Advent 2013 #3 The Prince of Peace Prophecy
The Prince of Peace Prophecy
Text. Isaiah 9:6.-7
In chapter nine, Isaiah tells us a little more about the coming Saviour of God’s people, and everything that he says about the child to be born is indicative of his kingly nature.
1. Christ’s Kingly Enthronement. v6
There is a complete account of the birth, death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus in this verse. It is a short summary of Paul’s words in in Philippians 2. Read: Phil. 2:9-11 That whole passage could be summarised in Isaiah’s words here:-
• He is the SON OF GOD! us a child, a son… Isaiah begins his description of Christ’s glorious enthronement just where Paul began. He describes Christ’s glorious pre-incarnate status with the Father in eternity. John 1:1-2 Paul spoke about our Saviour Colossians 1:15-17 and yet we read that a child is BORN.
• He was BORN! is born. And look at the manner of that birth! To Isaiah, the manner of this child’s birth is astounding, different and unique. He will be born, just as any other human baby is born, with all the indignities that birth implies. Yet he will be born of a VIRGIN. Isaiah 7:14
• He was GIVEN unto us! Like Paul, Isaiah sees the life of the Messiah as a gift, given for men. The great culmination of the gift was at Calvary, on the cross, where God gave Him up as a sacrifice for us. John 3:16
• He is RULER of all things. the government shall be upon his shoulder Having died for sinners, Jesus is risen again and is seated upon the throne in Glory, highly exalted. The reference to his shoulder is simple. Kings and rulers often wore an epaulette on each shoulder to signify their rank.
What a marvellous snapshot of the birth, ice and death and resurrection and glorification of Christ we have in this one verse! Hebrews 1:3
His name shall be called! What an amazing list of names the prophet ascribes to the Messiah. In the OT, the idea of a NAME is very important indeed. A person’s name indicates his character, and in the case of Christ, his character is MAJESTY.
• He has the characteristics of a statesman. his name shall be called wonderful counsellor. He is a wonderful counsellor because his counsels are eternal. He governs his kingdom in the full knowledge of the future, for history is his, it is his story, that’s because he is from eternity to eternity, he is immortal, and his counsels were determined from before the foundation of the world.
• He has the characteristics of a war hero! the mighty God. Leupold, commenting on this, states that because he is the mighty God he has the authority and the capacity to enact what he has pre-determined by his will. There are plenty of people in history who have statesmanship and governing abilities and rank, and are even followed by other men, but ultimately their authority is severely limited. Jesus is different. Not only is he a governing statesman, but he has nothing less than the full omnipotence of God at his command.
• He has the characteristics of a guardian. The everlasting Father. This new-born child is born as a FATHER! and he is our Father for ever. Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. But he is our guardian in that our sonship is by way of adoption! Catechism: Q. 34. What is adoption? A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of, the sons of God.
• He has the characteristics of a sovereign. the Prince of Peace. He determines his people before the foundation of the world, in his sovereign will and purpose, he fights on their behalf, he defeats their oppressor by his work on the cross, he brings them into his family and becomes their divine guardian, he is their eternal security and having gathered all his people in such a manner he rules over them. They are citizens in his peaceful kingdom and he is their king. They obey him and serve him and obey him and love him.
3. Christ’s Kingly Reign.
Isaiah reminds us that this great king, born as a child, will reign, and we are the members of his kingdom, so what is that kingdom like? Well, it is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical kingdom, so:-
• His kingdom shall grow and NEVER END. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. This amazing kingdom of God is expanding – constantly expanding throughout eternity. There is another aspect of his kingdom when we think of ‘increase’ Perhaps we might speculate that in glory, every moment, every day, every experience, will be better than anything that we have experienced before! And that will go on for ever!
• His kingdom is a COVENANT KINGDOM. upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, – What great promises that implies for us! 1 Chronicles 17:11-14
• His kingdom is ORDERED and COMMANDED. to order it,
• His kingdom shall be ESTABLISHED. and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.
• His kingdom is SURE and CERTAIN. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this
So all authority is given to Jesus Christ our Lord. Today in prayer, let us praise him that he is the Lord of all, that his kingdom will never be destroyed, will never be succeeded by another, it will endure for ever! Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:22, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
Bob McEvoy
www.SermonAudio.com/Ballymacashon
