Isaiah 9 - 8.26.25

SCRIPTURE:  ISAIAH 9:6

“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.”

OBSERVATION

We have seen this verse used in countless songs such as Handel’s Messiah, the Christmas song, “Unto Us a Child is Born,” and “Joy to the World.” But this Scripture holds much more meaning because it was a prophecy of the coming Messiah that was fulfilled about 736 years later. To Christians, we know this is a prophecy of Christ’s birth.

In Luke 2:11, an angel of the Lord proclaimed this to the Shepherds:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

I love how God brings about the most important person in history as a baby. When we think about a baby, we know them to be weak, dependent on others, and not able to sustain themselves. Yet, here is this baby, who is born for us, a son given to us, who will be powerful with the government on his shoulders. God brought about this baby, Jesus, who would be the sacrificial lamb, to take away the sins of the world.

I’m wondering if some who read this in Isaiah’s time thought “how in the world would a child help us?” Maybe they expected God to bring about someone stronger, maybe even a Samson type individual? I know in the human sense, we would never expect a baby or child to hold such a position. God’s ways are not our ways, but His plans are perfect.

Another highlight of how God uses the small things in life to show his greatness came about in Pastor Levi’s service on Sunday, “Swallowed up.” Pastor Levi highlighted Exodus 8:16 – 19 which talked about the plague of gnats – the one and only plague the Egyptian magicians could NOT replicate. The magicians admitted “this is the finger of God.”  I’m amazed that God would use a plague of knats – a very small insect – to show His great power over everything on this earth. In the same way, God used a baby to bring about salvation to all.

In regards to the part that says the “government is on his shoulders,” many Israelites thought the Messiah would provide a new government on this earth. Again, in our human mind, some scriptures are taken literal when there’s a deeper meaning. Jesus would end up governing more than an earthly government but all of heaven and earth, as Matthew 28:18 says:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Isaiah lists the great names of Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Through Jesus, he became the mediator and counselor between us and God. The name of Mighty God and Everlasting Father speaks to Jesus as part of the Trinity. Jesus is the one who brings us peace in many ways but most importantly in Heaven, as Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

APPLICATION

God provided this prophecy as a means of hope to the Israelites and later confirmation of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy. We can take comfort in seeing God’s mighty hand by providing a child, Jesus, to be our Savior. I’m encouraged to know that God can use a knat to a baby to show His power. If God can use a knat and a baby to fulfil His plans, then think of what He can do if you’re willing to be used?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the prophecy of Jesus’ birth and for fulfilling the prophecy in Jesus’ birth. We can see your plan at work in this prophecy. You brought about salvation to all men through a baby, Jesus. He became to embody the titles of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I’m so thankful and encouraged to know that you can use the little things in life to bring out your big and perfect plan. Help me to see and follow the plan you have for my life, and to bring others to know Jesus, the baby who came to save us. Forgive me for the times when I thought “I’m not (fill in the blank) enough to do this work.” I can now see that You’re the one who can use anything and anyone to get your plans to work. Praise your name! Amen

- Mary Oberg