest came in – as we feel when
a job is well done – as when they divided the spoils of a conquest – as we feel
when we get our paycheck or our stock value increases.
As Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is
like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his
joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44, ESV).
Salvation in Jesus Alone is more joyous
and of greater value than anything and everything else.
God will save His people throughout
time and space through our One Savior, Jesus Christ.
Second, God will save His people
without our help.
“For the yoke of his burden, and the staff
for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of
Midian.”
In chapter seven of the book of Judges, we
read that Gideon gathers an army of 32,000 to fight against the Midianites, and
God tells him that he has too many soldiers.
So Gideon tells them that anyone who is afraid can go home, and he is
left with 22,000 soldiers. And God tells
him he still has too many. God tells
Gideon to tell the soldiers to drink, and he is to take those men who lap water
from the river like a dog to be the army, and so, Gideon is left with 300
soldiers. And God tells him that now the
people will know that God delivered them from the Midianites, not their own
power. So Gideon takes the 300 to the
camp of the Midianites and each one blows a trumpet. The Midianites are so startled and
disoriented that they kill each other, and a few flee. Midian is conquered, and all the glory
belongs to the Lord.
Therefore, the people of Israel and Judah,
waiting for the Assyrians to conquer them, were to understand that God would
save them – God and God Alone. God will
save God’s people by Himself and for Himself – they did not contribute to their
salvation – and neither do we.
No matter what we have endured in the past
or what we endure now – no matter what consequences of our sin follow us – God
has freed us in Christ Jesus
Augustus Toplady got it right: “nothing in my hands I bring, only to Thy
cross I cling.”
We can offer nothing to our salvation – no
works, no merit – it is entirely the work of God.
After God saves us, then we are to be
obedient and faithful, striving after holiness in every area of life – but that
is the fruit of our salvation – not the cause of it.
Third, God will establish peace.
“For every boot of the tramping warrior
in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for
the fire.”
Israel had known war and captivity
for large segments of her existence. But
God says the day will come when the military boot and the blood-stained clothes
will be thrown into the fire as fuel, nevermore to be used.
When Jesus returns, He will bring
peace in His Kingdom and all of the Israel of God – the Church – all those who
ever truly believe in Jesus as Savior – will be brought into that Kingdom of
peace.
God says, “They shall not hurt or destroy in
all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as
the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9, ESV).
Finally, God will do these things
through the gift of a Child.
“For to us a child is born, to us a
son is given;”
Salvation will come to God’s people
by way of the birth of a Child. As God
has already spoken through the prophet, Immanuel, God with us – God in the
flesh, God born a human. And this Child,
is the Gift of God to His people.
God will not merely bring the
remnant back from captivity, but He will give His people His Son for their
salvation – for our salvation.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life” (John 3:16, ESV).
“and the government shall be upon
his shoulder,”
Jesus explains what this means as He
says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew
28:18b, ESV).
Jesus is absolutely sovereign over
everything in all of Creation. There is
no government that has authority over Him.
There is no government or authority that can do anything that He does
not allow or command.
Jesus is sovereign over North
Korea. Jesus is sovereign over
Russia. Jesus is sovereign over the
United States. No one and no government
can thwart what He has ordained to happen.
“and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,”
This Child Whom God gives us – Jesus
– is the absolute holder of all wisdom and His ability to comfort His people –
to bring peace to us, to be there for us no matter what we are going through –
is unparalleled. No one can be there for
you and me – or give us the right words in the way that Jesus can.
James writes, “If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it
will be given him” (James 1:5, ESV).
Jesus is the “Mighty God,” – the
name is “El Gibbor” – notice the same root as “Immanu-el.” The root “El” always means the One God of
Israel. Jesus is the One and Only – the
True – God, and He is Mighty to save – He is almighty to accomplish everything
He has decided to do.
Are you without strength and don’t
know what to do? Pray that our Almighty
God will intercede in you and for you.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep and now sits
at the right hand of power.
He is the “Everlasting Father,” –
and let’s not get confused – God the Son is not God the Father – that is not
what is being said here.
What this means is that Jesus is the
same God as God the Father, and, Jesus is the Head of the Church, as Paul
writes, “and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished
and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is
from God” (Colossians 2:19, ESV). Our
growth in Christ is found in our holding fast to Him – believing and obeying
Him – striving for holiness – recognizing His paternal authority.
He is the “Prince of Peace” – and
this title means more than He is the Prince over the lack of war.
Paul writes, “And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV).
“And let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful” (Colossians
3:15, ESV).
What is this peace?
Again Paul writes, “Therefore, since
we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Romans 5:1, ESV).
The peace that the Prince of Peace
brings us – gifts us – is reconciliation with God. We are made right with God through Jesus and
His work.
And “Of the increase of his
government and of peace there will be no end, on
the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with
justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”
Through living a perfect life under
the Law of God and paying the debt for all of the sin of everyone who will ever
believe and physically rising from the dead, Jesus secured victory over sin and
death and Hell. Since Jesus – in His
Divine nature – is eternally absolutely sovereign, there is nothing to add to
His government.. But in the reclaiming
and restoring of the Creation from the effects of sin, and the reconciliation
of God’s people, there is a change in quality.
The is a progressive change back to the holy kingdom – back to the
future
Daniel says of this Child, “And the
kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole
heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom
shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Daniel
7:27, ESV).
And we read, “And the angel said to
her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign
over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke
1:30-33, ESV).
How will this all happen?
“The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
do this.”
From before the foundations of the
world, God in Trinity set His desire to accomplish the salvation of His people
through the Incarnation of God the Son.
And so it occurred at the beginning of the latter days. Who can stop the Hand of God?
These are words of hope and cheer
and joy for Israel and Judah – even as they are being conquered and brought
into captivity by the Assyrians: God is
faithful and will save a remnant. God
will save them Himself, for Himself, through the Savior He sends, Who is God in
the flesh. This Savior will reconcile
all the people God has chosen with God.
He will be the Sovereign ruler of all of Creation and establish eternal
spiritual peace between God and His people.
These are words of hope and cheer
and joy for us in these last days: God
is still faithful. God has saved us
through His Son – the Child He gave to us – that we would be made right with
God – eternally forgiven, righteous, holy.
And God the Father hears our
prayers and answers them, and God the Son – Immanuel – has given us the
indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, so we would be led in the things of God and
grow in faith and obedience.
What do we have to worry about?
The Psalmist writes:
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples
plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take
counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us
burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’
“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the
Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and
terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my
holy hill.’
“I will tell of the decree: The LORD
said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will
make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You
shall break them with a rod of iron and
dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be
warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with
trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his
wrath is quickly kindled.
“Blessed are all who take refuge in
him” (Psalm 2:1-12, ESV).
Let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for
giving us Your Son. We thank You that we
always have hope in Jesus, that Your promises are forever true, and that a
Child was given that we would have peace with God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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