A child is born onto us (Isaiah 9a)

A child is born onto us

Isaiah 9:1-7
Key verse 9:6

“Immanuel, God is with us!” In chapter 8, we have learned that God promised Immanuel when Israel suffered from God’ judgment due to her sins. I think that nothing is more gracious and comforting than Immanuel. So I love the hymn Immanuel. “O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.”

Today in chapter 9, we will learn how Immanuel has been accomplished and what it really means to us.

1 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.

After king Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms, one in South with Judah and Benjamin and one in North with the other ten tribes. These two kingdoms did not get along. In the time of Isaiah, the Northern kingdom was stronger and afflicted Judah. When Ahaz was the king of Judah, Northern Israel allied with Aram and invaded Judah. Israel was so proud and confident of herself, depending on herself. But how was she now?

They were in distress, walking in deep darkness. Why? It was because God humbled them. Here the word “humble” is also translated as “treat with contempt”, “afflict lightly”, or “humiliate.” In other words, God put them into suffering. How did God humble them?

In 722 BC, Assyria overtook Samaria, the capital of Northern Israel. (2 Kings 16:9) Then, they carried the Israelites away to Assyria. (2 Kings 17:1-6) All of sudden, the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed and the people were deported into a foreign country as POW. They plunged into a deep pit, where they could not get out by themselves. There was no way out for them. There was no chance for them to be restored. They cried in vain and then gradually began to assimilate into Assyrians, losing their identity as God’s people, their Hebrew names, and their language. They did not see any hope, not even a little bit of light like a small candle. It was utterly pitch black.

When I was in the military, every night I had to work at night until morning for two years. One night, when it was raining, I was patrolling. I could not see anything. I couldn’t even see the person walking just ahead of me. Then, I stumbled and slid down the slope and then fell into a ditch. I could not move for a while. I did not even know where to move. No one could help me out. I felt I was deserted in deep darkness. Israel was in much deeper darkness and for a long time. In 722 B.C., the Ten Tribes in Northern Israel were exiled and could not come back to their land. They thought, “This is it.”

Why did Israel walk in such deep darkness? Seemingly, the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria, but actually God punished them for their sins through Assyria.

1 Chronicles 5:6 reads, “So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.”

2 Kings 17:7-24 and 33-40 elaborate on why they were destroyed and suffered. It was because they did wicked things that aroused God’s anger. They worshiped idols and even sacrificed their children in the fire, following pagan practices. Even worse, they did not repent in spite of God’s repeated warnings.

2 Kings 17:14-15 read, “14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep…”

They were unfaithful to God and to the covenant God had made with them. So, God had to punish them according to the covenant. Lev 26:27-33 reads,

“27 “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over…33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.” (See also Deut 28:49-52)

As such, when we reject God’s word and do not listen to him continually, we will face his punishment and die.

Assyria’s invasion seemingly finished the Northern kingdom of Israel. Yet, when the Israelites thought they were finished, God began to shine his light upon them. In the past, God afflicted them, but in the future he would make them glorious, particularly the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, which were first attacked and most seriously devastated by foreign counties. How then would God make Israel glorious, shining a great light to them?

 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.

God would rescue and enlarge Israel. Now the Israelites lost their nation but it would be restored and even would be bigger than her past. God would break their oppression. Isaiah stressed its certainty, saying, “… you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.” Their victory was so great that their enemies would not rise again and every warrior’s boots and garments would be burned out. Their victory was like the day of Midian’s defeat. Gideon fought about 15,000 Midianites with 300 people only. In the movie 300, which was based on the battle between an alliance of Greek and Persia in 480 BC, the 300 Spartans held back vastly outnumbered by the Persian army in a narrow passage and all were killed. But Gideon and his 300 men defeated the Midianites in an open area. It was so great and glorious a victory in Israel’s history that God gave them. Now God would bring a much greater victory and glory to Israel, defeating her enemies. That day Israel would rejoice greatly like farmers at the harvest and warriors dividing the plunder. Farmers have the greatest joy when their labors are paid at the harvest. Warriors are full of joy when they win the battle and divide the plunder. God said that Israel would be victorious and glorious like them.

In 1948, something marvelous happened that had never happened in human history. A nation that was destroyed about 2,000 years ago was reestablished. It was Israel. Who imagined or believed that Israel would be restored in a day? When the state of Israel was announced in the Palestine land, the Land of Promise, many Jews, who were scattered around the world, flocked into the land. They jumped around and danced together, crying and shouting. It was incredible joy. God said that he would bring that kind of joy to his people. Then, how would this be accomplished?

“6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.”

Amazingly and surprisingly, God would give a son. But this child is not an ordinary child. On his shoulders is the government, which means that the child would be a ruler and a king who would save and restore Israel. However, it does not necessarily mean that he would be a child king. Why then did God say that he would give a child instead a king?

It has to do with God’s prophecy in Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

As he promised, God would send a son when Israel was in deep darkness. God is faithful to his promise. Though Israel forsook God and he seemed to be silent to their suffering, he actually prepared a son for them. He never gave up on his people. He was always with them and would restore them in his time. Let’s talk about the child more.

“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

He had four nicknames.

First, he will be called Wonderful Counselor. In chapter 7, when Judah was attacked by Israel and Aram, Ahaz the king of Judah asked Assyria for help but rejected God’s gracious offer, Immanuel, which was that God would be with them. Ironically, Assyria who they depended on invaded Judah too. Because of Ahaz’s pride and misjudgment, the whole nation greatly suffered. The people got lost and consulted mediums and spiritists, but they were rather distressed. (8:19-22)

But here is the king who is full of wisdom and truth so that he can lead people in the right way before God. If you have a wise supervisor at work, you will be happy. How much more you will be when you have a king who is wonderfully wise and can help you in all situations? This king would teach Israel God’s word and guide them in the right direction so that they could live.

Second, he will be called Mighty God. In Isaiah 10:24-27, God said,

24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did…26 The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt. 27 In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck;…” And in 10:21, he also said, “A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.”

So, Mighty God here has to do with their salvation and so some interprets this as Hero-God. Israel was destroyed by a powerful nation, Assyria. They were under their oppression and suffered long. They had no power to save themselves. So, they needed someone who had mighty power to rescue them as God rescued their ancestors from the oppression of Egypt through Moses. The child has such power and strength that can rescue them from their enemies. He will defeat the enemies and break the yoke on their shoulders.

Third, the child will be called Everlasting Father. His kingdom will not disappear. Unlike the kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of this king would be enlarged and last forever. Israel would no longer roam around in darkness but live forever in the kingdom where the Everlasting God rules.

Lastly, he will be called Prince of Peace. No more war. No more invasion. No more blood. He will rule in peace, which Israel needed the most.

In fact, the first two titles, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, denote the two most important virtues of the Messiah – wisdom and might. Isaiah said about the Messiah in 11:2, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord-“ In other words, this child was the king God would send as the Messiah. With his wisdom and might, he would save his people.

And the remaining two titles, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace, describe the characteristics of the kingdom of the Messiah – everlasting and peaceful. Verse 7a elaborates on this.

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 Messiah would reign on David’s throne. This implies two things.

First, the Child is the Messiah God promised to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – “12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

And the Messiah would rule as King David did. King David ruled Israel with justice and righteousness so his kingdom was peaceful and his people were happy under his ruling. However, David’s kingdom was a shadow of the king the Messiah would build. The Messiah’s kingdom would last forever in justice, righteousness, and peace.

All the titles of the child teach us that the child was the Messiah who would establish the kingdom of God. Here, we can learn a very important thing about Immanuel. We tend to think that Immanuel is like God’s comfort, understanding or encouragement. But Immanuel is much more than that. “God is with us” means his government on us. It is about his kingdom. It is his justice, righteousness, and peace to his people. Israel failed. But God did not give up his desire to establish his kingdom to make his people truly happy. And this has been accomplished through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the child God promised and he came to us as a child to establish God’s everlasting kingdom on earth. So, Angel Gabriel said to Mary about her child, “31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

When Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, his message was “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) By doing so, he also honored Galilee as God said in verse 1. For this, however, Jesus had to die so that our sins could be forgiven and we could change to be people suitable for his kingdom.

When we look around, we can see so many people in distress and suffering like Israel in the past. Particularly, Syrians have suffered so much. Under the government of Bashar al-Assad, the nation has suffered a long civil war and now ISIS has compounded the problem. It is estimated that about 250,000-300,000 have been killed. About 1.5 million people have been wounded or permanently disabled. 4.3 million Syrians are refugees, and 6.6 million are displaced within Syria. There are many reasons why they are suffering, but I would say that the president Bashar al-Assad should be the first to be accountable for this.

In 1841, there lived Solomon Northup a free African-American who lived in New York with his wife and two children. He was a violinist. One day he got a short-term employment in Washington DC. But he was kidnaped there and was handed over to a salve trader. Solomon lost his name and was sold to a Louisiana plantation. In frustration, he demolished his violin he loved so much. For 12 years until he was miraculously rescued, he was totally helpless in distress and darkness. (This story was filmed as “12 Years a Slave.”) Even now there are so many people living in similar situations. Actually, all humankind lives under the power of Satan. They are ruled over by drugs, pleasure, money, and all kinds of sins. Their lives are so devastated.

 

The one who rules us, determines our life. Who rules you? Who is your boss? Who is your king?

Today a child has been born to us. He is Immanuel, who governs us with wisdom, might, justice, and righteousness. He has brought us the kingdom of God. He is Jesus Christ. He wants to be your king. Believing in him means accepting his government on us and in our life so that our sins can be forgiven and we can change into his people acceptable to the kingdom of God.

This year some of you have gone through difficulties and hardships. Some of you are still in distress. Here is your king who can help you. He wants to be with you. He is here with you. He understands your suffering and distress. He wants to heal you from your sin-sickness. And he wants to be your king. Please do not refuse Immanuel as king Ahaz did.

Let’s pray that we all may be ruled by Jesus Christ so that our gloom and darkness may be driven away. Let’s pray also for those who are under suffering like Syrians so that they can be also ruled by God and have peace. Let’s pray that God may reign supreme over the whole earth.

May God be with you all, and Merry Christmas!

by David Yun