Isaiah 9:6-7
For many years I tended to stay away from the Prophetic Books of the Old Testament. My studies would take me to the Prophets, but I wouldn’t sit down and just read them
through. I was more interested in the history, the Psalms, Proverbs and the New Testament. That is where I devoted myself.
Meanwhile my wife Donna, just loved the book of Isaiah. I would hear her talking about
it and she made it sound like such a special place, filled with treasure. Fortunately her comments eventually made me curious to find out for myself what was so wonderful about this book of the Bible. So I deliberately did what I had been avoiding – I read through Isaiah. And then I read through it again – more slowly. I am so grateful that I did. Needless to say, I discovered that Donna was right (as she usually is) – the treasure in Isaiah is extraordinary.
Today’s verses are so amazing, for in them Isaiah describes Jesus! (For those of you who might question the prophesies, remember these were written hundreds of years before His birth to Mary and Joseph) Two chapters earlier (Isaiah 7:14), he writes of the sign that God will provide:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call
him Immanuel.”
The name Immanuel means ‘God with us’. Now here in these verses printed below he tells us more of this wondrous child that is to come.
6For 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.
7Of the increase 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 zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
This is our Jesus – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
